DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW MEMBERS NAMED TO TOWN PLANNING BOARD.................. 1
POLICE POISED TO CARRY ON GOOD JOB ...................... 3
JANUARY RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED ............. 4
NEW DISTRICT BOARD ELECTS CHAIRMAN ....................... 6
HONG KONG DISPLhY LAUNCHED IN LONDON ..................... 6
$418 MTT.T.TON START TO PUBLIC HOUSING CONTRACTS ......... 7
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS STILL A PROBLEM ..................... 8
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONTINUES ............................... 9
NEW SOCIAL CENTRE FOR ELDERLY IN TSZ WAI! SHAN ........... 9
DISPLAY CARRIES GAS SAFETY MESSAGE ....................... 11
FISHING JUNK FOR SHA TIN PARK ............................ 12
MORE 1984 ANNUAL DIGEST COPIES ON SALE ................... 13
URBAN COUNCIL NAMES SELECT COMMITTEE HEADS ............... 13
NT, LANTAU ROAD WORKS START JUNE ......................... 15
MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION ................................ 15
COUNCILLORS NOMINATED TO DISTRICT BOARDS ................. 16
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ..................................... 16
MOORSOM ROAD TO BE EXTENDED .............................. 17
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN THEN MUN ......................... 17
WATER STORAGE FIGURES .................................... 18
SALT WATER CUT
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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NEW MEMBERS NAMED TO TOWN PLANNING BOARD *****
FOUR NEW MEMBERS - THREE OF THEM UNOFFICIALS - WERE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY.
SEVEN OFFICIALS AND SEVEN UNOFFICIALS WERE REAPPOINTED TO THE BOARD.
THE NEW MEMBERS ARE THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE); MR KEITH H.K. LAM, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR; MR AMBROSE CHEUNG WING-SUM, A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, AND HONG KONG UNIVERSITY’S PROFESSOR REGINALD Y.W. KWOK.
THE REAPPOINTED MEMBERS ARE:
SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS (CHAIRMAN), DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (VICE CHAIRMAN), SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), REGIONAL SECRETARY (NT) (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), REGIONAL SECRETARY (HK AND K) (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), DIRECTOR OF LANDS (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE), MR PETER P.F. CHAN, JP, AN ACCOUNTANT, MR EDWARD S.T. HO, AN ARCHITECT, MR CARLOS H.K. CHEUNG, A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, DR RONALD D.B. LEUNG, A BANKER, URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR KAN FOOK-YEE, A CHARTERED SURVEYOR,
/MR SAMUEL........
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 198?
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MR SAMUEL P.W. WONG, A CONSULTANT ENGINEER, URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, AND
MR PAO PING-WING, AN URBAN COUNCILLOR AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER.
THE MEMBERS’ TERM OF OFFICE IS FOR ONE YEAR FROM APRIL 1, 1<»85.
COMMENTING ON THE APPOINTMENTS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, M? NICKY CHAN, WHO IS ALSO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, SAID THE MERE FACT THAT THERE WERE MORE UNOFFICIALS THAN OFFICIALS IN THE BOARD DEMONSTRATED THE GOVERNMENT’S STATED AIM OF INVOLVING MORE COMMUNITY LEADERS IN POLICY MAKING PROCESSES.
CITING ANOTHER EXAMPLE, MR CHAN SAID THE BOARD HAD MAINTAINED CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE CONCERNED DISTRICT BOARD ON THE PREPARATION OF NEW STATUTORY TOWN PLANS FOR THEIR VIEWS AND COMMENTS PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE PLAN.
MR CHAN SAID THAT HONG KONG, WITH LIMITED LAND RESOURCES, MUST BE PROPERLY PLANNED TO MEET COMPETING DEMANDS OF HOUSING, COMMERCE INDUSTRY, TRANSPORTATION, RECREATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A GOOD LIVING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT FOR ITS PRESENT AND FUTURE POPULATIONS.
♦TOWN PLANS ARE THEREFORE PREPARED TO GUIDE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AND REDEVELOPMENTS TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF THE REQUIRED COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES AND CONTROL ON INDIVIDUAL SITES TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE TERRITORY’S GROWING POPULATION,* HE SAID.
THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD IS A STATUTORY AUTHORITY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE. IT MEETS TWICE A MONTH.
DURING THE 1984-85 YEAR, THE BOARD HELD 19 MEETINGS, PUBLISHED 16 OUTLINE ZONING PLANS AND CONSIDERED 138 PLANNING APPLICATIONS.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE 31 OUTLINE ZONING PLANS PUBLISHED BY THE BOARD GIVING STATUTORY PLANNING CONTROL ON DEVELOPMENTS IN MOST OF THE TERRITORY.
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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POLICE POISED TO CARRY ON GOOD JOB
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THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR ROY HENRY, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THAT, GIVEN THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY, THE FORCE IS STRUCTURED TO PRODUCE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE RIGHT FORM OF POLICING FOR HONG KONG.
MR HENRY SAID THIS IN HIS ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE REVIEW 1984.
’’THE FORCE IS WELL ESTABLISHED IN ITS VITAL ROLE AND WELL ABLE TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG EVOLVES WITHIN THE PATTERN OF THE PROPOSED POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT,” MR HENRY SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS HIS LAST ANNUAL REVIEW, HE SAID :”l HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COMMANDING THIS FORCE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, HAVING SERVED A TOTAL OF 12 YEARS IN IT AND A TOTAL OF 38 YEARS IN POLICE SERVICE IN OTHER PARTS OF HER MAJESTY’S OVERSEAS POLICE FORCES.
’’BECAUSE OF THIS AND BECAUSE OF MY ASSOCIATION AND CONTACT WITH MANY OTHER POLICE FORCES, I FEEL THAT I AM WELL ABLE TO COMPARE THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WITH ITS INTERNATIONAL COUNTERPARTS.
”1 CAN SAY SIMPLY THIS : CERTAINLY, WE HAVE OUR FAULTS AND OUR FAILINGS, BUT THESE ARE HEAVILY OUTWEIGHED BY THE SKILLS, THE ENERGIES AND THE COMPETENCE OF THE OFFICERS OF ALL RANKS CF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE.”
MR HENRY SAID THE MAJOR STRIDES MADE, AND WHICH HAD CONTINUED TO BE REFLECTED YEAR AFTER YEAR OVER THE PAST DECADE WERE FUNDAMENTAL.
FUNDAMENTAL, HE SAID, BECAUSE POLICE HAD ACHIEVED RECOGNITION OF STATUS BY THE COMMUNITY IN WAYS WHICH WERE AS PROFOUND AND TANGIBLE AS THEY WERE GRATIFYING.
SUCH RECOGNITION COULD BE SEEN IN THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION THAT THE FORCE WAS DESERVING OF A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE HONG KONG BUDGET, BOTH IN SALARY SCALES AND IN BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT.
ALSO, HE SAID THAT MOSTLY BECAUSE OF GREAT SUPPORT ON THE PART CF THE FORCE AND THE QUALITY OF THE OFFICER IN SERVICE, POLICE HAD ACHIEVED A STANDARD OF UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, RESULTING IN A COMBINED FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
’’THE SUCCESS OF THESE EFFORTS IS PROVEN BY THE CRIME STATISTICS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW,” MR HENRY ADDED.
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
JANUARY RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED *****
THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, ESTIMATED AT $5 907 MILLION, «AS ONE PER CENT LOWER THAN IN JANUARY 1984, WHILE THE VOLUME WAS TWO PER CENT LOWER, ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS COMPARISON HOWEVER, WAS AFFECTED'BY THE LUNAR NEW YEAR DATE, WHICH FELL ON FEBRUARY 20, THIS YEAR BUT ON FEBRUARY 2 LAST YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
RETAIL SALES FOR THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD NOVEMBER 1984
TO JANUARY 1985 ROSE BY SEVEN PER CENT IN VALUE AND FIVE PER CENT IN VOLUME WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO.
COMPARING JANUARY 1985 WITH DECEMBER 1984, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON WAS AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, RETAIL SALES DECREASED BY FOUR PER CENT IN VALUE AND THREE PER CENT IN VOLUME, HE SAID.
WHEN COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1984, HOWEVER RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES IN JANUARY 1985 ROSE BY 10 PER CENT IN VALUE AND SEVEN PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHILE THOSE OF +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ INCREASED BY THREE PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS SHOWED AN INCREASE CF TWO PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT A DROP OF EIGHT PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. FUELS, WITH A DECREASE OF ONE PER CENT IN SALES VALUE, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF ONE PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME. FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO SHOWED THE LARGEST DECREASE, OF 14 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
COMPARING THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 1984 - JANUARY 1985 WITH THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS RECORDED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN VALUE TERMS, AT 17 PER CENT, FOLLOWED BY CONSUMER DURABLES AND +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+, AT 14 PER CENT AND EIGHT PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. IN VOLUME TERMS, THEIR CORRESPONDING INCREASES WERE FIVE PER CENT, 10 PER CENT AND SEVEN PER CENT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, FUELS RECORDED A DROP OF TWO PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT REMAINED UNCHANGED IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES CF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO FELL BY TWO PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
/when compared .......
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1984, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES IN JANUARY 1985 ROSE BY EIGHT PER CENT IN VALUE AND SEVEN PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHILE THOSE OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY ONE PER CENT IN VALUE AND TWO PER CENT IN VOLUME. HOWEVER, RETAIL SALES OF +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS* RECORDED DECREASES OF 11 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 10 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ALSO DECREASED, BY SIX PER CENT IN VALUE AND FOUR PER CENT IN VOLUME. FUELS REGISTERED A DECREASE OF ONE PER CENT IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS WHEN COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1984. CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES SHOWED MODERATE INCREASES. SUPERMARKETS AND DEPARTMENT STORES, HOWEVER, RECORDED DECREASES IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
COMPARING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD NOVEMBER 1984 - JANUARY 1985 WITH THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS, wHILE CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES, SUPERMARKETS AND DEPARTMENT STORES RECORDED MODERATE INCREASES. WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1984, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS. THOSE OF CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES ROSE MODERATELY. HOWEVER, RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS AND DEPARTMENT STORES DROPPED CONSIDERABLY.
TABLE 1 PRESENTS THE REVISED TOTAL SALES FIGURE FOR DECEMBER 1984 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR JANUARY 1985.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES IN 1980 TAKEN AS 100. COMPARISONS OF JANUARY 1985 RESULTS WITH THOSE OF DECEMBER 1984 AND JANUARY 1984 AND COMPARISONS OF RETAIL SALES IN THE PERIOD NOVEMBER 1984 - JANUARY 1985 WITH THOSE IN THE SAME PERIOD A YEAR AGO ARE ALSO GIVEN.
GRAPHS 1 AND 2 DEPICT THE INDEX MOVEMENTS OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES FROM JANUARY 1982 TO DECEMBER 1984. TABLES AND GRAPHS ARE BEING SENT BY FACSIMILE AND WILL BE BOXED FOR COLLECTION.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE JANUARY 1985 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT $1 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 3-7216024).
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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NEW DISTRICT BOARD ELECTS CHAIRMAN * * * X
MR HO TUNG-CHING WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT BOARD AT ITS FIRST MEETING TODAY (MONDAY).
The BOARD will HOLD ITS SECOND MEETING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING TO 3E HELD IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF THE KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES, HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG.
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HONG KONG DISPLAY LAUNCHED IN LONDON
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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TODAY (MONDAY) LAUNCHED A GRAPHIC DISPLAY IN LONDON, SHOWING THAT BUSINESS IS CONTINUING AS USUAL IN HONG KONG, FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE AGREEMENT ON ITS FUTURE.
THE DISPLAY, ENTITLED +HONG KONG - INTO THE FUTURE*, IS BEING MOUNTED AT THE LONDON HEADQUARTERS OF THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS.
IT SHOWS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN BRITAIN THAT HONG KONG REMAINS A DYNAMIC CITY, ATTRACTIVE TO INVESTORS AS A HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL CENTRE, A FINANCIAL CENTRE AND MARKET IN ITS OWN RIGHT, AND A SPRINGBOARD FOR TRADE WITH CHINA AND COUNTRIES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.
♦AS EVIDENCE OF THE RESILIENCE OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE, INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE TERRITORY GREW BY NEARLY ONE HALF BETWEEN 1982 AND 1984, IN SPITE OF WORLD RECESSION AND UNCERTAINTY THEN ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS ON 1997,+ THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, MR COLVYN HAYE SAID TODAY.
HE SAID MANY FOREIGN INVESTORS HAD BEEN INCREASING THEIR STAKE IN HONG KONG DURING THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, AND THE TREND WAS CONTINUING IN 1985.
+THE TIME IS RIPE FOR BRITISH BUSINESSMEN TO CAPITALISE ON THE TRADITIONAL LINKS WITH THE TERRITORY, THE CONDUCIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHICH PREVAILS AS A RESULT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S NON-1NTERVENTI ON I ST POLICY AND THE PROSPECTS FOR GROWTH ARISING FROM THE COMMITMENT TO STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WRITTEN INTO THE AGREEMENT,+ HE SAID.
MR HAYE TODAY VIEWED THE DISPLAY WITH A NUMBER OF PROMINENT BRITISH BUSINESSMEN AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS, MR STUART WATSON.
/THE SUBJECTS
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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THE SUBJECTS COVERED BY THE DISPLAY INCLUDE THE AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, INDUSTRY, TRADE, HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE, HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL CENTRE, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, LONG TERM PLANNING AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
EACH SUBJECT IS ILLUSTRATED WITH COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, AND THERE ARE GRAPHS, SHOWING THE MAIN AREAS OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION DEALS WITH THE AGREEMENT, AND INCLUDES QUOTES BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER AND CHINESE LEADERS DENG XIAOPING.
THE DISPLAY WILL BE MOVED TO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION IN BISHOPSGATE FOR SHOWING FROM APRIL 5 TO 26, AND THEN TO THE OFFICES OF CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS IN PALL MALL FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS FROM APRIL 27. I
DISPLAY WILL THEN BE MOVED TO OTHER LOCATIONS OVER .THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
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*418 MILLION START TO PUBLIC HOUSING CONTRACTS
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THE AWARD OF PUBLIC HOUSING CONTRACTS IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR 1985-96 GOT OFF TO A $418 MILLION START TODAY WITft THREE BUILDING CONTRACTS BEING SIGNED.
>1
THIS FOLLOWED THE AWARD OF PUBLIC HOUSING CONTRACTS WORTH OVER $3 877 MILLION DURING THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WHICH3ENDED YESTERDAY.
SIGNED BY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR FRED PANG, TODAY’S CONTRACTS ARE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ESTATE BLOCKS TC:PROVIDE MODERN HOMES FOR 26 600 PEOPLE BY 1986-87. >•
THE LARGEST CONTRACT, VALUED AT OVER $202 MILLION; IS FOR THE SECOND AND FINAL PHASES OF HIN KENG ESTATE - THE 10TH PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING PROJECT IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
IT COVERS THE BUILDING OF FOUR DOMESTIC BLOCKS, A^COMMERC I AL CENTRE, A CARPARK, AN INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE AND THREE COOKED FOOD STALLS, PLUS CAISSON FOUNDATIONS FOR TWO OF THE FOUR BLOCKS.
D
ON COMPLETION BY 1987, THE FOUR 35-STOREY TRIDENT BLOCKS WILL HOUSE 12 200 PEOPLE IN 2 652 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS.
3
IN ANOTHER CONTRACT WORTH $170.8 MILLION, TWO TRIBENT AND ONE SLAB BLOCKS WILL BE BUILT AT TIN PING ESTATE IN FANLING/SHEK WU HUI NEW TOWN UNDER ITS SECOND PHASE.
THE THREE MODERN BLOCKS WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 2 594 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS. FOR 11 300 PEOPLE ON COMPLETION BY 1987.
/OTHEB WORKS .......
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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OTHER WORKS INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIX COOKED FOOD STALLS AND A FIVE-STOREY COMMERCIAL CENTRE PROVIDING SHOPS, A RESTAURANT, A MARKET, A CARPARK AND AN INDOOR RECREATION CENTRE.
THE THIRD CONTRACT OF -45.8 MILLION IS FOR THE BUILDING OF A IP-STOREY SLAB BLOCK TO HOUSE 3 100 PEOPLE BY 1986 IN THE THIRD PHASE OF CHUK YUEN ESTATE IN KOWLOON.
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS STILL A PROBLEM
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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG STILL PRESENTED A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM DESPITE ALL THE EDUCATIONAL, PUBLICITY AND OTHER EFFORTS CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, MR A.J. BISLEY, PRINCIPAL LECTURER OF SWIRE SCHOOL OF DESIGN, HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZES PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE 17TH ANNUAL INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION, MR BISLEY SAID INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS CAUSED SUFFERING, HARDSHIP AND MISERY TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ALSO CAUSED CONSIDERABLE • FINANCIAL LOSSES TO SOCIETY.
♦SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS,+ HE SAID.
MR BISLEY SAID THAT SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS WAS ESSENTIAL TO EVERY INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATION, AND THE YOUNGER GENERATION SHOULD EE EDUCATED ABOUT THIS.
HE SAID THE COMPETITION AIMED AT AROUSING THE INTEREST OF THE PARTICIPANTS, WHO MIGHT SELECT THEIR FUTURE CAREERS IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, AND THE AWARENESS OF THOSE EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK.
STUDENTS FROM THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND THE LUNG KONG WORLD FEDERATION SCHOOL LTD. LAU WONG FAT SECONDARY SCHOOL WON TOP HONOURS IN THE CONTEST.
KWOK TIN-WAI OF LUNG KONG WORLD FEDERATION SCHOOL LTD. LAU WONG FAT SECONDARY SCHOOL, WINNER OF SECTION ’A’, WAS AWARDED A CASH COUPON OF $1 500 WHILE LIU SUK-FAN OF LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, WINNER OF SECTION ’B’ WAS AWARDED A CASH COUPON OF S3 000.
TEN ENTRIES EACH FROM ’A’ AND ’B’ SECTIONS WERE ALSO AWARDED CONSOLATION PRIZES OF CASH COUPONS OF $300 AND $600 RESPECTIVELY.
THE WINNING ENTRIES WERE 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 DESIGN DEPARTMENT OF LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, THE CREATIVE SUB-DIVISION OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1935
HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONTINUES * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CONDUCT THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN APRIL TO JUNE, 1985.
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED MONTHLY SINCE AUGUST 1981, COLLECTS INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPOLYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT, AND THE GENERAL SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION.
SOME 5 003 HOUSEHOLDS ARE SELECTED AT RANDOM EACH MONTH FROM ALL DISTRICTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE SURVEY.
ABOUT HALF OF THE HOUSEHOLDS INTERVIEWED THREE MONTHS AGO, WILL BE SURVEYED AGAIN TO MEASURE MORE ACCURATELY THE CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THEN.
AN OFFICIAL LETTER, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, HAS BEEN SENT TO THE SAMPLED HOUSEHOLDS TO EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY AND TO SEEK THEIR COOPERATION.
ASSISTANT CENSUS AND SURVEY OFFICERS, EACH CARRYING AN IDENTITY CARD ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WILL VISIT THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO COLLECT THE REQUIRED INFORMATION.
ALL INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY AND WILL NOT BE REVEALED TO ANY PERSON OR ORGANISATION OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT.
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NEW SOCIAL CENTRE FOR ELDERLY IN TSZ WAN SHAN
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A NEW SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY WILL BE OPENED THIS YEAR ID SERVE THE ELDERLY POPULATION IN THE FIVE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN TSZ WAN SHAN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THERE IS AT PRESENT ONE SOCIAL CENTRE IN TSZ ON ESTATE, THE NEW ONE WILL BE IN TSZ 01 ESTATE.
THE SPOKESMAN WAS COMMENTING ON A STUDY ON SERVICES FOR
THE ELDERLY IN TSZ LOK ESTATE CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG PEOPLE’j COUNCIL OF PUBLIC HOUSING POLICY AND THE TSZ WAN SHAN YOUTH CENTRE OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS. THE FINDINGS wERE MADE PUBLIC EARLIER THIS MONTH.
/AMONG OTHER
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE STUDY CALLED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN TSZ LOK ESTATE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT BOTH THE EXISTING SOCIAL CENTRE IN TSZ ON ESTATE AND THE PLANNED PROJECT IN TSZ Ol ESTATE WOULD SERVE ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN THE WHOLE TSZ WAN SHAN AREA, INCLUDING THOSE LIVING IN TSZ LOK ESTATE.
♦MOREOVER,* HE SAID, +OUR TWO ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRES IN TSZ WAN SHAN AS WELL AS THE TSZ WAN SHAN KAI FONG ASSOCIATION ARE RUNNING SOCIAL CLUBS FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT. THEY HAVE MEMBERS FROM TSZ LOK ESTATE.*
COMMENTING ON THE FINDING THAT 70 PER CENT OF THE ELIGIBLE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN TSZ LOK ESTATE DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS STATEMENT WAS MISLEADING BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY REFERRED TO 11 ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN INTERVIEWED.
+OUR RECORD SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 1 000 PEOPLE FROM TSZ LOK ESTATE ARE RECEIVING OLD AGE ALLOWANCE,* HE SAID.
+OUR DISTRICT STAFF ALWAYS TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO INTRODUCE WELFARE SERVICES TO RESIDENTS,* HE WENT ON. +THIS IS DONE EITHER THROUGH FORMAL AREA COMMITTEE MEETINGS OR AT INFORMAL CONTACTS WITH RESIDENTS.*
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, IT waS COMMON FOR PEOPLE RECEIVING WELFARE BENEFITS OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER TO TELL THEIR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS ABOUT THESE BENEFITo,
+ITS SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY THAT SUCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN TSZ LOK ESTATE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SCHEME,* HE ADDED.
THE DEPARTMENT’S DISTRICT STAFF IN WONG TAI SIN HAVE GOT IN TOUCH IN WITH THE AGENCY THAT CONDUCTED THE STUDY TO OBTAIN THE NAMES OF THOSE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WERE THOUGHT TO J£ IN NEED OF SERVICES BUT DID NOT SEEK HELP BECAUSE IT WAS ALLEGED THEY DID NOT KNOW ABOUT SUCH SERVICES.
+wE WILL FOLLOW UP THESE CASES TO ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO THEM,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
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DISPLAY CARRIES GAS SAFETY MESSAGE
* * K
SOME 30 000 PEOPLE HAVE VISITED THE GAS SAFETY MOBILE EXHIBITION IN 31 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES SINCE FEBRUARY 11.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GAS ADVISER’S OFFICE SAID TODAY THAT THE FIGURE REPRESENTED A DAILY AVERAGE OF 929 VISITORS AT EACH ESTATE.
+WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE,* HE SAID. *IT SHOWS THAT THE PUBLIC ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE SAFE USE OF GAS WATER HEATERS, RUBBER TUBING AND LPG CYLINDERS, AND THAT WE ARE PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THEY WANT.+
ABOUT 860 ENQUIRIES WERE RECEIVED MOSTLY CONCERNING THE CHOICE OF SAFE WATER HEATERS AND HOW EXISTING SUB-STANDARD ONES COULD BE UP-GRADED. ALTHOUGH THIS REPRESENTED ONLY 2.9 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS, IT WAS STILL AN ENCOURAGING START, HE SAID.
+AT THE DISPLAYS’ ADVICE WAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO DID NOT INDICATE A WISH TO REPLACE OR UP-GRADE THEIR SUB-STANDARD WATER HEATERS, TO KEEP THEIR BATHROOM WINDOWS WIDE OPEN WHEN TAKING A BATH OR SHOWER,* HE SAID.
THE EXHIBITION, STAGED ON A ROTATION BASIS, WILL COMPLETE ITS TOUR OF 59 ESTATES BY THE END OF APRIL.
*BUT IN VIEW OF THE GOOD RESPONSE, WE ARE CONSIDERING EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF DISPLAY TO COVER MORE ESTATES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1935
12 -
FISHING JUNK FOR SHA TIN PARK
* K *
A FULL SIZE FISHING JUNK ESPECIALLY BUILT AS A PLAY FEATURE WAS +GROUNDED+ AT THE SHA TIN CENTRAL PARK TODAY (MONDAY),
THE $215 OOO VESSEL WAS TOWED ALONG SHING MUN RIVER AND LIFTED TO THE PARK, CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION, FROM THE NEARBY BANYAN BRIDGE.
THE 12—TONNE FISHING JUNK, MEASURING 13 METRES LONG AND
4.5 METRES WIDE, WAS BUILT BY SUN KWAN HING SHIPYARD.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE BOAT WOULD LATER BE PLACED ON A CONCRETE CRADLE IN ONE OF THE CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS If; THE PARK.
+THE CRADLE WILL THEN BE BURIED IN SAND, AND THE BOAT WILL STAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A SANDPIT WITH ITS BOW HANGING OVER A PADDLING POOL. MASTS AND SAILS OF THE BOAT WILL ALSO BE FITTED,+ HE SAID.
THE CENTRAL PARK, COSTING ABOUT $50 MILLION, IS BEING BUILT ON A TEN-HECTARE SITE ALONG THE NORTHERN BANK OF THE SHING MUN RIVER.
+IT IS CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE TOWN, BETWEEN THE TOWN CENTRE BUILDINGS AND THE RIVER.+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE MAJOR FEATURE OF THE PARK WILL BE A PAVED PLAZA PROVIDING A SETTING FOR THE FUTURE NEW TOWN CULTURAL COMPLEX, WITH FOUNTAINS, AN OPEN-AIR BANDSTAND THEATRE AREA WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY AN AWNING, AND ROWS OF TREES TO PROVIDE SHADE,+ HE SAIj.
OTHER FEATURES WILL INCLUDE A LARGE ARTIFICIAL HILL AND WATERFALL, A TROPICAL GARDEN, ADVENTURE PLAY AREAS, POOLS, PONDS AND FOUNTAINS, PAVILIONS AND EXTENSIVE TREE AND SHRUB PLANTING AREAS.
IN ADDITION, A CONTINUOUS PROMENADE AND CYCLE TRACK WILL BE PROVIDED ALONG THE 800-METRE RIVER FRONTAGE.
+THEY WILL FORM PART OF AN EXTENSIVE PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLE TRACK SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE TOWN,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
WORK ON THE PARK, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS CARRIED OUT BY THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, IS EXPECTED Tu EE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER.
------o-------
/13
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
15
MORE 1984 ANNUAL DIGEST COPIES ON SALE * * * * *
MORE COPIES OP THE 1984 EDITION OF THE ANNUAL DIGEST OF STATISTICS HAVE BEEN PRINTED TO COPE WITH DEMAND, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE FIRST PRINT, PUT OUT IN JANUARY, HAD ALL BEEN SOLD BY THE END OF LAST MONTH, HE SAID.
THE NEW PRINT IS NOW AVAILABLE, ALSO AT $90, AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PERSONS WHO HAD PLACED SUBSCRIPTION ORDERS WOULD BE RECEIVING THEIR COPIES WITHIN THIS WEEK.
THE ANNUAL DIGEST OF STATISTICS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS, AND BRINGS TOGETHER IN ONE VOLUME THE LATEST STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG.
INCLUDED IN ITS COVERAGE ARE STATISTICS ON POPULATION, LABOUR, INDUSTRY, TRADE, NATIONAL INCOME, PUBLIC F I NANCE, MONEY AND BANKING, CONSUMER PRICES, FOOD SUPPLIES, TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, TOURISM, CONSTRUCTION, HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND LAW AND ORDER.
THE DIGEST CONTAINS 280 TABLES, AND COVERS WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD FROM 1974 TO 1983.
-----o------
URBAN COUNCIL NAMES SELECT COMMITTEE HEADS
******
THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF FIVE URBAN COUNCIL SELECT COMMITTEES CHANGED HANDS TODAY, WITH MRS ELSIE ELLIOTT TAKING OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE, MR EDMUND CHOW DISTRICT RELATIONS, MR WALTER SULKE FOOD HYGIENE, MR JOSEPH CHAN LIBRARIES AND MR HOWARD YOUNG RECREATION.
THE ANNUAL ELECTION FOR CHAIRMANSHIP AND VICE CHAIRMANSHIP OF ALL OF THE COUNCIL’S 13 SELECT COMMITTEES WAS HELD AT TODAY’S MEETING OF THE COUNCIL’S STANDING COMMITTEE HE D ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR.
/THE ELECTIONS .......
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
14
THE ELECTIONS RESULTED AS FOLLOWS:
ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE: DR KIM CHAM+, CHAIRMAN (MRS NELLIE FONG,+ VICE CHAI RMAN).
CAPITAL WORKS: MR AUGUSTINE CHUNG+ (MR SAMUEL WONG+).
CULTURE: MR LAWRENCE FUNG+ (MR FREDERICK K.K. FUNG+).
DISTRICT RELATIONS: MR EDMUND CHOW
(MR KEVIN TONG KAM-BIU+).
ENTERTAINMENT: MR STEPHEN LAU + (MR LO KING-MAN) .
ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE: DR DENNY HUANG+ (DR RONALD D.B. LEUNG).
FINANCE: MR H.M.G. FORSGATE+ (MR B.A. BERNACCHI+).
FOOD HYGIENE: MR WALTER SULKE (MISS CECI LI A YEUNG).
LIBRARIES: MR JOSEPH Y.S. CHAN (MR LAM CHAK-PIU).
LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD: MR PETER C.K. CHAN + (MR KWAN LIM-H0+).
MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS: MRS ELSIE ELLIOTT (MR LEE CHIK-YUET+).
MUSEUMS: DR PHILIP KWOK+ (MR PAO PING-WING+).
RECREATION: MR HOWARD YOUNG (MRS MARGARET LI).
(+ INCUMBENT CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN.)
-----o------
/15
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
15
NT, LANTAU ROAD WORKS START JUNE * * *
ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN BOTH THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ON LANTAU ISLAND OVER A PERIOD OF 14 MONTHS FROM JUNE.
ON SHA TAU KOK ROAD, FROM FANLING NEW TOWN TO SHA TAU KOK, WORK WILL INVOLVE CONSTRUCTION OF 30 BUS BAYS, 15 WITH LOADING AND UNLOADING BAYS, AND SEVEN KILOMETRES OF A 1.6-METRE wIDE FOOTPATH, INCLUDING THE WIDENING OF TWO HIGHWAY BRIDGES AT LUNG YEUK TAU AND MA MEI HA TO ACCOMMODATE THE FOOTPATHS.
OTHER WORKS WILL INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BENDS AT MA ME I HA AND WO HANG, AND RECONSTRUCTION OF A BOX CULVERT NEAR SHEK CHUNG AU.
ON LANTAU ISLAND, IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE ON NGONG PING ROAD AND A SECTION OF SHAM WAT ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION wITH NGONG PING ROAD TO KEUNG SHAN ROAD.
THE WORK WILL INVOLVE THE WIDENING OF A 2.5 KILOMETRE LENGTH OF CARRIAGEWAY ON NGONG PING ROAD, TO A WIDTH OF SIX METRES WHERE THE TOPOGRAPHY ALLOWS AND, WHERE THE TERRAIN IS DIFFICULT, THE PROVISION OF INTERVISIBLE PASSING PLACES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT D^AR™ENT SAID THAT BY WIDENING AND PROVIDING THESE PASSING PLACES, IT WAS HOPED THAT THE DANGEROUS PRACTICE OF VEHICLES HAVING TO REVERSE GN ST-EP GRADES TO ALLOW VEHICLES TRAVELLING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO PASS WOULD BE REMOVED.
- 0 - -
MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION * * * * *
TWENTY-EIGHT STALLS AT TAI PO TEMPORARY MARKET AND TAI PO MARKET WILL BE AUCTIONED AT THE OFFICE OF TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE AT HEUNG SZE WUI STREET IN TAI PO AT 9.30 AM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 3).
ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT 16 STALLS ARE AT TAI PO TEMPORARY MARKET WHILE THE REMAINING 12 ARE AT TAI PO MARKET.
/THE UPSET
MONIXY, APRIL 1, 1985
- 16 -
THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTALS RANGE FROM $550 TO $1 550 FOR THE TAI PO TEMPORARY MARKET STALLS AND FROM $525 TO $900 FOR THE TAI PO MARKET STALLS.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START BUSINESS ON MAY 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT AND ARE REQUIRED TO PAY THE RENTALS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
POTENTIAL BIDDERS SHOULD BE OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE AND ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS.
FURTHER PARTICULARS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF THE TAI PO URBAN SERVICES OFFICE OR TELEPHONE 0-6577111 EXTENSION 158.
-----0-----
COUNCILLORS NOMINATED TO DISTRICT BOARDS
*****
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S TWO NEWEST APPOINTEES, MR MARVIN CHEUNG AND MR FAN KAM-PING TODAY ATTENDED THEIR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING, WHEN THE STANDING COMMITTEE MET THIS MORNING — AND SOON FOUND THEMSELVES NOMINATED TO CARRY OUT IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES ON
DISTRICT BOARDS.
MR CHEUNG WAS NOMINATED TO SERVE ON THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD AND MR FAN ON THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD.
OTHER CHANGES IN DISTRICT BOARD NOMINATIONS DECIDED AT TODAY’S MEETING WERE: MR HOWARD YOUNG TO EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AND MR WALTER SULKE TO SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD.
-----0-----
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SHAM SHU I PO AND WONG TAI SIN FOR THE CHING MING FESTIVAL.
IN SHAM SHU I PO, WING MING STREET WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 6 PM FROM APRIL 5 (FRIDAY) TO 8.
THE ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IN YEE KUK WEST STREET, KING LAM STREET, WING HONG STREET AND TAI NAMN WEST STREET wlLL BE SUSPENDED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 7 PM FROM APRIL 4 (THURSDAY) TO 8.
/MIXBERS OF .......
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
- 17 -
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC GOING TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY ABOVE CHING CHEUNG ROAD ARE ADVISED TO USE CASTLE PEAK ROAD, "'EE KUK WEST STREET AND KING LAM STREET. PARKING FACILITIES ARE LIMITED AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
IN WONG TAI SIN, MOTORISTS GOING TO HAMMER HILL CEMETERY ARE ADVISED TO APPROACH VIA LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, PO KONG VILLAGE INTERCHANGE AND PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD.
-----0------
MOORSOM ROAD TO BE EXTENDED
******
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE EXTENSION WORK ON MOORSOM ROAD.
THE CONTRACT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 390 METRES JF CARRIAGEWAY, WITH FOOTPATHS ON BOTH SIDES.
A STEPPED FOOTWAY LINKING MOORSOM ROAD AND TAI HANG ROAD WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED.
ON COMPLETION, THE NEW ROAD WILL LINK UP THE EXISTING MOORSOM ROAD AND CHUN FAI ROAD AND THE STEPPED FOOTWAY WILL PROVIDE A PEDESTRIAN LINK BETWEEN MOORSOM ROAD AND TAI HANG ROAD.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE 1985 AND WILL TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-----0------
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN TUEN MUN *****
FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 4), ROAD LA 39C IN TUEN MUN NEAR CASTLE PEAK POLICE STATION WILL BE DESIGNATED PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES PROHIBITED ZONES.
FROM THE SAME DAY, THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE ON THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF WO YI HOP ROAD BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TAI LOONG STREET WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE JUNCTION OF WO Yl HOP ROAD AND TA CHUEN PING STREET.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONES, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS.
------0-------
/18....,
MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1985
18
WATER STORAGE FIGURES * * * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 59.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 348.591 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 430.773 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 73.5 PER CENT CF CAPACITY.
----0------
SALT WATER CUT
* * *
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KENNEDY TOWN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 4) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TEST.
AFFECTED PREMISES ARE THOSE ALONG KENNEDY TOWN NEW PLAZA, SANDS STREET, SMITHFIELD, FORBES STREET, CADOGAN STREET, NORTH STREET, DAVIS STREET, BELCHER’S STREET, CATCHICK STREET, AND HAU WO STREET.
--------c ---------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SEVERAL BRANCH RESPONSIBILITIES REVISED .......................... 1
REORGANISED DEPARTMENT STARTS WORK ............................... 2
SUPPORT TOR NEW DISTRICT BOARDS STRESSED ......................
UNOFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON BILLS .................................... 5
STUDENTS GET GRANTS TOR UK STUDIES ............................... 5
REPORT SETS OUT TECHNICAL MANPOWER NEEDS ......................... 6
TEACHERS MEET EDUCATION OFFICIALS .................................7
SCREECHING SIRENS ARE A RELIEF TO SOME ........................... 8
TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATE INTEREST RATE CUT ........................ 9
DISTRICT BOARD ELECTS CHAIRMAN .................................. 10
CLINIC FOR SAI KUNG.............................................. 11
VEHICULAR FERRY SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT ........................ 11
TAI KOK TSUI TO HAVE PLAYGROUND ................................. 12
TRAFFIC CHANGES ................................................. 12
TUESDAY, APR IL 2, 1985
1
SEVERAL BRANCH RESPONSIBILITIES REVISED * * * *
THE SCHEDULES OF RESPONSIBILITY OF SEVERAL SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN REVISED FOLLOWING THE CREATION OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND A DEPARTMENTAL AND SECRETARIAT REORGANISATION EFFECTIVE THIS MONTH.
A MUN IC PAL SERVICES BRANCH AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH HAVE BEEN SET UP WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND A REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS COME INTO OPERATION.
AT THE iAME TIME, THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH AND THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, AS WELL AS THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE BECOME DEFUNCT.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE NEW MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH HAS ASSUMED POLICY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE MATTERS (SUCH AS REFUSE COLLECTION, CEMETERIES, ABATTOIRS AND MARKETS) FROM THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS, COUNTRY PARKS AND COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION, LIQUOR LICENSING, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES AT THE TERRITORIAL LEVEL FROM THE FORMER HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH.
IT HAS ALSO ASSUMED FROM THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT POLICY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS RELATING TO THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE PRINCIPAL SPORTING aND CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS.
THE BRANCH IS ACCOMMODATED AT HARBOUR CENTRE, WAN CHAI, AND 3 HEADED BY A SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, ASSISTED BY TWO DEPUTY SECRETARIES - ONE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION (MRS MABEL HAYES) AND ONE FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE (MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON), /.HOSE TITLE IS STYLED COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH nAo ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FORMER COUNCI-S AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH, MAINLY FOR SERVICING THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE HK GOVERNMENT’S OVERSEAS OFFiCES IN THE US, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA, AND POLICY AND PLANNING IN RESPECT Or THE GOVERNMENT’S OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION. IT HAS ALSO TAKEN OVER A RANGE OF FUNCTIONS, GENERALLY RELATED ’0 INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, FOR /.HICH PREVIOUSLY THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH HAD POLICY RESPONSIBILITY.
/SOME TRADITIONAL . .
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
2
SOME TRADITIONAL AND COMMUNITY RELATED MATTERS, SUCH AS LIAISON * I TH THE TUNG WAH GROUP AND THE PO LEUNG KUK, FOR WHICH THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH WAS RESPONSIBLE, HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
THE NEw BRANCH IS HEADED BY A SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ANl INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO, SUPPORTED BY TWO DEPUTY SECRETARIES OVERSEEING INFORMATION (MR ADOLF HSU HSUNG), AND ADMINISTRATION (MR ALEC PURVES).
THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO BE SERVED BY A RE-ORGANISED URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCORPORATED THOSE ELEMENTS OF THE FORMER RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WHICH PROVIDED SERVICES AT THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
REORGANISED DEPARTMENT STARTS
******
WORK
A REORGANISED TO CARRY OUT ITS
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS NOW BEING SERVED BY URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL CONTINUE WIDE RANGING RESPONSIBILITIES BUT ALSO INCORPORATES ™OSE -jcovirps PROVIDED BY THE FORMER RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT
SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE FORMER RECREATION
IN THE URBAN AREAS.
THIS EXPANDED USD IS HEADED BY A NEW AUGUSTINE CHUI, WHO BECOMES THE COUNCIL’S EXECUTIVE OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING POLICIES.
DIRECTOR, MR
PRINCIPAL INTO FORCE ITS
BACK TO 1969,
MR CHUi WHOSE LINKS WITH THE USD GO .
wHEN HE WAS AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH THE DEPARTMENT HAD i£EN DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICE^ FOR THE PAST TWO
YEARS.
HE TAKES OVER THE RUNNING OF A STAFF TOTALLING SOME 18 OOO WHO SERVICE A DEPARTMENT WITl AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF ABOUT $3 *84 MILLION FOR 1985-86.
/Mx CHUI .......
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
3 -
MR CHUI IS ASSISTED BY TWO DEPUTY DIRECTORS, MR JOHN HEYWOOD AND MRS HELEN YU LAI CHING-PING. MR HEYWOOD, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IS HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH WHILE MRS YU, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL SERVICES, RETAINS SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES AS HEAD OF THE CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT BRANCH.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH EVOLVES FROM THE USD’S CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION AND CITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE URBAN ROLE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE REGIONAL AND DISTRICT MACHINERY OF THE DEPARTMENT IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, THE COORDINATION OF THE POLICY-MAKING MACHINERY AND THE OVERALL DIRECTION OF SPECIALIST ADVISORY SERVICES CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.
UNDER THE NEW STRUCTURE, THE BRANCH IS MADE UP OF AN ADMINISTRATION DIVISION, A HEADQUARTERS DIVISION, A LEISURE SERVICES DIVISION, A HONG KONG REGION AND A KOWLOON REGION, AN ACCOUNTS AND SUPPLIES DIVISION, PLUS THE USD TRAINING SCHOOL AND THE INTERNAL AUDIT SECTION. IT ALSO INCLUDES THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WHICH FORMULATES PROPOSALS FOR AND KEEPS UNDER REVIEW THE COUNCIL’S CAPITAL AND MINOR WORKS PROGRAMME AND GENERAL PLANNING POLICIES.
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PURPOSES, THE FORMER KOWLOON EAST AND KOWLOON WEST REGIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE COMBINED INTO ONE KOWLOON REGION, WORKING UNDER ONE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, TO FACILITATE THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE FACILITIES AND SERVICES AT DISTRICT LEVELS.
THE CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT BRANCH TAKES OVER FROM THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN LOOKING AFTER THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT OF POLICY AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS -ERTAINING TO CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND AMENITIES SERVICES IN THE URBAN AREAS.
THE BRANCH IS DIVIDED INTO A CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION, AND A MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES DIVISION.
ALSO UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES ARE THE URBAN COUNCIL SECRETARIAT WHICH PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND THE LEGAL ADVISER’S OFFICE WHICH PROVIDES LEGAL ADVICE ALL MATTERS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
4
SUPPORT FOR NEW DISTRICT BOARDS STRESSED
* * * *
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS TO ENSURE THAT THE RESPONSIVENESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENHANCED, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR LIAO WAS SPEAKING AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT BOARD.
♦THE DISTRICT OFFICER, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WKL HAVE THE CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY OF CO-ORDINATING DISTRICT AFFAIRS AND ENSURING THAT THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WILL RECEIVE EVERY POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE IN THEIR WORK,+ HE SAID.
DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE ADVICE, TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, TO EXPLAIN POLICIES AND DECISIONS, AND TO PRESENT PAPERS AT BOARD MEETINGS.
MR LIAO SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT ALL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, APPOINTED AND ELECTED, WOULD WORK WITH EACH OTHER IN HARMONY "OWARDS THE COMMON GOAL OF ENSURING THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF "HE BOARDS AND ENHANCING THE WELFARE OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS.
+WE HAVE A TRADITION OF CONSENSUS IN OUR POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS AND UNDOUBTEDLY THAT TRADITION WILL BE CARRIED Oh IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS,+ HE ADDED.
MR lIAO NOTED THAT THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT SOARD WAS THE FIRST TO MEET FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF INNOVATIVE CHANGES, WHICH OPENED UP A NEW PAGE IN THE HISTORY OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG.
ALL 19 DISTRICT BOARDS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WILL BE RUN ENTIREL'7 BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, * I TH THE CHAIRMEN BEING ELECTED BY MEMBERS THEMSELVES.
- - 0 -
/5
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
5
UNOFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON BILLS *****
A NUMBER OF RESUMES TOMORROW PROVISIONS) BILL BILL 1985.
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE SPEAKING WHEN DEBATE (WEDNESDAY) ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL 1985 AND THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY
EARLIER, A MOTION WILL BE MOVED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE L,M,T,NG THE CONTINENT UAB?C?TY ~ ™E HONG K0NG EXP0RT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION UNDER CONTRACTS OF INSURANCE, TO $4 200 MILLION AT ANY TIME.
.tCCT^L1L,Q1UELT'0NS WILL BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIALS. THE SCIONS V ILL DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE AN ,RAN|AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, COSTS TO GOVERNMENT FOR ™]nnEr-.BENEFITS T0 L0CAL DIRECTORATE OFFICERS, RESEARCH ON DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND MEASURES TO CONTAIN +AIDS+ IN HONG KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WILL BE CONDUCT!
COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW, THE FINANCE NG ITS REGULAR OPEN SESSION.
THE AGENDA LATER TODAY.
FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE BOXED
STUDENTS GET GRANTS FOR UK STUDIES X * * *
A TOTAL OF 1 327 HONG KONG STUDENTS PURSUING TERTIARY EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM RECEIVED GRANTS TOTALLING 3 357 025 POUNDS STERLING UNDER THE JOINT UNITED KINGDOM-HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS FUNDING SCHEME IN THE 1984-85 ACADEMIC YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, WHICH ADMINISTERS THE SCHEME, SAID TODAY.
THIS NUMBER REPRESENTS 73 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL 1 813 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, COMPARED WITH THE SUCCESS RATE OF 51 PER CENT IN THE PRECEDING YEAR, HE SAID.
THE SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1983-84, IS JOINTLY FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG TO HELP NEEDY HONG KONG STUDENTS MEET THE HIGHER TUITION FEES LEVIED ON OVERSEAS STUDENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS.
/ALL APPLICANTS .......
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
6
ALL APPLICANTS ARE MEANS-TESTED. A STUDENT FROM A POOR FAMILY MAY EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN OUTRIGHT GRANT, MAKING UP THE FULL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OVERSEAS AND HOME STUDENTS' RATES OF CHARGE.
FOR 1984-85, THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION JOINTLY ALLOCATED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AMOUNTS TO 3.8M POUNDS STERLING.
IN ADDITION, 22 STUDENTS WHO DID NOT SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN TIME TO QUALIFY FOR GRANTS UNDER THE JOINT FUNDING SCHEME WERE OFFERED INTEREST-FREE LOANS TOTALLING S518 900. THE LOANS ARE SOLELY FINANCED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE 1985-86 ACADEMIC YEAR WILL START LATER THIS MONTH, AND DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED NEARER THE TIME.
-----o------
REPORT SETS OUT TECHNICAL MANPOWER NEEDS ******
A REPORT, PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH USEFUL INFORMATION IN EVOLVING POLICIES FOR BRINGING ABOUT A BALANCED SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
THE +REPORT ON DEMAND FOR AND SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER IN THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES* WILL ALSO HELP EMPLOYERS IN FORMULATING THEIR TRAINING POLICIES AND CAREERS GUIDANCE OFFICERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN IDENTIFYING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDUSTRY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID.
THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE AGGREGATED DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL MANPOWER AT TECHNOLOGIST LEVEL IN MAJOR INDUSTRIES IS IN THE RANGE OF 1 250 TO 1 400 PER ANNUM.
+AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION RATE, THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES WHO WILL GO INTO EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS OF STUDY, THE ESTIMATED AVERAGE ANNUAL SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGIST GRADUATES FROM 1984 TO 1987 IS ABOUT 1 200,+ THE REPORT SAYS.
THOUGH THE SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGISTS APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY UNDER THE FORECAST DEMAND, THE DEFICIENCY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE MET BY THE OUTPUT FROM COURSES IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY TO BE OFFERED BY THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, THE REPORT SAYS.
/AT TECHNICIAN .......
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985
AT TECHNICIAN LEVEL, THE REPORT ESTIMATES THAT THE AGGREGATED ANNUAL DEMAND IS IN THE RANGE OF 3 350 TO 3 850.
ALLOWING FOR THOSE CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA HOLDERS WHO WILL CONTINUE THEIR STUDY IN HIGHER CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES AND THE PARTICIPATION RATES, THE AVERAGE ANNUAL SUPPLY OF TECHNICIAN GRADUATES BETWEEN 1984 AND 1987 IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 3 400.
THE SUPPLY OF CRAFTSMEN, HOWEVER, FALLS SHORT OF THE FORECAST DEMAND. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE AMOUNT OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER REQUIRED IN MAJOR INDUSTRIES AT THIS LEVEL WAS ABOUT 7 700 IN 1984, AND WILL RISE TO 9 000 IN 1987. THE NUMBER OF TRAINED CRAFT STUDENT. WAS AROUND 2 650 IN 1984 AND WOULD RISE TO 4 450 IN 1987.
HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL SITUATION IS FAR LESS SERIOUS BECAUSE MANY CRAFT JOBS DO NOT REQUIRE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING OR COMPLETION OF CRAFT COURSES, AND CAN BE FILLED BY INTERNAL PROMOTION.
THIS REVIEW, BASED ON THE MANPOWER SURVEYS OF MAJOR INDUSTRIE^ CONDUCTED IN 1982 AND 1983. COVERS THE AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, CIVIL, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY, SURVEYING, CLOTHING TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING, MARINE ENGINEERING AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, PRINTING TECHNOLOGY AND TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES.
IT IS PUBLISHED IN
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
ENGLISH AND CHINESE AND lb On SALE AT THE CENTRE AT $18.5 A COPY.
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TEACHERS MEET EDUCATION OFFICIALS * X * *
MORE THAN 1 000 TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM AIDED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HELD THEIR ANNUAL SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION SESSIONS WITH SENl6« EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFICERS TODAY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THEM AND THE
COLLEAGUES THEY REPRESENT.
THE FREE DISCUSSION SESSIONS ARE HELD EVERY YEAR AND PROVED TO BE A VALUABLE CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HAVE TEACHERS,
THE DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD IN VARIOUS CENTRES ON HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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/8........
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1965
8
SCREECHING SIRENS ARE A RELIEF TO SOME * * * *
THE NOISE FROM SIRENS MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME PARTICULARLY IN QUIET MORNINGS, BUT ARE A RELIEF TO THOSE AWAITING EMERGENCY HELP, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF KOWLOON FIRE COMMAND, MR M. KINGDOM, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
+1 AGREE THE SIRENS ARE DISTURBING BUT I AM SURE THAT THOSE WHO WERE AWAITING OUR ARRIVAL FELT A GREAT MEASURE OF RELIEF AS THE NOISE OF SIRENS CAME CLOSER AND CLOSER,* SAID MR KINGDOM.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY AT WHICH AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO A STATION OFFICER AND TWO FIREMEN FOR THEIR PROMPT ACTIONS IN RESCUING A FILIPINO FAMILY IN THE VERY EARLY MORNING ON LUNAR NEW YEAR’S DAY.
+THIS IS MOST EVIDENT FROM THE FILIPINO FAMILY THAT THEY FELT GREAT RELIEF WHEN THEY HEARD THE SIRENS FROM THE APPROACHING FIRE APPLIANCES,* MR KINGDOM SAID.
THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING FOOLISH IF THEY FOUND NO HELP WAS AROUND, HE SAID.
MR KINGDOM LATER PRESENTED THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES’ HIGH COMMENDATION TO STATION OFFICER CHO WING-NIN FOR HIS DISPLAY OF LEADERSHIP, AND FIRM CONTROL OF A DIFFICULT FIRE SITUATION RESULTING IN THE RESCUE OF SIX RESIDENTS AT A FIRE AT 11A HAU FOOK STREET, ON FEBRUARY 20, 1985.
TWO OTHER FIREMEN, FUNG CHUNG-KAM AND YU KWOK-rAl RECEIVED THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES’ COMMENDATION FOR THEIR SKILL, INITIATIVE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY DURING A FIRE.
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/9........
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1 .
- 9 -
TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATE INTEREST RATE CUT
* * * *
AS FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), THE NEw ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES WILL BE 5.04 PER CENT (TAX FREE) AS AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE OF 5.52 PER CENT (TAX FREE)
NOTICE OF THIS WAS PUBLISHED YESTERDAY (MONDAY) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
'MEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES Io CALCULATED IN ONTHL • 1TEPS AND THE NEW RATE WILL BE S-0.42 PER MONTH PER tWO. VTERE> * !L’_ BE CREDITED AS BEFORE IN RESPECT OF COMPLETED MONTHS BETWEEN PURCHASE AND SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INI ND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID.
INTEREST IS ONLY CREDITED WHEN CERTIFICATES ARE USED TO PAY
■ NO INTEREST IS DUE WHERE THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF A ’CERTIFICATE IS REPAID BY A CHEQUE, HE SAID.
THE NEW RATE WILL APPLY TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISoJED ON OR AFTER 3 APRIL 1985.
CERTIFICATES WHICH WERE ISSUED BEFORE 3 APRIL 1985 WILL CONTINUE TO EARN INTEREST AS FOLLOWS i-
7. * PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
10 FEBRUARY 1984 AND BEFORE 23 MARCH 19S4 ;
5.PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR BEFORE
23 MARCH 1984 AND BEFORE 18 MAY 1984;
8.4 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
18 MAY 1984 AND BEFORE 6 JULY 1984 ;
10.'8% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
6 JULY 1984 AND BEFORE 13 JULY 1984;
4..84? PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED C- OF AFTER
13 JULY 1984 AND BEFORE 10 AUGUST 1984 ,
10.8 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED "N UR aFTER
10 AUGUST 1984 AND BEFORE 31 AUGUST 1984;
9.6 x PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON Oh AFTER
31 AUGUST 1984 AND BEFORE 5 OCTOBER 1984;
8.52* PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER 5 OCTOBER 1984 AND BEFORE 31 OCTOBER 1984;
8.04% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
31 OCTOBER 1984 AND BEFORE 28 NOVEMBER 1984 .
/7.56% .......
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 198$
7.56*
PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER 28 NOVEMBER 1984 AND BEFORE 28 DECEMBER 1984;
7 08% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
28 DECEMBER 1984 AND BEFORE 16 JANUARY 1985;
6.6 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
16 JANUARY 1985 AND BEFORE 30 JANUARY 1985; AND
5.52< PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
30 JANUARY 1985 AND BEFORE 3 APRIL 1985
BU" ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL RULE THAT INTEREST CEASES TO ACCRUE AFTER 36 COMPLETED MONTHS WITHOUT SURRENDER FOR PAYMENT OF TAX.
EXAMPLE: $1 000 CERTIFICATES PURCHASED ON 3 APRIL 1985,
3 MAY 1985 AND 3 JUNE 1985 RESPECTIVELY, SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX DUE ON 2 JULY 1985 WILL HAVE INTEREST CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS:-
ON $1 000, 3 APRIL 1985 TO 2 JULY 1985 n x
3 COMPLETE MONTHS AT $4.20 PER MONTH - $12.60
ON $1 000, 3 MAY 1985 TO 2 JULY 1985
2 COMPLETE MONTHS AT $4.20 PER MONTH - $ 8.40
ON $1 000, 3 JUNE 1985 TO 2 JULY 1985 r
1 COMPLETE MONTH AT $4.20 PER MONTH - $4.20
$25.20
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DISTRICT BOARD ELECTS CHAIRMAN
*****
MR STEPHEN WONG YUEN-CHEUNG WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS SECOND MEETING ON APR IL 23.
- - 0 - -
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1935
11
CLINIC FOR SAI KUNG * * * *
A NEW CLINIC WILL BE BUILT IN SAI KUNG.
THE FOUR-STOREY STRUCTURE, OCCUPYING 1 900 SQUARE METRES AT MAN NIN STREET, COMPRISES A STANDARD OUT-PATIENT, FAMILY HEALTH SERVICES AND DENTAL CLINICS, MATERNITY UNIT AND OTHER ANCILLARY FACILITIES, SUCH AS STAFF ACCOMMODATION AND QUARTERS.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START NEXT MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST NEXT YEAR.
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VEHICULAR FERRY SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT
*****
A SUF. wILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE TRAVELLING HABITS OF MOTORIST. USING VEHICULAR FERRY SERVICES TO ASSIST THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT THE PLANNING OF FUTURE SERVICES.
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY TRANSPORT INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTME WILL START ON THURSDAY (APRIL 4) ON THE SAI WAN nC-KWUN TONG, NORTr POINT-KC^LOON CITY AND NORTH POINT-KwJN TONG SERVICES AND CONTINUc ON THE C'-NTRAL-JORDAN ROAD ROUTE ON APRIL 10, 1985.
INFORMATION REQUIRED INCLUDES ORIGINS AND DESTINATIONS OF CHICLES AND NUMBER OF TRIPS.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE USED FOR THE ANALYSIS OF VOSS-HARBOUR TRAVEL BEHAVIOUR IN THE -’LANNI OF VEHICULAR FERR ERV ICES, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THF SPOKESMAN URGED MOTORISTS TO CO-OPERATE WHEN APPROACHED BY TRANSPORT INSPECTORS FOR INTERVIEWS.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1935
12
TAI KOK TSUI TO HAVE PLAYGROUND
X * * X
A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND SITTING-OUT AREA WILL BE BUILT ON A 325-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF BOUNDARY STREET AND TAI KOK TSUI ROAD.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE FLOWER BEDS, ARBOURS, CONCRETE BENCHES, A STOREROOM, PLAY EQUIPMENT AND SAFETY MATTING FOR THE CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING CALLED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER.
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TRAFFIC CHANGES * * * *
FROM 2 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 5) TO 8 PM THE NEXT DAY, EDINBURGH PLACE EAST BETWEEN THE EASTERN END OF THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND QUEEN’S PIER IN CENTRAL, WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TO ALLOW AN EASTER FAIR TO BE HELD.
AND FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 5), A 20-METRE SECTION ON THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF HARCOURT ROAD, WEST OF RODNEY STREET, WILL BE MADE A 24-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS FOR ROAD WORK.
WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION, NO VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
... ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL:'5-233191
........ WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
..... CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL' MEETING;
GOVT SUPPORTS UNOFFICIALS' CHANGES TO BILL ................ 1
POINTS .RAISED ON ' SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION' ................ 3
INDUCTION COURSES' FOR' ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS URGED........ 5
'WORTHY PEOPLE SOUGHT TO SERVE HK' ........................ 6
MORE THOUGHT NEEDED - BILL BROWN .......................... 8
NEED SFTOJ FOR 'SPECIFIC GUIDELINES' ...................... 10
DISQUALIFICATION CLAUSE WELCOMED........................... 11
NEED FOR COMMUNITY INTERESTS STRESSED ..................... 13
INSOLVENCY BILL - 'A BIG STEP FORWARD' .................... 15
RISING EXPORTS BOOST INSURANCE COVERAGE ................... 16
CLASSIFICATION' CRITERIA EXPLAINED ........................ 17
BOARD OF INQUIRY SET UP ON IRANIAN'S CASE ................. 18
BILL ON GAS FUELS BEING DRAFTED ........................... 1?
FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS SET OUT .............................. 20
USE OF RESTRAINERS STUDIED................................. 21
FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN EXPLAINED......................... 2 3
1985 DB ELECTION REVIEW DUE................................ 24
FULL MEASURES TAKEN TO CONTROL AIDS ....................... 25
/VISUAL ARTS .......
VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION PROVIDED AT ALL LEVELS ................ 27
ACTION TO COMBAT CREDIT CARD CRIME....................• • • • • 28
FIRST REGIONAL TEACHERS' CENTRE PLANNED ...................
TWO BILLS PASSED ..........................................
MORE TO CONTROL ILLEGAL WORLDS IN BUILDINGS ................... 31
1984 RE-EXPORT FIGURES ANALYSED ............................... 32
FOUR QUEEN'S COUNSEL APPOINTED...............................
WORK STARTS ON GENERAL HOSPITAL .............................
HIGH COST OF KEEPING 'HK CLEAN ..............................
NO INTENTION ’TO -+HIVE-OFF+ USD STAFF ......................
NEW MEMBERS GET INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC HOUSING .................
NEW CHAIRMAN'FOR'CLEAN-HK COMMITTEE............................ 3?
YUEN LONG DISTRICT- -BOARD MEETING ............................ 40
HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICES ....................................... 40
REMINDER ON ' ENDANGERED • SPECIES ............................ 41
EDUCATION’INDICATORS-SET OUT .................................. 41
OUTWARD BOUND COURSES OFFERED ............................... 42
PUBLIC MAY HELP' PLANT- TREES ................................. 42
PRESS CONFERENCE ....................................
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
1
GOVT SUPPORTS UNOFFICIALS’ CHANGES TO BILL * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE SEVEN ALTERATIONS PROPOSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR PHILIP SAID THESE HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AT LENGTH WITH THE LAW DRAFTSMEN AND THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
+IN THIS CONNECTION*, SIR PHILIP SAID, +IT IS ALSO GRATIFYING THAT WE HAVE SUCCEEDED TO AN EXTENT IN RESTORING MR BROWN’S FAITH IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S COLLEAGUES IN THE DRAFTING DIVISION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
+THE POSITION IS, INDEED, AS MR BROWN HAS BEEN ADVISED NAMELY, THAT AN INDIVIDUAL ACTING ON BEHALF OF A CORPORATE BODY IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE MEANING OF CLAUSE 13 (2) OF THE BILL, BUT SIMPLY AN ORDINARY HUMAN BEING, NOT ALL THAT DISSIMILAR FROM THE REST OF US,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
REFERRING TO CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS OVER THE DEFINITION OF +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION*, SIR PHILIP EMPHASISED THAT THE DEFINITION CONTAINED IN CLAUSE 2 (4) OF THE BILL WAS NOT EXHAUSTIVE, NOR WAS IT INTENDED TO BE.
+THE OBJECT OF INTRODUCING THIS CONCEPT IS TO ENSURE, AS I EXPLAINED WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING ON MARCH 13, THAT CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE COMPETENT TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE CONSTITUENCY AS A WHOLE BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE FUNCTIONAL AREA CONCERNED AND SO AVOID A SITUATION IN WHICH A PERSON WITH NO CONNECTION WITH THE FUNCTIONAL AREA IS ELECTED.
♦THE TERM ’SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION’ IS INCAPABLE OF BEING PRECISELY DEFINED FOR ITS MEANING EMBRACES A HOST OF VARIABLES AND PERMUTATIONS. THIS IS THE REASON WHY WE HAVE SOUGHT TO EXPLAIN THE CONCEPT BY WAY OF EXAMPLES,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, SIR PHILIP ASSURED MEMBERS THAT, IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT OF THE REGISTRATION OFFICER BEING CALLED UPON TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT AN ASPIRANT CANDIDATE DID HAVE A ^SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION*, HE WOULD BE WELL BRIEFED AND WOULD APPLY COMMON SENSE.
+1 SAY ’IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT’, FOR WE PROPOSE IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVIS IONS)(PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE THAT A CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO BE ENDORSED BY 10 ELECTORS IN THE CONSTITUENCY BEFORE HE MAY STAND WHICH, IN ITSELF, WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ESTABLISHING THAT THERE EXISTS A •SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION’, FOR PRESUMABLY THOSE ELECTORS WILL ALSO EXERCISE COMMON SENSE WHEN TAKING A VIEW ON THE CANDIDATE’S CLAIM TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION,* HE SAID.
/W DR....
WEDNESDAY, aPHIL 3, 1985
ON DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI AND DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP’S TECHNICAL POINT, SIR PHILIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE HOW IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE PROCEDURE REGULATIONS, WHEN THEY CAME FORWARD IN A FEW WEEKS’ TIME, WOULD DEFINE THE MECHANICS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS ITSELF IN ORDER TO THROW UP A CANDIDATE WITH AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CAREFULLY NOTED THE VIEW STRONGLY EXPRESSED BY A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS THAT SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS UNDER THE BILL SHOULD DESIRABLY BE MADE, IN FUTURE, BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
♦THIS VIEW WILL BE CAREFULLY, AND I DARESAY SYMPATHETICALLY, CONSIDERED IN THE REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WE SHALL BE CONDUCTING IN 1987 PARI PASSU WITH THE REVIEW OF HOW THE 1984 WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS HAVE WORKED OUT IN PRACTICE SO THAT CONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN TO ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE THE INTRODUCTION OF A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT,+ « SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE BILL BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND ALSO FOR THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VERY TIGHT TIME CONSTRAINTS UNDER WHICH WE HAD ALL BEEN LABOUR ING.
+THESE CONSTRAINTS ARISE, OF COURSE, FROM THE FACT THAT THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THIS COUNCIL UNTIL NOVEMBER 21 1984, LEAVING ONLY NINE MONTHS FOR ALL THE NECESSARY PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN THE AUTUMN OF 1985 TO BE PUT IN HAND, FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH ORGANISATIONS MAKING UP THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AND FOR ENABLING LEGISLATION TO BE DRAFTED.
♦ THIS IS BECAUSE ACTUAL ELECTIONS BY BOTH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES HAVE TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER LEAVING A MONTH FOR THE GOVERNOR TO COMPLETE THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS,* HE SAID.
♦IT IS A FACT, AND I KNOW THAT MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THIS, THAT UNLESS THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER CAN BEGIN ON APRIL 15, AND NO LATER, AND UNLESS THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICES OF ELECTIONS INVITING NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES ARE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE ON AUGUST 2 AND NO LATER, WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE EITHER THE REGISTRATION CYCLE OR THE ELECTORAL CYCLE IN TIME FOR ELECTION DAY,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
3
POINTS RAISED ON ’SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION’
* * * *
REGISTRATION OFFICERS SHOULD BE THOROUGHLY BRIEFED ON THE CRITERIA OF +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION+ TO BE APPLIED IN RELATION TO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE STRESSED THIS POINT WHEN SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985.
MR WONG SAID ALTHOUGH CLAUSE 2(4) OF THE BILL ATTEMPTED TO GIVE A BROAD DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSTITUTED A +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION*, THIS WAS NOT REALLY HELPFUL IN DECIDING WHETHER A PARTICULAR PERSON HAD A SUBSTANTIAL CONNECTION.
IT WAS THEREFORE NOT SURPRISING, HE SAID, THAT CONCERNS WERE EXPRESSED BY VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, NOT THE LEAST BY (•EMBERS OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP CONVENED BY HIM.
+WHILE MY COLLEAGUES AND I DO APPRECIATE THE DIFFICULTIES IN ARRIVING AT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF SUCH CONNEXION, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT REGISTRATION OFFICERS SHOULD AT LEAST BE THOROUGHLY BRIEFED ON THE CRITERIA TO BE APPLIED.
♦FLEXIBILITY SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH LACK OF CLEAR GUIDELINES,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT UNDOUBTEDLY THE VIEWS OF THE VARIOUS REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS WOULD BE USEFUL IN DRAWING UP THE GUIDELINES AND HE BELIEVED THIS WAS AN AREA WHICH MERITED FURTHER CONSULTATION.
♦REASONS FOR DISQUALIFYING A PERSON FOR NOT HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION SHOULD PREFERABLY BE GIVEN AND AVENUES FOR APPEAL AGAINST THE DECISION OF THE REGISTRATION OFFICER SHOULD BE AVAILABLE,+ MR WONG SAID.
ON THE BILL AS A WHOLE, MR WONG SAID HE REALISED THE ADMINISTRATION WAS WORKING UNDER GREAT PRESSURE BUT IT WAS NEVERTHELESS A MATTER FOR REGRET THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT BILL SHOULD HAVE TO BE PUSHED THROUGH IN THE SHORT SPACE OF THREE WEEKS.
ON BEHALF OF THE AD HOC GROUP, HE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION OF THE VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE FEDERATION CF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE STAFF SIDE OF THE MODEL SCALE I STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL.
TURNING TO THE AGREED AMENDMENTS, MR WONG SAID THAT IN CLAUSE 3(2), THE WORDS +3 MONTHS+ WOULD BE SUBSTITUTED BY •♦90 DAYS*.
/♦THE REASON .......
-V33NESDAY, APRIL 3, 19®5
+THE REASON FOR THIS AMENDMENT IS TO ENSURE THAT THE WORDING IN THE ORDINANCE WILL BE IN LINE WITH THAT OF THE LETTERS PATENT AND THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS,* HE EXPLAINED.
IN CLAUSE 21, HE OBSERVED, THE WORDS +OTHER THAN AS A MEMBER OF AN AUXILIARY FORCE* IN THE EXISTING SUBSECTION (B) WOULD BE DELETED AS THERE WAS NO VALID REASON WHY A MEMBER OF AN AUXILIARY FORCE SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.
ALSO IN THE SAME CLAUSE, A NEW SUBSECTION (2) WOULD BE ADDED, DISQUALIFYING A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND FROM BEING NOMINATED AS A CANDIDATE AND HOLDING OFFICE WHICH ARE NOT PROVIDED IN THE BILL.
ON THE AMENDMENT TO THE SECOND SCHEDULE, MR WONG EXPLAINED THAT IT WOULD ABOLISH THE *TW0 DIVISION* CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE LABOUR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY AS THERE WAS SOME DOUBT AS TO THE NECESSITY OF DIVIDING THE CONSTITUENCY INTO TWO EQUIVALENT ELECTORAL DIVISIONS.
+APART FROM REMOVING CONFUSION, IT WOULD BRING ELECTORS IN THIS CONSTITUENCY IN LINE WITH OTHER FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES,* HE SAID.
AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSES 10, 14(2), 15(2) AND 16 WERE TECHNICAL.
SUMMING UP, MR WONG SAID UNDER CLAUSES 19, 28 AND 46, REGULATIONS MIGHT BE MADE AND THE SCHEDULES AMENDED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL BUT THE AD HOC GROUP FELT RATHER STRONGLY THAT IT WAS DESIRABLE THAT THE POWER TO DO SO SHOULD BE VESTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+THE ADMINISTRATION HAS AGREED TO RE-EXAMINE THIS ISSUE NOT LATER THAN THE COMING REVIEW IN 1987 AND PRESENT INDICATIONS ARE THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS’ REQUEST WOULD BE MET,* HE SAID.
HE OBSERVED THAT A PARELLEL DEVELOPMENT TO THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS THE FORMATION OF A NUMBER OF CIVIC AND POLITICAL GROUPS AND HE CONSIDERED THIS A HEALTHY SIGN.
+IN THE RUN UP TO 1997, WHEN HONG KONG WILL HAVE TO GOVERN ITSELF, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE RIGHT KIND OF LEADERSHIP SHOULD BE FOSTERED.
+OBVIOUSLY THE SOONER SUCH LEADERSHIP EMERGES THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR AN ORDERLY TRANSITION.
+1 AM SURE HONG KONG WILL AGAIN RISE TO THE OCCASION,* NR WONG SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
5
INDUCTION COURSES FOR ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS URGED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WAS URGED TO CONSIDER ORGANISING INDUCTION PROGRAMMES FOR THE 24 MEMBERS WHO WOULD BE ELECTED FROM THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID THE PROGRAMMES WERE TO ACQUAINT THE ELECTED AMBERS WITH THEIR NEW ROLES IN THE CENTRAL POLITICAL ORGAN.
THEY WOULD ALSO FACILITATE THE ELECTED MEMBERS TO WORK PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY TOWARDS THE DECLARED AIMS OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
HE BELIEVED THE INDUCTION SHOULD AIM SPECIFICALLY AT THE FOLLOWING THREE AREAS:
* REAFFIRMING THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SOCIAL STABILITY AND TO THE PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IN THE CONTEXT OF A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY;
* HIGHLIGHTING THE FUNCTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE MASSES AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE NEED TO FOSTER A GENUINE TWO-WAY FLOW OF INFORMED COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM; AND
* EMPHASISING THE NEED TO CO-ORDINATE AND HARMONISE DISTRICT OR SECTORAL INTERESTS WITH THE OVERALL POLICIES AT THE MACRO-LEVEL, AT THE SAME TIME RECOGNISING THE FINANCIAL AND OTHER CONSTRAINTS FACING POLICY MAKERS.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL ITSELF, DR HO SAID HE WAS HAPPY TO NOTE THAT THE PROVISIONS HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE, USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FROM CONSULTATIONS WITH THE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS AND REPRESENTATIONS OF THE VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED.
HE CITED AS EXAMPLE THE RELAXATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO REGISTER AS VOTERS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO INCLUDE THOSE PERSONS WHO WERE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED IN THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL EVEN IF THEY HAD FAILED TO DO SO EARLIER.
REFERRING TO THE USE OF ABSOLUTE MAJORITY PREFERENTIAL VOTING SYSTEM FOR ELECTION FROM THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, DR HO SAID IT WOULD ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE MEMBERS SO ELECTED.
/HOWEVER, HE .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 198$
HOWEVER, HE OBSERVED ONE POSSIBLE CRITICISM OF THIS SYSTEM WAS THAT THE CANDIDATE WHO HAD SECURED THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FIRST PREFERENCE VOTES MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE ELECTED.
-►INSTEAD, A CANDIDATE WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTES EVENLY DISTRIBUTED IN HIGHER PREFERENCES (THAT IS, A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS CHOOSE HIM AS THEIR FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD PREFERENCES) WILL STAND A MUCH BETTER CHANCE,* HE SAID.
DR HO NOTED THAT THE OPERATIONAL DETAILS OF THE ENTIRE ELECTORAL PROCESS WOULD BE DRAWN UP IN THE SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.
+1 WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT HOLD AS WIDE AND THOROUGH CONSULTATION WITH THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AS TIME PERMITS IN DRAFTING THOSE REGULATIONS,* HE SAID.
FINALLY, DR HO SUGGESTED THAT PROPER AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS CLAUSES SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED IN THE 1987 REVIEW IN ORDER TO KEEP IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ROOTING THE POWER OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PEOPLE.
THESE SHOULD INCLUDE TRANSFERRING THE POWER GIVEN TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL IN CLAUSES 19, 28 AND 46 TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND STIPULATING THAT REGULATIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND ELECTION PROCEDURES AS WELL AS AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULES SHOULD BE MADE BY WAY OF A RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID.
------o-------
’WORTHY PEOPLE SOUGHT TO SERVE HK’ * * * *
THE HON ANDREW SO TODAY DESCRIBED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 AS +THE FIRST EDICT CALLING FOR TALENT WHEREBY HONG KONG MAY PROGRESS TOWARDS THE SYSTEM OF HONG KONG PEOPLE RULING HONG KONG*.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR SO SAID IT SPELT OUT THE DETAILS TO ELECT WORTHY AND CAPABLE PEOPLE TO SERVE HONG KONG FROM VARIOUS ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES SO THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE IMPLEMENTED AND ONE BIG STEP BE MADE TOWARDS THE TARGET OF HONG KONG PEOPLE RULING HONG KONG.
/+IT IS.....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
+ IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL CAN EFFECT AN INTRODUCTION OF WORTHY AND CAPABLE PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS SEPTEMBER FOR THE ENACTMENT OF PROPER LAWS FOR HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR SO SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF MORE SPECIFIC ELECTORAL PROVISIONS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HOLD ACTIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH VARIOUS BODIES OF ELECTORS IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT A FAIRER AND .MORE EFFECTIVE SEARCH FOR TALENTS.
HE SAID HE WAS MOST-PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE 380-0DD REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS IN HONG KONG MPGHT NOW ELECT TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO JOIN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
IN THE PAST, MR SO SAID TRADE UNIONS COULD ONLY FIGHT FOR CERTAIN LABOUR LAWS THROUGH LEGITIMATE CONSULTATIONS OR ATTAIN THEIR GOALS BY TAKING PART IN INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ACTIVITIES.
+THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN WANT OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE WORKING CLASS FOR A LONG TIME,* MR SO SAID.
FROM NOW ON, HE SAID, THE WORKERS WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AND THUS FURTHER FULFILLED THE LOFTY AIMS OF THEIR TRADE UNIONS.
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR SO STRESSED THAT WHILE THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG, IT WAS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE THAT IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
♦THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY THAT HONG KONG NOW ENJOYS WILL WEAKEN UNLESS PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES ARE TAKEN,+ HE SAID.
+’PROSPERITY AND STABILITY’ IS NOT MERELY A SLOGAN AND IT WILL NOT COME NATURALLY TO THE LAZY PEOPLE. ITS ATTAINMENT REQUIRES CAPABILITY, DETERMINATION, DEDICATION AS WELL AS SELF-RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE,* MR SO SAID.
FINALLY, MR SO SAID HE WAS GLAD THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN SOUND ADVICE AND CHANGED THE CHINESE TRANSLATION FOR THE TERM +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION* IN THE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM OF THE BILL.
HE SAID THE AMENDED TERM WAS MORE APPROPRIATE.
-----0------
/8........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935
- 8 -
MORE THOUGHT M
NEEDED - BILL BROWN * * * *
MUCH MORE THOUGHT HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THE SELECTION OF BOTH ELECTORS AND CANDIDATES IF THE METHOD OF INDIRECT ELECTION THROUGH FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WERE TO BE CONTINUED, THE HON BILL BROWN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985, MR BROWN ASKED: +WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, SHOULD FOREIGN CORPORATE BODIES WHO MAY ONLY HAVE BEEN IN HONG KONG A FEW MONTHS QUALIFY AS VOTERS - THROUGH MEMBERSHIP CF AN ASSOCIATION - WHILE FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN, WHO MAY HAVE SPENT MOST OF THEIR CAREERS IN HONG KONG, BE DISQUALIFIED AS BEING CANDIDATES UNLESS THEY HAVE 10 YEARS CONTINUOUS RESIDENCE?*
HE BELIEVED HONG KONG BELONGER STATUS WOULD BE A MORE EQUITABLE QUALIFICATION IN THE LATTER CIRCUMSTANCES.
MR BROWN SAID THAT ON A MORE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE, ONE COULD QUERY THE RATIONALE FOR FRAMING THIS BILL TO BE BROADLY SIMILAR WITH EXISTING ELECTORAL LAW INSOFAR AS IT RELATED TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE, THE DISTRICT BOARDS ORDINANCE AND THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE.
WHILE ACCEPTING TIME CONSTRAINTS AS A VALID REASON, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LAW-MAKING LEGISLATURE WERE SO DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER COUNCILS THAT EXISTING PROCEDURES SHOULD DO NO MORE THAN ACT AS GUIDELINES.
+IN THE LONGER TERM IS IT REALLY APPROPRIATE FOR REGULATIONS COVERING SUCH VITAL ISSUES AS THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES, THE PROCEDURES FOR VOTING AND EVEN THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS, TO BE DETERMINED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL BY WAY OF REGULATIONS?* HE ASKED.
MR BROWN CONCEDED THAT SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAD TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, BUT HE CONCURRED WITH HIS COLLEAGUES THAT FOR ISSUES OF THIS IMPORTANCE, FORMAL RESOLUTIONS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE MORE OPEN AND MORE APPROPRIATE.
MR BROWN OBSERVED THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL WAS TO PROVIDE FOR THIS YEAR’S INDIRECT ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+IT WILL CERTAINLY ACHIEVE THAT, BUT WILL IT DO SO IN A WAY THAT LEAVES NO CONFUSION IN THE MINDS OF BOTH ELECTORS AND CANDIDATES AS TO THEIR VARIOUS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS?
♦MOREOVER WILL IT PLACE ON THE STATUTE BOOK LEGISLATION THAT WE SHALL FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IN 1988 AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTION YEARS?* HE ASKED.
/HE SHARED .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1?85
- 9 -
HE SHARED THE VIEW OF HIS COLLEAGUES THAT THE BILL RAISED A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT REQUIRED CLARIFICATION.
HE SAID SOME DEFINITIONS IN THE BILL - SUCH AS THE MEANING OF SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION WITH REGARD TO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES -WOULD REQUIRE BOTH THE ELECTORATE AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXERCISE COMMON SENSE, BUT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE A REAL PROBLEM AREA PROVIDED THOSE CONCERNED WERE ADEQUATELY BRIEFED.
HOWEVER HE SAID EVEN CITIZENS WITH COMMON SENSE COULD BE CONFUSED BY THE SPECIAL MEANINGS WORDS OFTEN ACQUIRED IN LEGISLATION.
HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THAT BANKERS HAD EXPRESSED CONFUSION AS TO WHETHER THE DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES OF MEMBER BANKS, WHO WOULD BE THE INDIVIDUALS CASTING VOTES ON BEHALF OF CORPORATE BODIES, WOULD QUALIFY TO DO SO IN THE EVENT THEY THEMSELVES -AS INDIVIDUALS - HAD BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS.
TO REMOVE ANY DOUBT AND TO HAVE IT ON THE PUBLIC RECORD, HE WISHED THE CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD CONFIRM THAT THE WORD ♦INDIVIDUAL* IN SECTION 13(2) MEANT HUMAN BEINGS AND AN INDIVIDUAL ACTING ON BEHALF OF A CORPORATE BODY IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WAS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 13(2).
CONCLUDING, MR BROWN SAID HE SUPPORTED THIS BILL BECAUSE HE BELIEVED ITS PROVISIONS WOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH COMMON SENSE AND IT WOULD ACHIEVE ITS MAIN PURPOSE OF PROVIDING THE REQUIRED FRAMEWORK FOR INDIRECT ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.
+ JUST AS THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ITSELF WILL BE REVIEWED PRIOR TO THE ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR 1988, I BELIEVE CONCURRENTLY WITH THAT REVIEW WE SHOULD RE-EXAMINE OUR ELECTORAL PROVISIONS.
+1 AM SURE THAT GIVEN TIME BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO IMPROVE ON THE LEGISLATION WE ARE PUTTING ON THE STATUTE BOOK TODAY,* HE SAID.
-----o------
/io .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
10
NEED SEEN FOR ’SPECIFIC GUIDELINES’ X X X *
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE THAT CANDIDATES OFFERING THEMSELVES FOR ELECTION AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FOUR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONSTITUENCIES ENJOYED THE FULL CONFIDENCE OF THEIR MEMBERS, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAI D TODAY.
HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THESE FOUR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY ENSURE REPRESENTATION BY THOSE HAVING THE CONFIDENCE OF ThEIR MEMBERS AND OF THEIR GENERAL COMMITTEE.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED LEGCO DEBATE ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985, MR CHEONG SAID: *AS DRAFTED, ANY PERSON HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION WITH A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY CAN SUBMIT HIMSELF AS A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION PROVIDING HE OBTAINS 10 SPONSORS, HAS THE NECESSARY RESIDENTIAL qualifications AND PAYS A DEPOSIT.*
HE SAID +SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION* WAS DEFINED IN THE BILL AS ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER, PARTNER, DIRECTOR, OFFICER OR WAS CONCERNED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ANY BODY WHICH WAS AN ELECTOR IN A PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY.
+THIS IS A VERY BROAD AND SWEEPING DEFINITION, WHICH COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO POLITICAL OPPORTUNISTS WHO HAD NO DETAILED KNOWLEDGE OF THE SECTOR WHICH THEY WISH TO REPRESENT, AND HAD NO RECORD OF SERVICE TO THAT ORGANISATION, OR EVEN TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF WHICH THEY FORM A PART,* HE SAID.
+SOME MAY SAY THAT, UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, SUCH A CANDIDATE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SECURE THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO ENSURE HIS ELECTION.
*YET IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD HAS TAUGHT US THAT WITH ELECTIONS ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.*
THERE WAS THEREFORE LEGITIMATE CONCERN WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED THAT, THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CHARM AND WELL-ORGANISED CANVASSING, SUCH A PERSON COULD SECURE ELECTION AND YET BE QUITE UNABLE TO REPRESENT THE VIEWS AND REAL INTERESTS OF HONG KONG’S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY GENERALLY AND OF THEIR MEMBERS IN PARTICULAR.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES SHOULD BE SET OUT TO DEFINE THE TERM 'SUBSTANTIAL CONNEXION’ MORE PRECISELY THAN IN THE BILL AND SHOULD BE USED BY THE REGISTRATION OFFICER IN CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT A CANDIDATE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO STAND FOR ELECTION, MR CHEONG SAID.
SUCH DETAILS WOULD NECESSARILY BE PUBLISHED SO THAT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES MIGHT MEASURE THEIR CREDENTIALS AGAINST THEM BEFORE REGISTRATION AS A CANDIDATE.
/+DUE TO
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
+ DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINT, SUCH PROPOSED GUIDELINES CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY, BUT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO INCLUDING SUCH GUIDELINES IN THE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE LATER OR THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTIONS INCLUDING THE APPROVAL OF CANDI DATES.+
MR CHEONG SAID ALL FOUR ORGANISATIONS WERE WORKING TOWARDS PREPARING GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL DIVISIONS OF ThE TWO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
THE COMMON OBJECTIVE WAS TO REQUIRE A CANDIDATE TO SHOW THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANISATIONS AND TO HONG KONG’S COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY.
+ HE COULD IDENTIFY SUCH A RECORD THROUGH HIS ELECTION, TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEES OF THE FOUR ORGANISATIONS, AND/OR BY SERVICE ON THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, BY MEMBERSHIP OF THE VARIOUS STATUTORY OR NON-STATUTORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES LISTED IN THE CIVIL LIST, OR BY HIS MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORGANISATIONS’ INTERNAL COMMITTEES.
+ SUCH CRITERIA, IF ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND INCLUDED IN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF CANDIDATES FOR THE FOUR CONSTITUENCIES, WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURE THAT ALL CANDIDATES APPROVED BY THE REGISTRATION OFFICER TO STAND FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY,* MR CHEONG SAID.
DISQUALIFICATION CLAUSE WELCOMED
*****
A NEW CLAUSE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 THAT A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING NOMINATED AS A CANDIDATE AND FROM HOLDING OFFICE AS AN ELECTED NEMBER WAS WELCOMED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR IP SAID CONSIDERING THAT UNDER CLAUSE 15(2) (B) A PERSON SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED AS A VOTER IF HE WAS ALLEGED TO BE A MENTALLY DISORDERED PERSON UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE WHERE THE COURT HAD DECIDED THAT HE WAS OF UNSOUND MIND AND INCAPABLE OF MANAGING HIMSELF AND HIS OWN AFFAIRS, IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY THAT AN EQUIVALENT PROVISION DID NOT APPEAR UNDER CLAUSE 21, AS A GROUND FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATURE OR FOR HOLDING OFFICE AS A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER.
+AFTER ALL, IT MUST BE MORE IMPORTANT TO r.AVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH SOUND MIND AND JUDGEMENT TO ADVISE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS BE THEY ELECTED MEMBERS OR APPOINTED MEMBERS.
/+ALSO X-USilZ.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 198?
12
♦ ALSO THERE MUST BE A WAV' TO REMOVE A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND FROM OFFICE SO THAT HIS CONSTITUENCY CAN ELECT A REALLY COMPETENT REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE THEIR INTEREST,* SHE SAID.
DR IP SAID SHE WAS GLAD THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD AGREED TO AMEND THE BILL TO MEET THIS POINT WITH A NEW CLAUSE 21(2) WHICH READ:-
+A PERSON SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED:-
(A) FROM BEING NOMINATED AS A CANDIDATE IN A. ELECTION IF THERE IS IN FORCE A DECISION UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE THAT HE IS OF UNSOUND MIND AND INCAPABLE OF MANAGING HIMSELF AND HIS AFFAIRS;
(B) FROM HOLDING OFFICE AS AN ELECTED MEMBER IF A DECISION IS MADE UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE THAT HE IS OF UNSOUND MIND AND INCAPABLE OF MANAGING HIMSELF AND HIS AFFAIRS, BUT A PERSON DISQUALIFIED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR RE-ELECTION IF UNDER THAT ORDINANCE IT IS SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND THAT HIS UNSOUNDNESS OF MIND HAS CEASED.*
+1 HOPE CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO AMEND THE DISTRICT BOARD AND URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCES SO AS TO BRING THEM BOTH IN LINE WITH THIS ORDINANCE,* SHE ADDED.
COMMENTING ON THE METHOD OF VOTE COUNTING FOR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES BY WAY OF +AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY*, DR IP SAID SHE BELIEVED THAT UNLESS THE VOTERS WERE BY LAW REQUIRED TO INDICATE THEIR SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CHOICE ON THE BALLOT PAPERS, IT MIGHT DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING THIS PRINCIPLE.
BY +ABSOLUTE MAJORITY*, DR IP SAID SHE WAS GIVEN TO BELIEVE THAT THE VOTERS MIGHT INDICATE ON THE BALLOT PAPER HIS FIRST, SECOND, THIRD CHOICE ETC. OF CANDIDATES. WHEN THE VOTES WERE COUNTED, THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO OBTAIN OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE FIRST CHOICE VOTES WOULD BE ELECTED. IF NO CANDIDATE MANAGED TO WIN IN THIS FIRST COUNT, THE SECOND CHOICE VOTES WOULD ALSO BE COUNTED SO AS TO IDENTIFY THE FIRST PERSON TO GET OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VOTES OF BOTH THE FIRST AND THE SECOND CHOICES. THIS PROCESS WOULD CONTINUE UNTIL A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IS PRODUCED.
DR IP WARNED THAT IF NO VOTER SHOULD PUT DOWN HIS SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT CHOICE THERE WOULD BE A REAL DANGER THAT NO CANDIDATE WOULD PASS THE 50 PER CENT MARK IN A PRETTY EVEN HANDED CONTEST.
+IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN, I FEAR THAT REVOTING MAY BE NECESSARY AND IT WILL BE TIME WASTED. 1 ALSO CONSIDER That TO BE FAIR, FIRST CHOICE VOTES SHOULD SCORE MORE THAN SECC.^ CHOICE VOTES AND LIKEWISE FOR THE SUBSEQUENT VOTES, WHETHER SUCH CALCULATIONS ARE DONE MANUALLY OR BY COMPUTER IT SHOUi-. STILL BE POSSIBLE,* SHE SAID.
/n ....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
" 13 -
NEED FOR COMMUNITY INTERESTS STRESSED
* * * *
THE SPIRIT OF ELECTION RESTED ON THE POWER OF THE ELECTOR TO CHOOSE AND SUPERVISE, THE HON CHAN YING-LUN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHAN, SPEAKING ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985, SAID SELECTION MEANT COMPETIT'ON AND COMPETITION WOULD BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENT. THIS WAS THE KEY TO HONG KONG’S SUCCESS.
+AN ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER MUST BE ABLE TO STAND THE TEST OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES,* HE SAID.
+NATURALLY, ELECTED MEMBERS MUST REPRESENT THE INTERESTS CF THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL COLLEGE OR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AS THE CASE MAY BE.
+BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY MUST BE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.*
COMPETITION WOULD ACT AS A CHECKING MECHANISM, ALTHOUGH THIS MIGHT NOT ALWAYS BE THE CASE.
+TO PREVENT UNHEALTHLY COMPETITION AMONG MEMBERS, AND TO PUT THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIEF MINDS, THE ULTIMATE SAFEGUARD MUST REST WITH THE SUPERVISION CF THE ELECTORATE,* MR CHAN SAID.
HE SAID ONLY WHEN THE POWER OF THE ELECTORATE IN SELECTING AND MONITORING THE SYSTEM WAS SENSIBLY EXERCISED WOULD THE ELECTION BE MEANINGFUL.
AND WITH THIS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT DEPART FROM THE OBJECTIVE OF FOSTERING THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
+1 BELIEVE THAT THE ELECTORS COULD EXERCISE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THE POWERS OF MONITORING AND SELECTING OF LEGISLATORS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL. THEREFORE, I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR THE NEW LEGISLATURE,* HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE BILL STARTED A +NEW PAGE* AND HE PARTICULARLY SUPPORTED ITS UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.
ONE OF THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPING A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS TO HAVE A SYSTEM FIRMLY ROOTED IN HONG KOtyG AND MORE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE PEOPLE.
/+TO .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
14 -
+T0 ACHIEVE THIS AIM, THE WHOLE ELECTORAL SYSTEM MUST BE DEMOCRATIC} AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, ANYBODY WHO MEETS CERTAIN BASIC QUALIFICATIONS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAND FOR ELECTIONS,* HE SAID.
+AFTER CAREFULLY STUDY THE BILL, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT IT DOES PROVIDE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.*
HE SAID, SINCE THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL, MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME FUNCTIONAL GROUPS, HAD RAISED RESERVATIONS REGARDING THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDATES AND ELECTED MEMBERS AS PROVIDED IN THE BILL.
THE FUNCTIONAL GROUPS WERE PARTICULARLY WORRIED THAT, WITH A LOOSE DEFINITION OF WHAT CONSITUTED A SUBSTANTIAL CONNECTION, MEMBERS SO ELECTED WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS.
+GIVEN THAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEMBERS ARE SO IMPORTANT, SOME PEOPLE MAY QUERY WHY THE BILL DOES NOT STIPULATE THE QUALITY OF CANDIDATES, OR ENSURE THAT ELECTED MEMBERS COULD CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL COLLEGE OR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES,* MR CHAN SAID.
IN FACT, HE SAID, PART V OF THE BILL HAD ALREADY LAID DOWN THE QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES AND ELECTED MEMBERS.
ALTHOUGH TO SOME PEOPLE THE PROVISIONS DID NOT SPECIFY THE EXPERIENCES AND PERSONALITIES OF CANDIDATES AND THEY FELT THAT THE QUALITY CONTROL MECHANISM IN THE SYSTEM WAS HIGHLY INADEQUATE, WE COULD NOT, HOWEVER, OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT IN A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM THE ROLE OF QUALITY CONTROL WAS PERFORMED BY THE ELECTORATE.
+IF IT IS HOPED THAT ELECTED MEMBERS COULD TRULY CONTRIBUTE TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK IS TO GET EACH VOTER TO DISCHARGE HIS DUTY,* MR CHAN SAID. HE CALLED ON ALL QUALIFIED VOTERS WHO HAD FAILED TO REGISTER TO DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
- 0 -
/15
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 15 -
INSOLVENCY BILL - ’A BIG STEP FORWARD’ X * * *
BlLL 1985 WAS
THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY
ANOTHER BIG STEP BY HONG KONG IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS, WHO CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE SUCCESS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE HON K.C. CHAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE GuUNCI L TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, MR CHAN SAID : +IN INSOLVENCY CASES, WORKERS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY HIT BY THE SHOCK OF UNEMPLOYMENT BY THE OFTEN FUTILE EFFORTS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT QUICKLY* AND BY THE THREAT OF SUBSISTENCE WHICH ARE ALL REAL AND IMMEDIATE PRESSURES ON THEIR FAMILIES. +
HE SAID THE BILL WOULD ACHIEVE TWO IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES LONGED FOR BY WORKERS:
X MAKE GOOD WAGES UP TO FOUR MONTHS, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM OF $8 OOO PER WORKER; AND
X PROVIDE IMMEDIATE HELP, SINCE APPLICATION PROCEDURES WERE STREAMLINED AND THE WORKER COULD BE PAID WITHIN ONE MONTH.
HARDSHIP WAS THEREFORE KEPT TO AN ACCEPTABLE MINIMUM WHEN ONE CONSIDERED THAT WAGES WERE NOT PAID DAILY BUT HALF-MONTHLY AND SALARIES PAID MONTHLY, HE ADDED.
MR CHAN SAID THE BILL WAS GENERALLY WELCOMED BY EMPLOYEES INCLUDING PRESSURE GROUPS, WITH THE USUAL RIDER FOR MORE AND ' RETROACTI VE EFFECT.
+1 MUST REMIND THEM THAT ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET FUNDS STATED AND TESTED FIRST + HE SAID. ’
ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND, HE SAID THEY OBVIOUSLY
COULD NOT COME FROM EMPLOYEES, NOR WAS IT FAIR TO DIP INTO THE PUBLIC COFFERS FOR EXPENDITURE WHICH DID NOT BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
♦ THIS SMALL LEVY HAS TO COME FROM EMPLOYERS OR BUSINESSMEN TO COVER THEIR ’FALLEN’ BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.
+FAIR-MINDED EMPLOYERS WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE RELEVANT WORKING GROUP HAD GRACIOUSLY ACCEPTED THIS CONCEPT.+ HE SAID.
THANKING MR CHAN FOR HIS WARM SUPPORT FOR THIS BILL, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, MOVED COMMITTEE STAG-AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSE 18 OF THE BILL.
/THS AMOiDMaKTS.......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
16 -
THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED WERE OF A PURELY TECHNICAL NATURE AND HAD BEEN DRAFTED, ON LEGAL ADVICE, TO BRING THE WORDING OF CLAUSE 18 OF THE BILL MORE IN LINE WITH THAT OF CLAUSE 16 AND CORRESPONDING PROVISIONS IN THE BANKRUPTCY ORDINANCE.
NO CHANGE OF SUBSTANCE IN THE INTENTION OF THE BILL WAS INVOLVED, HE SAID.
RISING EXPORTS BOOST INSURANCE COVERAGE * * * *
THE EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION’S CONTINGENT LIABILITY WAS INCREASED BY $700 MILLION TO $4 200 MILLION, IN LINE WITH EXPORT GROWTH, BY APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING ON THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO, SAID THAT WITH EXPORTS GOING WELL, THE CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF THE CORPORATION WERE INCREASING AT THE RATE OF ABOUT $140 MILLION A QUARTER.
+IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE CORPORATION’S ADVISORY BOARD CONSIDERS THAT THE EXISTING STATUTORY LIMIT MAY BE REACHED BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
+IT HAS JUST ADVISED THAT THE MAXIMUM CONTINGENT LIABILITY SHOULD BE INCREASED BY $700 MILLION TO $4 200 MILLION,+ HE SAID.
FAILURE TO RAISE THE LIMIT, MR HO SAID, COULD RESULT IN THE CORPORATION HAVING TO TURN AWAY FURTHER BUSINESS AND DISCOURAGE EXPORTS.
ON THE BASIS OF THE USUAL GEARING OF THREE, UP TO $233 MILLION WOULD HAVE TO BE SET ASIDE FROM THE FREE FISCAL RESERVES AS COVER FOR THE ADDITIONAL CONTINGENT LIABILITY, HE SAID.
THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY, MR HO STRESSED, WAS A THEORETICAL AMOUNT, NEVER LIKELY TO BE AT RISK AT ANY ONE TIME.
HE RECALLED THAT THE MAXIMUM CONTINGENT LIABILITY OF THE CORPORATION HAD BEEN INCREASED BY $500 MILLION TO $3 500 MILLION IN APRIL LAST YEAR.
DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE CORPORATION’S LIABILITY UNDER CONTRACTS OF INSURANCE HAD RISEN BY $560 MILLION AND AT THE END CF JANUARY THIS YEAR STOOD AT $3 317 MILLION, HE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA EXPLAINED
* * *
FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS WERE CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL IF THEY CONTAINED INFORMATION OR MATERIAL, WHICH, IF DISCLOSED, WOULD BE PREJUDICIAL TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR PHILIP SAID THE FACT WAS THAT ON OCCASIONS, WHEN SEEKING APPROVAL FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A NEW OR AMENDED COMMITMENT, ARGUMENTS HAD TO BE DEPLOYED AND EVIDENCE PRODUCED OF A CONFIDENTIAL NATURE.
+THUS THE ITEM ITSELF HAD TO BE DISCUSSED IN A CLOSED FETING, BUT THE ACTUAL DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE WAS NOT CONFIDENTIAL, OBVIOUSLY, FOR THE PUBLISHED ESTIMATES WERE, IN EFFECT, AMENDED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,+ HE SAID.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE CHIEF SECRETARY’S REPLY SHOWED THAT IN 1984-85, 41 FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA ITEMS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 294 — OR 20 PER CENT -- HAD BEEN CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL, SOMETIMES RATHER UNNECESSARILY.
ASSURANCE WAS GIVEN THAT, SINCE FINANCE COMMITTEE NOW MET IN PUBLIC, THE NUMBER OF AGENDA ITEMS CLASSIFIED AS CONFIDENTIAL WOULD BE KEPT +T0 THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM* IN THE FUTURE.
ALSO, MEMBERS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED ON MARCH 30 THAT CONFIDENTIAL ITEM C.l INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WOULD BE DOWNGRADED AND RE-NUMBERED AS ITEM B.2.
THE ITEM DEALT WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF REPORT NO. 10 OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS CF SERVICE ON OVERTIME AND RELATED ALLOWANCES.
THE ITEM WAS MARKED CONFIDENTIAL BECAUSE THE PAPERS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT HAD BEEN IN A CONFIDENTIAL FILE. BUT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR CONFIDENTIAL FILES TO CONTAIN PAPERS THAT NEED NOT BE SO CLASSIFIED. THE FACT WAS THAT TO HAVE OPEN AND CONFIDENTIAL VERSIONS OF FILES DEALING WITH A SPECIFIC SUBJECT WOULD BE INCONVENIENT.
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/18 .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
16
BOARD OF INQUIRY SET UP ON IRANIAN’S CASE
*****
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A BOARD OF INuUIRY TO EXAMINE THE CORONER’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CASE OF THE IRANIAN wHO DIED IN THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL CUSTODIAL WARD LAST JULI.The DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. .HONG, oAlD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+WHEN THE INQUIRY IS COMPLETED, A FORMAL RESPONSE WILL BE MADE TO THE CORONER TO INFORM HIM OF ANY ACTION TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT HIS RECOMMENDATIONS,* DR THONG SAID IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE rtON LYDIA DUNN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
DR THONG SAID THAT ONE OF THE AIMS OF TH- BOARD OF INQUIRY «Ao TO EXAMINE THE CORONER’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO SEE WHETHER THEY wERE PRACTICABLE AND IF SO, WHAT SPECIFIC ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN IN ORDeK TO IMPLEMENT THEM.
THE BOARD WOULD ALSO STUDY WHETHER THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE IN REFERENCE TO EXISTING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES AND WHETHER THEY COULD SERVE AS A BASIS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
DR THONG TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT HE WAS STILL wAlTI'.o FOR THE TRANSCRIPT OF THE COMPLETE PROCEEDINGS WHICH HE HAD EARLIER REuUESTtJ FROM THE CORONER.
ON THE QUESTION OF NORMAL PROCEDURES FOR THE PROVISION OF •'EDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE IN NEED, DR THONG SAID THAT PATIENTS IN THE CUSTODIAL WARD, LIKE ANY OTHER PATIENTS, WERE PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF AN APPROPRIATE SPECIALTY UNIT.
+ANY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS NEEDED, INCLUDING EMERGENCY TREATMENT, IS PROVIDED BY THE MEDICAL STAFF DF TH-T PARTICULAR UNIT UNDER WHOSE CARE THE PATIENT HAS BEEN PLACED,* <iE SAID.
ON THE USE OF RESTRAINERS FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES, THE DIRECTOR SAID ThAT THEY WERE USED FROM TIM, TO .TIME AS A NORMAL PART OF THl TREATMENT PROCEDURE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE OF THE USE OF RESTRAINERS WERE INHERENT IN THE TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION OF NURSING PERSONNEL.
THUS, HE SAID, RESTRAINERS WERE USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE NURSING STAFF IN THE INTEREST OF THE PATIENTS THEMoELVES, TO PREVe.i THEM FROM INJURING THEMSELVES OR INTERFERRING WITH CERTAIN MODES OF TREATMENT.
WSJNisSIUY, aPKIL 3, 1985
- 19 -
AS REGARDS THE PROVISION OF INTERPRETERS FOK THOSE PATIENTo ..HU DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH OR CHINESE, DR THONG SAID, IT ..AS THE EXISTING PRACTICE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS THAT, H'ENEVER NECESSARY, ASSISTANCE wAS SOUGHT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE FROM THE "P AT I ENT’S RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OR FROM MEMBERS OF THE HOSPITAL STAFF.
+IF THESE SOURCES ARE UNAVAILABLE, ASSISTANCE MAY THEN BE SOUGHT FROM OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL SUCH AS THE CONSULATES,* HE ADDED.
ACCORDING TO MEDICAL RECORDS, THE 23-vEAR-OLD IRANIA.s, MR AZOlI HAMID REZA, WHO WAS DETAINED UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, wAS ADMITTED INTO THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL CUSTODIAL .-.aRD IN THE EARLY HOURS OF JULY 21, 1984 UNDER CARE FOR +RA?ID BREATHING, SWEATING AND FEVER.+
HE WAS PLACED UNDER THE CARE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG MEDICAL UNIT. THE PATIENT DIED ON JULY 28, 1984. THE CAUSE OF DcATH AS SHOWN BY THE POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION wAS BRONCHOPNEUMONI A.
BILL ON GAS FUELS BEING DRAFTED * * * * *
A COMPREHENSIVE BILL WAS BEING DRAFTED TO REGULATE The MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSPORT AND DISTRIBUTION OF LPG AND OTHER GAS FUELS AND SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO ON MEASURES TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF LPG CYLINDERS.
+LPG CYLINDERS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO BE OF A TYPE APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES AND TO MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS LAID DOWN IN THE RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARDS OR THEIR EQUIVALENT,* MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
+THE LAW ALSO LAYS DOwN CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING CYLINDERS ONCE THEY ARE IN USE.*
A NUMBER OF OTHER MEASURES, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, HAL BEcN INTRODUCED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE SAFETY CF LPG CYLINDERS.
AS A RESULT OF AN AGREEMENT REACHED FIRE SERVICES AND ThE OIL INDUSTRY, EACH TO A LEAKAGE TEST AFTER RE-FILLING.
BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR OF
CYLINDER WAS SUBJECTED
/•♦•Hv AHjITIOK f
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 20
+ IN ADDITION, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES AND THE GAS ADVISER ARE NEGOTIATING WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY TO INTRODUCE FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE INSPECTION OF CYLINDER BODIES AND CYLINDER VALVES BEFORE RE-FILLING,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
HE SAID THAT ADDITIONAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS HAD BEEN INTRODUCED ON +DIM SUM+ TROLLEYS USING LPG AS FUEL.
+FAILURE TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS WOULD RESULT IN THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES ISSUING FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES AGAINST THE RESTAURANT OPERATORS,* HE ADDED.
HE SAID THAT FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING, A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN INCLUDING PUBLICITY ON THE SAFE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF LPG CYLINDERS WOULD BE MOUNTED IN 1985-86.
FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS SET OUT * * * *
THE MAXIMUM COSTS TO GOVERNMENT FOR PROVIDING A LOCAL DIRECTORATE OFFICER WITH THE FRINGE BENEFITS OF PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE, OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCE AND SCHOOL PASSAGES, AND LEAVE PASSAGES WAS ABOUT $260 000 A YEAR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
GIVING FIGURES IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION AND AN EXAMPLE QUOTED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, SIR PHILIP SAID THAT FOR AN OFFICER ON DI OF THE DIRECTORATE PAY SCALE WHO WAS MARRIED AND HAD FOUR CHILDREN STUDYING IN THE U.K., THE THEORETICAL COSTS COULD BE BROKEN DOWN INTO: $97 200 A YEAR FOR PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE, $158 500 A YEAR FOR OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCE, AND TWO RETURN SCHOOL PASSAGES FOR EACH CHILD EACH YEAR; AND $12 613 A YEAR FOR LEAVE PASSAGES EVERY SECOND YEAR FOR THE OFFICER AND DEPENDANTS, EXCLUDING THOSE IN RECEIPT OF SCHOOL PASSAGES.
SIR PHILIP SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN FOR WHOM OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCES AND SCHOOL PASSAGES WERE CURRENTLY BEING PAID WORKED OUT AT AN AVERAGE OF 1.09 CHILDREN FOR EACH CLAIMANT OFFICER.
HE SAID THAT DR IP’S EXAMPLE OF A DI OFFICER WITH FOUR CHILDREN BEING EDUCATED OVERSEAS WAS A LITTLE UNREALISTIC, aS THERE WERE NO OFFICERS, LOCAL OR OVERSEAS, OF ANY RANK, CLAIMING OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCES FOR FOUR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
IN FACT, SIR PHILIP SAID, 80 PER CENT OF THE 2 060 OFFICER (1 650 LOCALS AND 410 EXPATRIATES) CLAIMING OVERSEAS EDUCATION ALLOWANCE CLAIMED FOR ONE CHILD ONLY, 19 PER CENT C^Ai-*iED FOR TwO CHILDREN AND ONE PER CENT CLAIMED FOR THREE.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
USE OF RESTRAINERS STUDIED
* * *
PUBLIC HOSPITALS HAD BEEN REQUESTED TO MONITOR AND REVIEW THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ON CHILDREN, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.
THE MEASURES WERE INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE USE OF RESTRAINERS WERE OBSERVED, AND TO ENABLE PRACTICAL MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO MINIMISE SUCH USE IN THE HOSPITALS.
DR THONG SAID THE REQUEST HAD BEEN MADE +IN VIEW OF THE GREAT CONCERN THAT HAD BEEN EXPRESSED IN PUBLIC OVER THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ON CHILDREN.*
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, DR THONG ASSURED MEMBERS THAT HE SHARED THE CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE USE OF RESTRAINERS BUT ADDED THAT HE WOULD KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON THE SUBJECT.
+1 THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT AS A COMMON GROUND OF AGREEMENT, ALL CONCERNED ARE ANXIOUS TO SEE THAT THE YOUNG PATIENTS IN OUR HOSPITALS ARE GIVEN GOOD MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE AND BROUGHT BACK TO HEALTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN SAFETY AND WITHOUT UNDUE HARM IN THE TREATMENT PROCESS,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED FROM TIME TO TIME IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS AS AN AID TO MEDICAL AND NURSING CARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ATTENDING NURSING PERSONNEL, AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE PATIENT HIMSELF.
HE EXPLAINED THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED FOR THREE MAIN REASONS:
(A) AS PART OF GOOD NURSING AND MEDICAL CARE SO AS TO PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM INTERFERRING WITH THE LIFE-SUPPORTING DEVICES AND MODES OF TREATMENT AND TO PROMOTE THE HEALING PROCESS;
(B) TO PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM INJURING HIMSELF; AND
(C) TO PREVENT THE PATIENT FROM FALLING.
HE SAID HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE STAFF WORKING IN THE PAEDIATRIC WARDS THAT RESTRAINERS WERE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE AND PRACTICE FOR THE USE OF SUCH, WHICH WERE INHERENT IN THE TRAINING OF NURSING PERSONNEL.
+THESE RESTRAINERS ARE USED WITH DUE CARE AND ONLY WHEN CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY TRAINED STAFF AND EVEN THEN THEY ARE NOT REGARDED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONAL OBSERVATION BY THE STAFF,* HE SAID.
/DK THCNG .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
DR THONG POINTED OUT ThAT A RESTRAINER WAS AN AID TO NURSING AND ITS USE DID NOT MEAN CONFINEMENT AND COMPLETE IMMOBILISATION OF THE PATIENT.
IN FACT, THE USUAL FORM OF RESTRAINERS USED IN TriE WARDS WAS A VEST WORN IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE PATIENT WAS ALLOWED A COMFORTABLE RANGE OF MOVEMENTS CONSISTENT WITH HIS CONDITION, AND WHICH WAS REMOVED AS SOON AS IT WAS NO LONGER REQUIRED, HE EXPLAINED.
REFERRING TO A SUGGESTION THAT A BETTER NURSING-STAFFING RATIO MIGHT MINIMISE OR EVEN ELIMINATE THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ENTIRELY, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT ACCORDING TO HIS STAFF, IT MIGHT NOT BE POSSIBLE IN PRACTICE TO DISPENSE WITH THE USE OF RESTRAINERS ALTOGETHER.
+THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SITUATIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL REQUIRE THE USE OF RESTRAINERS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE NUMBERS OF STAFF IN THE WARDS.*
FURTHER, HE SAID, THERE MUST BE A LIMIT TO INCREASE IN STAFF RATIO IN PRACTICE BY REASON OF THE FACT THAT MANPOWER RESOURCES WERE FINITE.
+IMPROVED STAFF RATIO THEREFORE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE USE OF RESTRAINERS WHICH ARE APPLIED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES,* HE SAID.
DR THONG FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESTRAINERS WERE USED MIGHT VARY WITH DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN WARDS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATIENTS, DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS ETC.
HOWEVER, HE AGREED WITH THE VIEW THAT MOTHERS WHO WERE ALLOWED TO STAY WITH THEIR CHILDREN MIGHT BE OF HELP IN MINIMISING THE USE OF RESTRAINERS.
HE SAID THAT VISITING HOURS OF CHILDREN WARDS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS WERE VERY FLEXIBLE AND CONSIDERABLY LONGER THAN THOSE OF ADULT WARDS.
+IN APPROPRIATE CASES, MOTHERS ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO REMAIN WITH THEIR CHILDREN OVERNIGHT,* HE SAID.
DR THONG SAID THAT IN ALL FUTURE MAJOR HOSPITAuo, SPECIAL MOTHER-ROOMS ARE INCLUDED AND THIS WILL HELP TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION FURTHER.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935
FLOODING ' M SHAU KEI a AN
*****
EXPLAINED
THE RECENT FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST WAS CAUStJ BY THE BLOCKAGE OF Trit DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN THE VICINITY, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, MR CHAN SAID THIS BLOCKAGE WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A NUMDER OF FACTORS.
wITH THE EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT AND AN INCREASE IN POPULATION IN THIS AREA, THERE WAS A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE DEMAND PLACED ON THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING DRAINAGE SYSTEM, WHICH WAS OLD.
OVER THE YEARS, MR CHAN SAID, THE BUILD-UP OF SOLID MATTERS ON THE INSIDE OF THE PIPES HAD FURTHER REDUCED THE CAPACITY OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
ADDITIONALLY, EXTENSIONS TO THE SYSTEM TO CATER FOR THE ALDRlCri BAY RECLAMATION WORKS, CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, HAD DECREASED THE HYDRAULIC GRADIENT, THEREBY REDUCING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE GRAVITY FLOW.
ILLEGAL DUMPING AT THE TEMPORARY OUTFALL, AND DAMAGE TO THE OUTFALL PIPE AS A RESULT OF SETTLEMENT WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE DISCHARGE INTO THE SEA, HAD EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM OF BLOCKAbc.
MR CHAN SAID CLEARANCE OPERATIONS TO UNBLOCK THE PARTICULAR SECTION CAUSING FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST WERE IN HAND BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE AND THE FLOODING PROBLEM HAD FOR THE TIME BEING BEEN ALLEVIATED.
ADDITIONALLY, HE SAID, PLANS WERE IN HAND TO CONSTRUCT AN EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING DRAIN °IPE OF THE OUTFALL SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRAIN BEING BLOCKED BY ILLEGAL DUMPING OF RUBBISH.
THIS PROJECT WAS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, MR CHAN SAID.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT SUCH CLEARANCE OPERATIONS WERE BUT SHORT TERM MEASURES.
+THE BASIC PROBLEM OF THE OLD DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN LOW-LYING AREAS WILL REMAIN UNLESS LONGER TERM SOLUTIONS ARE INTRODUCED,+ HE SAID.
/THE LONGER .......
WEDNESDAY, APHIL _j, 1^85
- 24 -
THE LONGER TERM SOLUTION INVOLVED THE WIDENING AND RAISING
/ LEVEL OF SHAU KEI a AN MAIN STREET AND AT THE SAME TIME REPLACE THE PRESENT DRAINAGE SYSTEM BY ONE OF ADEQUATE CAPACITY.
+THIS IS DEPENDENT ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE REMAINING PROPERTIES IN THE AREA, THE TIMING OF WHICH IS UNCERTAIN,+ CHAN SAID.
+HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE FEASIBILITY OF REPLACING THE CRITICAL SEGMENT OF THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM SERVICING THIS AREA WAS BEING EXAMINED WITH THE VIEW TO EFFECTING A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE MEDIUM TERM.
---------o----------
1985 DB ELECTION REVIEW DUE
* K *
THE REVIEW FOR THE 1985 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION WOULD BE STARTED THIS MONTH, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+APART FROM THE MECHANICS AND DETAILS OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE REVIEW WILL COVER OTHER RELATED MATTERS SUCH AS RATE OF TURN-OUT AND WHETHER THERE IS ANY NEED FOR STRICTER CONTROL OF THE CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE POLLING STATIONS,+ NR TSAO SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUN.
+COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, THE MEDIA, THE POLLING STAFF AND DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF WILL ALL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO SAID THE REGISTER OF ELECTORS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ELECTORAL ROLL, ONLY CONTAINED MINIMUM INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR CONDUCTING ELECTIONS.
+ IT CONTAINS ID CARD NUMBER, NAME, SEX AND RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND NOTHING MORE. THE REQUIREMENT IN RESPECT OF AGE IS THAT THE PERSON IS NOT LESS THAN 21 YEARS OLD, AND THIS FACT IS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE VOTER MAKES AN APPLICATION TO REGISTER.
+ IT IS THEREFORE NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTABLISH EITHER FROM THE APPLICATION FORM OR FROM THE ELECTORAL ROLL THE AGE OF VOTERS,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO SAID THE BREAKDOWN OF ELECTORS BY SEX WAS 767 889 MALE ELECTORS AND 653 502 FEMALE ELECTORS.
HE ALSO SAID IT WAS AN ESTABLISHED PRACTICE FOR GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN INTERNAL REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL PROCEDURES AFTER EACH ELECTION.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 25 -
FULL MEASURES TAKEN TO CONTROL AIDS *****
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HE WAS SATISFIED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HAD TAKEN ALL APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO CONTAIN AIDS IN HONG KONG.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MRS PAULINE NG, DR THONG SAID THAT ALL THE MEASURES TAKEN IN HONG KONG TO COMBAT AIDS WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE TAKEN BY ADVANCED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
+AS AIDS IS A NEWLY RECOGNISED DISEASE IN THE WORLD, MY DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN MEASURES TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AS WELL AS TO MONITOR THE LATEST ADVANCES IN REGARD TO THIS DISEASE,+ DR THONG SAID.
HE SAID THAT ALL MEASURES TAKEN TO CONTAIN THIS SYNDROME WERE RECOMMENDED BY AN EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIDS WHICH WAS SET UP SINCE LAST NOVEMBER CONSISTING OF MEDICAL EXPERTS, SENIOR MEDICAL ADMINISTRATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TWO UNIVERSITIES.
THE PACKAGE OF MEASURES INCLUDED INTENSIFIED SURVEILLANCE, HEALTH EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND PROTECTION FOR HEALTH CARE STAFF AND SAFEGUARDS FOR BLOOD SUPPLY.
HONG KONG HAD AN EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR THE DETECTION, REPORT INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT OF ALL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
♦THIS CONSISTS OF THE EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WHICH IS TIME-TESTED AND EXTREMELY EFFICIENT IN DETECTING ANY CASES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE INCLUDING AIDS THAT MAY OCCUR SO THAT THE HEALTH AUTHORITY MAY BE ALERTED TO DEAL WITH THEM.+ DR THONG SAID.
ON HEALTH EDUCATION, DR THONG SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC HAD A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS OF THE DISEASE.
TO THIS END, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT HAD INCLUDED AIDS AS A PRIORITY SUBJECT IN ITS HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME.
APART FROM MAKING USE OF THE MASS MEDIA TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT AIDS, SPECIAL LEAFLETS WERE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
/SISCS MAiCH ......
WEjrSSDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
26
SINCE MARCH 9, A 24-HOUR ’HOT-LINE' INFORMATION SERVICE, IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, HAD BEEN IN OPERATION TO SERVE AS A VALUABLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR PERSONS WHO MIGHT BE SPECIALLY INTERESTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DISEASE.
DR THONG TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT WITHIN A SHORT SPACE OF THREE WEEKS SINCE ITS INCEPTION, MORE THAN 800 CALLERS HAD USED THE HOTLINE SERVICE AND MANY HAD EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH IT.
♦THUS, THIS HAS PROVED TO BE A USEFUL SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC AND HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN CLARIFYING MUCH MISCONCEPTIONS AND HELPED TO ALLEVIATE UNDUE FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
REFERRING TO INFORMATION AND PROTECTION FOR HEALTH CARE STAFF, DR THONG SAID THAT GUIDELINES TO HEALTH CARE STAFF HAD BEEN ISSUED TO ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS.
♦THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN ALERTED TO TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS ARE FOLLOWED.
♦SPECIAL LECTURES ARE ORGANISED ON THE SUBJECT FOR THE MEDICAL STAFF AND, AGAIN, THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT IS CURRENTLY RUNNING A NUMBER OF LECTURES FOR NURSING AND LABORATORY STAFF IN THE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
♦THE CONSULTANT PATHOLOGISTS IN-CHARGE OF LABORATORIES IN REGIONAL HOSPITALS HAVE ALSO IMPLEMENTED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND GUIDELINES IN THE LABORATORIES,* DR THONG SAID.
IF PROPER PRECAUTIONS WERE FOLLOWED, DR THONG SAID, THERE WAS PRACTICALLY LITTLE RISK OF HEALTH AND LABORATORY WORKERS CONTRACTING AIDS.
ON THE MATTER OF SAFEGUARDS FOR BLOOD SUPPLY, DR THONG SAID A SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR ALL DONATED BLOOD AT THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS’ TIME IF FUNDS WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
♦THIS WILL ENSURE A SAFE BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE RECIPIENTS OF BLOOD,+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, IT WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE FACILITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY FOR TESTING THE BLOOD OF INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO THE HIGH RISK GROUPS ON A DOCTOR REFERRAL BASIS.
-------o ----------
/2? .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935
VISUAL A»TS EDUCATION PROVIDED AT ALL LEVELS * * * *
VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION IS BEING PROVIDED IN BOTH SCHOOLS AND AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN, MR HENDERSON SAID ART AND CRAFT AND ART AND DESIGN WERE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS ON THE BASIS THAT CREATIVE ENDEAVOUR THROUGH OBSERVATION, TACTILE EXPERIENCE AND SIMPLE, PRACTICAL TECHNIQUES, WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EDUCATION.
+THE SYLLABUSES ARE DESIGNED TO CULTIVATE AESTHETIC APPRECIATION AND DEVELOP A PUPIL’S IMAGINATIVE AND CREATIVE POWERS, THROUGH USE OF A WIDE VARIETY OF MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES, WITH EQUAL EMPHASIS PLACED ON THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND AN APPRECIATION OF THE FINISHED PRODUCT,* HE SAID.
ART AND CRAFT WAS TAUGHT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND THE SYLLABUS COVERED PICTURE-MAKING THROUGH DRAWING, PAINTING AND COLLAGE, PRINT-MAKING, BASIC DESIGN, THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORK AND ART APPRECIATION THROUGH AN INTRODUCTION TO BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN ART.
ART AND DESIGN WAS TAUGHT IN ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF JUNIOR SECONDARY AND ONE-THIRD OF SENIOR SECONDARY CLASSES. THE SYLLABUS INCLUDED DRAWING, PAINTING, SCULPTURE, GRAPHIC DESIGN, CRAFTS, THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN, CALLIGRAPHY AND LETTERING, AND ART APPRECIATION. MOST SCHOOLS FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION CF THREE PERIODS PER WEEK FOR THIS SUBJECT.
SINCE 1981, MR HENDERSON SAID, ALL PUBLIC SECTOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAD BEEN PROVIDED WITH A SPECIAL ROOM FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS. IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, WELL-EQUIPPED ART ROOMS WERE A FEATURE OF THE CURRENT DESIGN.
+WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE NEW SYLLABUSES IN 1979 AND IMPROVED RESOURCES AND FACILITIES IN SCHOOLS, THERE HAS BEEN A TEN-FOLD INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PUPILS TAKING ART IN THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
+ART IS ALSO OFFERED AS A SUBJECT IN THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION AND THERE ARE PLANS TO OFFER IT AT ADVANCED LEVEL IN THE FUTURE,* MR HENDERSON SAID.
AS REGARDS THE TERTIARY SECTOR, MR HENDERSON SAID BOTH UNIVERSITIES HAD DEPARTMENTS OF FINE ARTS PROVIDING UNDER-GRADUATE TRAINING AIMED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO PROMOTE A GENERAL APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE VISUAL ARTS AND TO PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE OF MAJOR TRENDS IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE VISUAL ARTS IN BOTH EAST AND WEST.
/THE CURRENT .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
2£ -
THE CURRENT ENROLMENTS WERE 56 AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND 71 AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG. GRADUATES WERE WELL PLACED to FILL VOCATIONALLY-ORIENTED POSTS IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION, CURATORIAL WORK AND SCHOOL TEACHING.
TO PROVIDE INTENDING TEACHERS WITH ADDITIONAL TRAINING, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ALSO RAN A POST-GRADUATE TRAINING COURSE FOR FINE ARTS GRADUATES. THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY THROUGH ITS EXTRA-MURAL DEPARTMENT HAD, SINCE SEPTEMBER 1982, EEEN RUNNING EXTRA-MURAL POST-GRADUATE CERTIFICATE COURSES IN ARTS ADMINISTRATION FOR PRACTISING ADMINISTRATORS IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS.
FURTHERMORE, MR HENDERSON SAID, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THROUGH ITS SWIRE SCHOOL OF DESIGN, OFFERED A VARIETY OF COURSES IN THIS FIELD. THE BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE COURSE IN DESIGN WAS CFFERED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THIS ACADEMIC YEAR WITH AN INTAKE CF 54 STUDENTS.
IN ADDITION, THE SCHOOL OFFERED A HIGHER DIPLOMA COURSE AS WELL AS A DIPLOMA COURSE IN DESIGN AND EIGHT PART-TIME EVENING PROGRAMMES AT CERTIFICATE AND HIGHER CERTIFICATE LEVELS, FOR EXAMPLE CREATIVE SCREEN PRINTING, STUDIO CERAMICS AND APPLIED PHOTOGRAPHY.
FINALLY, THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ALSO PROVIDED TRAINING FOR BOTH INTENDING AND PRACTISING TEACHERS. AT THE PRE-SERVICE LEVEL, ART AND DESIGN WAS AN ELECTIVE SUBJECT, AND AT THE ADVANCED LEVEL, PRACTISING TEACHERS MIGHT ENROLL IN THE ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME ADVANCED COURSE OF TEACHER EDUCATION IN ART AND DESIGN.
0---------
ACTION TO COMBAT * X
CREDIT CARD CRIME
THE POLICE ARE ENCOURAGING CREDIT CARD COMPANIES TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY OF THEIR SYSTEMS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG ON CRIMES INVOLVING THE USE OF STOLEN OR LOST CREDIT CARDS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE POLICE HAVE BEEN EMPHASISING THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES THROUGH THEIR REGULAR CONTACTS WITH THESE COMPANIES.
/he told .......
WEDNESDAY, APML 3, 1985
HF TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT ONE OF THESE IMPROVEMENT (MEASURES *AS TO INSIST THAT SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND OTHER CONCERNS SHOULD ASK CARD USERS TO PRODUCE AN IDENTITY CARD OR PASSPORT EEFORE EACH TRANSACTION.
ANOTHER PRACTICE ENCOURAGED BY THE POLICE WAS TO USE +PLAIN ENVELOPES RATHER THAN THOSE WITH THE COMPANY NAME EMBLAZONED ON THEM WHEN SENDING CARDS BY POST+.
AS TO THE LEVEL OF SUCH CRIMES, MR JEAFFRESON SAID 138 CASES INVOLVING THE USE OF LOST OR STOLEN CREDIT CARDS WERE REPORTED IN 1983, 77 IN 1984 AND 10 IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1985.
+THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE PROPERTY MISAPPROPRIATED WAS SI.01 MILLION IN 1983, $0.98 MILLION IN 1984 AND $51 000 IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1985,+ HE SAID.
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FIRST REGIONAL TEACHERS’ CENTRE PLANNED
* * * *
A WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN FORMED WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PLAN THE FIRST REGIONAL TEACHERS’ CENTRE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MRS RITA FAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN PLANS TO SET UP A TEACHERS’ CENTRE EVEN BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION
COMMISSION.
+THE WORKING GROUP WILL INCLUDE, AS ONE OF ITS FIRST TASKS, A REVIEW OF THESE PLANS IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION,+ MR LEUNG SAID.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE SIX TEACHING CENTRES, THREE RESOURCEDISPLAY ROOMS AND A MEDIA PRODUCTION SERVICES UNIT RUN BY THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AND WHICH ARE USED REGULARLY BY TEACHERS
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
/IN THS .......
WEDNESDAY, APHID 3, 1985
IN THE 12 MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, 8 678 TEACHERS VISITED AND USED THESE FACILITIES, WHILE 10 545 TEACHERS ATTENDED VARIOUS IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED THERE.
+WITHIN THE LIMITS OF EXISTING STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES, THE DEPARTMENT IS GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT LEVEL OF USAGE.
+MORE CAN STILL BE DONE, SUCH AS GIVING WIDER PUBLICITY AND OFFERING MORE IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES. THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR SUCH COURSES WERE ORGANISED IN THE PAST YEAR AND 245 HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS,* MR LEUNG SAID.
--------o ----------
TWO BILLS PASSED * * *
TWO BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY ARE» THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 AND THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY BILL 1985.
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 17.
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/31 ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
'ORE TC CONTROL ILLEGAL WORKS IN BUILDINGS * * * *
IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY OF STATUTORY PERSON WILLING AND ABLE TO UNDERTAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING THE +COMPETENT PERSON* TO CERTIFY ANNUALLY THAT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WERE FREE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LIONS CLUB OF BAYVIEW LUNCHEON MEETING, SHE SAID THE PERSON NEED NOT BE AS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AS AN AUTHORISED PERSON, BUT SHOULD HAVE A BACKGROUND OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, SUCH AS THE HOLDER OF A POLYTECHNIC CERTIFICATE IN BUILDING STUDIES OR LICENTIATE OF THE INSTITUTE OF BUILDING.
IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT SUCH A CATEGORY OF PERSON, WHICH AT PRESENT APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY READILY AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG, WOULD BE BOTH SUITABLE AND WILLING FOR THE TASK.
IT WOULD ALSO BE NECESSARY FOR ANY LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR PENALTIES FOR NEGLIGENT INSPECTION OF PROPERTY AND FOR FALSE CERTIFICATION REGARDING ILLEGAL ALTERATIONS, SHE SAID.
THE CURRENT POLICY ON BUILDING CONTROL IN PRIVATE MULTI-STOREY BUILDING WAS LARGELY ONE WHICH GAVE PRIORITY TO ENFORCEMENT ACTIO.* IN CASES WHERE THERE WAS A HAZARD TO LIFE AND LIMB, MRS WONG SAID.
WITH ILLEGAL BUILDING WORKS GOING ON ALL THE TIME WHICH REQUIRED CHECKING, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CURRENTLY EXPLORING ,
VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE MEASURES WHICH WERE BOTH EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL FOR ENFORCEMENT BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.
ONE SUGGESTED MEASURE WAS TO ENACT LEGISLATION REQUIRING THE OWNERS OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR WHICH AN OCCUPATION PERMIT WAS ISSUED AFTER SOME FUTURE DATE, TO EMPLOY A +COMPETENT PERSON* ANNUALLY TO INSPECT THE PROPERTY AND TO CERTIFY TO THE BUILDING AUTHORITY THAT NO EXTERNAL ILLEGAL ALTERATION TO PRIVATE FLATS AND ILLEGAL MODIFICATION TO COMMON AREAS HAD TAKEN PLACE, SHE SAID.
+LACK OF AN ANNUAL CERTIFICATE WOULD BECOME GROUNDS FOR INVESTIGATION BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY,* SHE SAID.
ONCE SUCH A SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED AND THE CONTROL OF NEw BUILDINGS SECURED, IT wAS INTENDED TO EXTEND IT TO OLDER BUlLDINGo IN PHASES.
/*THE IDEA ......
.-JN ESSAY, Ai'SIL 3, 196 5
-TUE idea of .'.“’PLYING THE £W rule initially only to future NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILD NGS IS PARTLY TO DRAW A LI NE BEYOND WHICH THE PPIMCPLE OF SELF-REGULATION WILL APPLY, PARTLY BECAUSE THE APPROVED PLANS OF THE BUILDINGS WILL BE READILY AVAILABLE FOR SCRUTINY, AND PARTLY BECAUSE IN THE CASE OF MULTI-STOREY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP, INDIVIDUAL UNITS ARE NOW COMMONLY SOLD SUBJECT TO A DEED OF MUTUAL COVENENT WHICH PROVIDES EITHER FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT OR FOR THE FORMATION OF AN OWNERS’ INCORPORATION.
+IN CASES WHERE INDIVIDUAL UNITS IN BUILDINGS ARE SOLD WITHOUT ANY PROVISION OF MANAGEMENT OR THE FORMATION OF OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS, THE ONUS ON INDIVIDUAL OWNERS WOULD BE GREATER AND THERE IS THE PROBABILITY OF DUPLICATION OF EFFORT IN THAT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION WOULD HAVE TO RELATE TO BOTH AN OWNER’S INDIVIDUAL UNIT AND TO THE COMMON AREAS WHICH HE HAS AN UNDIVIDED SHARE.
+THIS SITUATION MIGHT BE AN INDUCEMENT TO OWNERS TO FORM INCORPORATIONS, WHICH IS LIKELY TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL STANDARD OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT IN THE LONG TERM,+ MRS WONG SAID.
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1984 RE-EXPORT FIGURES ANALYSED * * * * *
THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS REACHED A RECORD OF HK$83 504 MILLION IN 1984, AN INCREASE OF $27 210 MILLION OR 48 PER CENT OVER THE 1983 FIGURE, ACCORDING TO A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF RE-EXPORTS BY MARKET AND BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
RE-EXPORTS BY MARKET
CHINA REMAINED THE LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS
IN 1984, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF $15 882 MILLION OR 130 PER CENT OVER 1983. ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN TEXTILES (BY $3 354 MILLION OR 106 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $2 177 MILLION OR 303 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES wERc REGISTERED IN TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD AND AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES (BY $56 MILLION OR 67 PER CENT) AND FIXED VEGETABLE OILS AND FATS (BY $45 MILLION OR 73 PER CENT).
/substantial increase .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 33 -
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE WAS ALSO RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS TO THE U.S.A. (BY $4 081 MILLION OR 51 PER CENT), THE SECOND LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS. THE COMMODITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS (EXCLUDING DOLLS), NOT CONTAINING ELECTRIC MOTOR (BY $1 349 MILLION OR 128 PER CENT), CLOTHING (BY $790 MILLION OR 35 PER CENT) AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY $455 MILLION OR 69 PER CENT). NOTABLE DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $85 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT) AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $36 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT).
INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY $723 MILLION OR 72 PER CENT) AND TEXTILES (BY $134 MILLION OR 74 PER CENT), BUT A DECREASE WAS RECORDED IN MACHINERY SPECIALISED FOR PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES (BY $31 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT).
AN OVERALL INCREASE OF $1 457 MILLION OR 46 PER CENT IN RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN WAS REGISTERED. COMMODITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE TEXTILE FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (NOT MANUFACTURED INTO YARN) OR FABRIC (BY $259 MILLION OR 416 PER CENT) AND TEXTILES (BY $236 MILLION OR 62 PER CENT). A DECREASE OF $18 MILLION OR 62 PER CENT WAS RECORDED IN POWER GENERATING MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.
INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY $94 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT) AND COFFEE, TEA, COCOA, SPICES AND MANUFACTURES (BY $41 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT). A DECREASE OF $118 MILLION OR 53 PER CENT WAS RECORDED IN NON-hETALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES.
RE-EXPORTS BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
CHINA REMAINED THE LARGEST SOURCE OF HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS IN 1984. ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, INCREASES WERE NOTED FOR CLOTHING (BY $1 597 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT), BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY $1 095 MILLION OR 336 PER CENT), TEXTILE YARN (BY $770 MILLION OR 149 PER CENT), TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS (BY $612 MILLION OR 91 PER CENT), WOVEN COTTON FABRICS (BY $515 MILLION OR 82 PER CENT) AND COTTON (BY $414 MILLION OR 390 PER CENT).
/JAPAN WAS .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
JAPAN WAS THE SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF RE-EXPORTS. INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1 303 MILLION OR 90 PER CENT), MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF GOODS OR MATERIALS AND SPECIAL PURPOSE MOTOR VEHICLES (BY $1 022 MILLION OR 216 PER CENT), THERMIONIC, COLD CATHODE AND PHOTO-CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, PHOTOCELLS, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND PARTS (BY $960 MILLION OR 134 PER CENT), AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINES AND UNITS (BY $438 MILLION OR 323 PER CENT).
OVERSEAS PURCHASES OF U.S. PRODUCTS THROUGH HONG KONG REMAINED ACTIVE IN 1984. INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN THERMIONIC, COLD CATHODE AND PHOTO-CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, PHOTOCELLS, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND PARTS (BY $761 MILLION OR 79 PER CENT), AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING MACHINES AND UNITS (BY $366 MILLION OR 148 PER CENT) AND CIVIL ENGINEERING AND CONTRACTORS’ PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND PARTj (BY $181 MILLION OR 202 PER CENT).
RE-EXPORTS OF TAIWAN ORIGIN SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. THZ COMMODITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE WOVEN FABRICS OF MAN-MADE FIBRES (BY $664 MILLION OR 167 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE YARN (BY $43’> MILLION OR 103 PER CENT).
RE-EXPORTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) ORIGIN ALSO INCREASED, PARTICULARLY FOR TEXTILE YARN (BY $337 MILLION OR 336 PER CENT).
RE-EXPORTS BY ORIGIN AND DESTINATION
WHEN ANALYSED BY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND THEN BY DESTINATION, INCREASE WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN TO THE U.S. (BY $3 268 MILLION OR 59 PER CENT), CHINA (BY $1 122 MILLION OR 113 PER CENT), JAPAN (BY $1 026 MILLION OR 92 PER CENT) AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) (BY $605 MILLION OR 72 PER CENT). INCREASES IN RE-EXPORTS OF JAPAN ORIGIN WERE MAINLY TO CHINA (BY $6 092 MILLION OR 180 PER CENT), U.S. (BY $305 MILLION OR 59 PER CENT) AND JAPAN (BY $262 MILLION OR 78 PER CENT). SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES WERE ALSO NOTED IN RE-EXPORTS OF U.S. ORIGIN TO CHINA (BY $1 458 MILLION OR 99 PER CENT) AND TAIWAN (BY $428 MILLION OR 65 PER CENT).
TABLE 1 : RE-EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKETS 1984 (HK$ MN.) 1983 (HK® MN.) INCREASE^)/ DECREASE(-) (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
CHINA 28 064 12 183 +15 882 +133
U.S. A. 12 109 8 028 + 4 081 + 51
/TAIWAN .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1965
TAIWAN 4 868 3 454 + 1 413 + 41
JAPAN 4 633 3 176 + 1 457 + 46
SINGAPORE 4 511 4 523 12 - M
INDONESIA 3 654 3 884 230 - 6
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
(SOUTH KOREA) 3 440 2 440 ♦ 1 000 + 41
MACAU 2 354 1 885 + 468 ♦ 25
PHILIPPINES 1 478 1 632 154 - 9
AUSTRALIA 1 423 937 + 486 + 52
* LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT.
TABLE 2 ■ RE-EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
INCREASE^)/ ' PERCENTAGE
COUNTRIES 1984 1983 DECREASE(-) I CHANGE
OF ORIGIN (HK& MN.) (HK$ MN.) (HK$ MN.) (%)
CHINA 28 107 19 680 + 8 426 + 43
JAPAN 18 695 11 629 + 7 066 + 61
U.S.A. 8 516 6 038 + 2 478 + 41
TA IWAN 5 111 2 573 + 2 537 + 99
REPUBLIC OF KOREA
(SOUTH KOREA) 2 314 1 360 + 954 + 70
FEDERAL REPUBLIC
OF GERMANY 1 573 1 221 + 352 + 29
SWITZERLAND 1 298 1 161 + 137 + 12
UNITED KINGDOM 1 161 871 ♦ 290 + 33
FRANCE 1 033 682 + 351 ♦ 52
SINGAPORE 927 720 + 207 + 29
_ — M . 0
'Y
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 36 -
FOUR QUEEN’S COUNSEL APPOINTED * * * * *
THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR FRANCIS ARTHUR LANCELOT EDD IS, MR ANTHONY wILLIAM SEDGWICK, MR EDWARD CHRISTOPHER MUMFORD AND MR FRANK STOCK AS HER MAJESTY’S COUNSEL FOR HONG KONG.
MF. EDD IS WAS BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1927. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY GRAY’S INN IN 1952. HE WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR TWO YEARS AND SPENT THE NEXT 16 YEARS IN BUSINESS.
IN 1971, HE CAME TO HONG KONG AND HAS BEEN IN PRACTICE HERE EVER SINCE.
HE INITIALLY CONCENTRATED ON CRIMINAL LAW, BUT IN RECENT YEARS HE HAS BECOME ALMOST ENTIRELY SPECIALISED IN CIVIL LAW. THE MAJORITY OF HIS WORK IS IN THE HIGH COURT OR COURT OF APPEAL.
MR SEDGWICK WAS BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1932. HE OBTAINED A M.A. AND B.C.L. AT OXFORD. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1955. c . ;.Al-
HE PRACTISED IN ENGLAND UNTIL 1959 WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED AS A MAGISTRATE IN BERMUDA. IN 1966, HE BECAME SOLICITOR-GENERAL OF BERMUDA, UNTIL HE WAS RETIRED IN 1972, AS A RESULT OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.
HE HAS PRACTISED AT THE HONG KONG BAR SINCE 1973, SPECIALISING IN CRIMINAL MATTERS.
MR MUMFORD WAS BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1934. HE OBTAINED B.A. AT BRASENOSE COLLEGE, OXFORD IN 1957.
HE WAS ADMITTED AS A BARRISTER OF THE MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1958, BUT PRACTISED AS AN AVERAGE ADJUSTER IN LONDON UNTIL 1972, BEFORE ENTERING INTO PUPILLAGE. AFTER COMPLETING HIS PUPILLAGE IN 1973 HE CAME TO HONG KONG AND HAS PRACTISED AT THE HONG KONG BAR EVER SINCE. .
HE INITIALLY CONCENTRATED ON CRIMINAL LAW, BUT IN RECENT YEARS HE HAS CONFINED HIMSELF TO CIVIL MATTERS, ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN THE HIGH COURT AND COURT OF APPEAL, CONCENTRATING ON COMMERCIAL AND ADMIRALTY MATTERS.
MR STOCK WAS BORN IN ZIMBABWE IN 1945.
HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY LINCOLN’S INN IN NOVEMBER 1968. HE PRACTISED IN ENGLAND UNTIL 1978, WHEN HE JOINED THE ATTORNEYGENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN HONG KONG AS CROWN COUNSEL.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IN 1979, DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1980 AND PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN JANUARY 1984.
FOR THE PAST YEAR, AS DEPUTY CROWN SOLICITOR, HE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR CIVIL LITIGATION IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED.
------o ------
/37 .....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 37 -
WORK STARTS ON GENERAL HOSPITAL * * *
WAN CHAI WILL SOON HAVE ITS OWN HOSPITAL WHEN REDEVELOPMENT WORKS TO TURN THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM PROM AN ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS INSTITUTION INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL ARE COMPLETED IN A FEW YEARS.
GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED FUNDS FOR THE EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, WAS AMONG THE GUESTS INVITED TO THE EARTHBREAKING CEREMONY TODAY TO MARK THE START OF REDEVELOPMENT WORKS.
DR THONG SAID THE CEREMONY MARKED AN ADVANCED STAGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOSPITAL, WHICH WOULD +SERVE EFFICIENTLY AND WELL ALL THOSE WHO NEED ITS SERVICES.*
THE TOTAL CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE $158 MILLION, WITH THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATING $127 MILLION AND REMAINING $31 MILLION TO BE RAISED BY THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION WHICH RUNS THE SANATORIUM.
THE 280-BED RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM WOULD BE UPGRADED INTO 4 456-BED HOSPITAL WITH PROVISION FOR ANOTHER 168 BEDS, MAKING A TOTAL OF 624.
HIGH COST OF KEEPING HK CLEAN * * *
KEEPING HONG KONG CLEAN IS THE COSTLIEST SINGLE AREA OF ACTIVITY OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. GROUPED BROADLY UNDER THE HEADING OF EXPENDITURE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, THE ENDLESS CLEANING UP OF HONG KONG TAKES UP ROUGHLY ABOUT 23 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S YEARLY OUTGOINGS, WHICH ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE URBAN COUNCIL.
NEXT IN ORDER OF EXPENDITURE COME THREE OTHER HIGHLY IMPORTANT FIELDS OF ACTIVITY — PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL URBAN FACILITIES UNDER THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME (ABOUT 18 PER CENT), UPKEEP OF MARKETS AND CONTROL OF STREET TRADERS (ABOUT 15.6 PER CENT) AND THE CONTINUATION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S WIDESPREAD RECREATION PROGRAMME (ABOUT 12 PER CENT).
+THESE FOUR IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES TAKE UP APPROXIMATELY 70 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S OUTGOINGS,* SAID A USD SPOKESMAN TODAY.
/the spokesman ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3. 1985
- 38 -
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S EXPENDITURE IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR BEGINNING FROM LAST MONDAY (APRIL 1) SHOULD TOTAL AN ESTIMATED $1,832 MILLION.
AGAINST THIS, INCOME IN 1985/86 SHOULD TOTAL AN ESTIMATED $1,652 MILLION, OF WHICH JUST UNDER 74 PER CENT WOULD COME FROM THE COUNCIL’S SHARE OF THE RATE, AND THE BALANCE FROM FEES, CHARGES AND OTHER LESSER SOURCES OF INCOME.
+WHILE THE AGGREGATE INVOLVED -- A TOTAL OF $3,484 MILLION REPRESENTING BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE — IS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT, THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR ALL EXPENDITURE AND MAKE ECONOMIES WHERE POSSIBLE,* SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
+IN THE MEANTIME, HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INTENTION OF REDUCING IN ANY WAY THE PRESENT EFFICIENT RANGE OF URBAN SERVICES.
+RATHER, WITH THE REORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AS FROM LAST MONDAY, AND THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OVER CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORT THAT IT NOW ASSUMES, THE USD WILL BE LOOKING TO AN EVEN GREATER ROLE IN CONTRIBUTING TO AN IMPROVED LIFESTYLE FOR THE 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE LIVING IN THE URBAN AREAS.*
-----o------
NO INTENTION TO +HIVE OFF* USD STAFF ******
COMMENTING ON A SUGGESTION MADE TODAY THAT THE STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE HIVED OFF FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE, AN URBAN COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUCH A PROPOSAL WAS DEFINITELY NOT FAVOURED EITHER BY THE COUNCIL OR THE GOVERNMENT. HE ADDED THAT STAFF OF THE USD COULD REST ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NO SUBSTANCE TO SUCH A PROPOSAL, WHICH HAD BEEN VOICED TODAY PURELY AS A PERSONAL OPINION.
/ 39.........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 39 -
NEW MEMBERS GET INSIGHT INTO PUBLIC HOUSING * * * * *
NEWLY-APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COMMITTEES ;ODAY HAD AN INSIGHT INTO THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME THROUGH BRIEFINGS AND VISITS TO PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS.
THEY HAD A MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR FRED PANG, FOLLOWED BY BRIEFINGS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIALS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATION, ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS.
THE GROUP THEN TOURED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S EXHIBITION HALL WHERE THEY WERE SHOWN IN MODELS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S PUBLIC HOUSING SINCE THE EARLY 195O’S.
IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY WENT ON AN INSPECTION VISIT OF THE KWAI FUK ROAD TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA AND THE WANG CHEONG FACTORY ESTATE IN KWAI CHUNG.
THE NEW MEMBERS WERE MR CARLOS CHEUNG, MR NORMAN LEUNG, MISS LEUNG WAI-TUNG, MR CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, MR PAO PING-WING AND MR FUNG KIN-KEE.
-----0-----
NEW CHAIRMAN FOR CLEAN HK COMMITTEE ******
URBAN COUNCILLOR MR WALTER SULKE TODAY BECAME CHAIRMAN CF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE.
THE ELECTION TOOK PLACE AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN TWO OTHER MEMBERS, MR JOSEPH CHAN AND MR TONG KAM-BIU, WERE ALSO RE-APPOINTED AND MRS MARGARET LI JOINED THE COMMITTEE.
MR SULKE TAKES OVER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE FROM MR HOWARD YOUNG WHO IS NOW CHAIRMAN OF THE RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE.
0 --------
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935
- 40 -
YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING * * *
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE FELD AT 2.3'3 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), WHEN MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS BOARD’S FUND ALLOCATION AND STANDING ORDERS.
THE MEMBERS WILL ALSO HEAR ABOUT THE HA TSUEN EDGE AREA LAYOUT PLAN OF THE TIN SHU I WAI DEVELOPMENT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE BOARD SECRETARIAT, 13TH FLOOR, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE BOARD MEETING.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, TSIM SHA TSUI FOR YUEN LONG AT 12.45 PM SHARP.
--------0----------
HOLIDAY CLINIC SERVICES * * *
EIGHT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL STAY OPEN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 1 PM DAILY, DURING THE FOUR-DAY EASTER HOLIDAYS, FROM APRIL 5 TO 8.
THE EIGHT CLINICS ARE: VIOLET PEEL POLYCLINIC AND SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND! KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE, ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE AND YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB POLYCLINIC IN KOWLOON; LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC, YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE AND SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ALL OTHER OUT-PATIENT AND EVENING CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED DURING THIS PERIOD.
- 0-----------
/41 ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
- 41 -
REMINDER ON ENDANGERED SPECIES U X
PEOPLE GOING ON HOLIDAY WERE REMINDED TODAY BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT NOT TO BRING BACK WITH THEM ANY ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS.
OFFENDERS WERE LIABLE UNDER THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECTION CF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE, TO A FINE OF $5 OOO ON CONVICTION FOR FIRST OFFENCE, AND $10 000 AND SIX MONTHS IN PRISON FOR SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE WARNING WAS GIVEN AS A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS WERE EXPECTED TO VISIT CHINA AND OTHER PLACES IN THE COMING EASTER HOLIDAYS, HE SAID.
------o-------
EDUCATION INDICATORS SET OUT
* * X *
A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ON INDICATORS IN EDUCATION IS CONTAINED IN THE MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS FOR JANUARY 1985, JUST PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE REVIEW COMPRISES THREE PARTS.
PART I COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING CLIMATE, POPULATION, LABOUR, PRODUCTION, TRADE, FOOD SUPPLIES, TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATIONS, SERVICES, TOURISM, HOUSING, FINANCE, CONSTRUCTION, SOCIAL WELFARE AND ENERGY.
PART II PROVIDES ANALYTICAL TABLES SHOWING SPECIAL STATISTICS ON POPULATION, EDUCATION AND NATIONAL ACCOUNT.
PART III DELINEATES INDEXES IN EDUCATION, OFFERING READERS A SUMMARY OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND SUB-SYSTEMS FROM THE PERIOD 1978 TO 1983. THE REPORT IS ON SALE AT $25 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
-----o------
/42
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1935'
OUTWARD BOUND COURSES OFFERED * * * *
COURSES TO HELP DEVELOP CHARACTER, SELF-CONFIDENCE AND QUICK RESPONSE IN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING OFFERED BY THE OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL DURING APRIL, MAY AND JUNE.
AND A NUMBER OF PLACES IN THESE COURSES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT REDUCED COST BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS DIVISION CF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND OUTWARD BOUND SCHOOL TO YOUNG PEOPLE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE FULL FEES.
THE FEES ARE INCLUSIVE OF OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS FOR THE DURATION OF THE COURSE.
YOUTHS WISHING TO APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT-AIDED PLACES SHOULD HAVE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN OUTDOOR PURSUITS.
IN ADDITION, A SEVEN-DAY RESIDENTIAL COURSE FOR ADULTS OVER 30 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE HELD FROM JUNE 14 TO 20 AT THE TAI MONG TSAI BASE.
THE +ADULT CHALLENGE COURSE+ PROVIDES A NEW EXPERIENCE IN TEAM WORK IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT TO THE NORMAL WORK PLACE.
GROUPS OF 12 PEOPLE FROM A WIDE SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY WILL SHARE A VARIED PROGRAMME OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, WHICH INCLUDE ROCK CLIMBING, NAVIGATION, CANOEING, ROPES COURSE OR SAILING.
APPLICATION FORMS CONTAINING DETAILS OF VARIOUS COURSES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE RECREATION AND SPORTS DIVISION, MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, 14TH FLOOR, RUTTONJEE HOUSE, 11 DUDDELL STREET, CENTRAL, HONG KONG. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 5-253161.
- - 0 - -
PUBLIC MAY HELP PLANT TREES
VISITORS TO SIX OF THE COUNTRY PARKS DURING EASTER HOLIDAYS MAY TAKE PART IN THE 1995 COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT BY PLANTING TREES IN SELECTED SITES.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARK), MR K.C. IU, SAID TODAY THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SEEDLINGS FREE OF CHARGE TO VISITORS GOING TO THESE COUNTRY PARKS FROM APRIL 5 TO 8 AND ON APRIL 14.
/DURING THIS
WEDNESDAY, «?HIL 3, 1985
DURING THIS PERIOD, SEEDLINGS CAN BE COLLECTED DAILY BETWEEN - AM AND 4 PM IN PLANTING SITES LOCATtD AT TWISK, TAI MO SHAN; BRIDE'S POOL IN TAI PC; QUARRY BAY AND POK FU LAM ON HONG KONG ISLAND, NAM SHAN ON LANTAU AND PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG.
MR IU SAID THAT DESPITE THE WET WEATHER OVER THE LAST WEEKEND, SOME 1 009 PEOPLE TURNED UP AT VARIOUS SITES TO PLANT TREES, INCLUDING SOME 100 OLD PEOPLE, WHOSE DETERMINATION TO TAKE PART IN THE MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY SHOULD BE PRAISED.
MR IU SAID THAT LOCATION MAPS, BANNERS AND WAY MARKINGS WOULD BE SET UP IN THE SIX COUNTRY PARKS TO GUIDE VISITORS TO THE PLANTING SITES.
STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE PRESENT TO GIVE THE NECESSARY ASSISTANCE.
-----0------
PRESS CONFERENCE
* * *
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE REPORT PREPARED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 2.30 PM.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKING GROUP, MR STEPHEN K.C. CHEONG; THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR JAMES SO AND FOUR MEMBERS OF THE WORKING GROUP WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
COPIES OF THE WORKING GROUP’S REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ADVANCE STUDY ONLY, FROM 1.30 PM AT THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, 5TH FLOOR, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
-----o-----
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EXCO ENDORSES CLOSER MONITORING OF CMB ...................... 1
MARINE DEPARTMENT COMPLETES FIRE INVESTIGATION .............. 4
LISTING RULES FOR STOCK TRADING SET OUT ..................... 7
MACAU GOVERNOR TO PAY RETURN VISIT .......................... 10
HOUSING MANAGEMENT GOES THE COMPUTER WAY..................... 11
RULES SET OUT FOR FUND-RAISING IN SCHOOLS ................... 12
BILLIARD SALOON GETS LICENCE - 'WITS SPECIAL RIDER........... 13
SQUATTER CONTROL SQUADS REMAIN ON WATCH...................... 14
YUEN LONG DB ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN ............................ 15
ENROLMENT IN LEARN-TO-SWIM TO START ......................... 15
EXHUMATION WORK TO BEGIN .................................... 16
NEW ID CARDS FOR MEN BORN 1941 - 1944 ....................... 16
REMINDER FOR 'CLEAN AND GREEN' PARTICIPANTS ................. 17
GROUP AIMS TO PROMOTE INDUSTRY............................... 18
THREE SITES OFFERED FOR RENT ................................ 19
SERVICE LANE DECLARED PUBLIC ................................ 19
CONCERT MARKS YOUTH YEAR..................................... 20
NEW DATES SET FOR PUBLIC SESSION ............................ 20
LANE TO BE CLOSED FOR ROAD WORKS ............................ 21
HOLIDAY NEWS SERVICE......................................... 21
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1995
1
EXCO ENDORSES CLOSER MONITORING OF CMB X X * * *
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED THE CLOSER MONITORING OF THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY TO ENSURE THAT IT MAKES SATISFACTORY PROGRESS IN IMPROVING ITS MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. THIS FOLLOWS CONSIDERATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE, AS CONTAINED IN ITS REPORT PUBLISHED TODAY.
STARTING IMMEDIATELY, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD HIGH-LEVEL MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE COMPANY AND SUBMIT WRITTEN PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE TAC.
+THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR CMB TO MAKE THE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+UNDER THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE, BEFORE ANY FRANCHISE MAY BE EXTENDED, THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE GRANTEE IS CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING A PROPER AND EFFICIENT SERVICE. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMPANY IN IMPROVING ITS MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS OVER THE COMING MONTHS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT IN CONSIDERING ANY EXTENSION OF THE COMPANY’S FRANCHISE BEYOND THE PRESENT EXPIRY DATE OF AUGUST 31, 1987.+
THE TAC WORKING GROUP ON CMB MAINTENANCE WAS SET UP IN AUGUST LAST YEAR IN RESPONSE TO A CALL BY THE JURY IN THE CORONER’S INQUIRY INTO A CMB BUS ACCIDENT IN HAPPY VALLEY EARLIER IN THE YEAR.
UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR STEPHEN CHEONG, THE WORKING GROUP SPENT MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ON THE REVIEW AND SUBMITTED ITS DETAILED REPORT TO THE TAC IN DECEMBER. BEFORE THE REPORT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE TAC EXAMINED THE COMMENTS ON IT FROM THE BUS COMPANY, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE. THE TAC ENDORSED THE REPORT, WHILE NOTING THAT A FEW CF THE MORE MINOR RECOMMENDATIONS MAY REQUIRE MODIFICATION.
THE WORKING GROUP FOUND CMB MAINTENANCE TO BE LESS THAN SATISFACTORY. «
+MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES WERE INSUFFICIENTLY THOROUGH AND QUALITY CONTROL INADEQUATE. INSUFFICIENT EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON THE FORMAL TRAINING OF THE MAINTENANCE WORKFORCE AND SUPERVISORY STAFF. MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS WERE FOUND TO BE POORLY PLANNED, DEPOT FACILITIES WERE UNSATISFACTORY, AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS WERE INCOMPLETE AND DISORGANISED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/IN THEIR .......
THUfiSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
2
IN THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE WORKING GROUP CONSIDERED THAT A CHARTERED ENGINEER WITH RELEVANT PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE ENGAGED BY CMB TO HEAD ITS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THAT HE SHOULD BE GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE hECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS TO MAINTENANCE STANDARDS AND FACILITIES.
IN ADDITION, THE ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY AND ITS MAINTENANCE AND DOCUMENTATION SYSTEMS SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ALSO MADE THAT CMB SHOULD ESTABLISH A SEPARATE QUALITY CONTROL SECTION AND SHOULD TAKE CONCERTED ACTION TO TRAIN ITS WORKFORCE, INCLUDING THE RECRUITMENT OF A TRAINING OFFICER.
WITH REGARD TO DEFECTS AND MAINTENANCE WORK WITH FLEET-WIDE IMPLICATIONS, THE WORKING GROUP CONSIDERED THAT WRITTEN PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT SUCH WORK WAS CONDUCTED THOROUGHLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AND THAT CMB’S DETAILED RECORDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
CMB HAS COMMENTED IN DETAIL ON THE REPORT OF THE WORKING GROUP, EMPHASISING THAT CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS SUCH AS THE SETTING UP OF THE CHAI WAN CRAFT TRAINING SCHOOL AND THE ORDERING OF MODERN SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THE 1983 TAC REVIEW. WHILE CMB DOES NOT SHARE SOME OF THE FINDINGS OF
THE WORKING GROUP, FOR EXAMPLE WITH REGARD TO ITS CORRECTIVE
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMMES, THE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE OF ITS BUS ENGINEERS, AND THE INFERENCE DRAWN FROM THE DAILY BUS
BREAKDOWN RATE, IT HAS ALREADY INITIATED ACTION IN MANY AREAS
AND STRESSED THAT IT IS ANXIOUS TO FOLLOW UP ANY REASONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
+THE POSITIVE APPROACH BY CMB IS MOST WELCOME AND ANY SUGGESTION THAT CMB HAS CAPITULATED UNDER PRESSURE IS NOT JUSTIFIED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE REPORT ALSO EXAMINED THE ROLE OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE AND MADE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE ON EXISTING PROCEDURES.
ON THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S MONITORING WORK AND ITS EXISTING INSPECTION AND SPOT CHECK PROGRAMMES, THE WORKING GROUP CONSIDERED THAT EFFORTS SHOULD BE STEPPED UP AND INTENSIFIED. IT ALSO RECOMENDED THAT APART FROM THE POLICE, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE AUTHORISED AND STAFFED TO INITIATE PROSECUTION ACTION SINCE IT IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO DETECT MECHANICAL FAULTS THROUGH ITS SPOT CHECKS.
FURTHERMORE, IT RECOMMENDED THAT FINANCIAL PENALTIES SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON CMB FOR BREACHES OF FRANCHISE IF IT COULD BE ESTABLISHED THAT SUCH PENALTIES COULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE COMPANY.
/TIE WORKING .......
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
THE WORKING GROUP FURTHER CONCLUDED THAT THE CAPACITY OF THE POLICE TO UNDERTAKE INVESTIGATIONS INTO SERIOUS BUS ACCIDENTS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED. IT RECOMMENDED THE ASSIGNMENT OF A MECHANICAL ENGINEER WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO LEAD THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF SUCH INVESTIGATIONS, AND THAT POLICE OFFICERS AND MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS ENGAGED IN SUCH INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD RECEIVE SPECIALIST TRAINING.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT GENERALLY ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP ALTHOUGH IT HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING RESOURCES TO MEET THE RECOMMENDATIONS. IT WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT BE DRAWN INTO AREAS OF THE COMPANY’S INTERNAL MANAGEMENT IF IT WERE TO TAKE UP SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM. ITS ROLE WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN THAT OF MONITORING AND ADVISING THE COMPANY ON THEIR GENERAL PERFORMANCE, ALTHOUGH IT ACCEPTED THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE MORE CLOSELY AND WITH GREATER FREQUENCY THAN BEFORE.
IN THEIR COMMENTS TO THE TAC, THE POLICE WELCOMED THE REPORT AND OUTLINED THE EXPERTISE THAT IS ALREADY AVAILABLE BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE FORCE TO HANDLE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS. PLANS HAVE BEEN IN PREPARATION FOR SOME TIME FOR AN ADVANCED LEVEL TRAINING COURSE IN ACCIDtNT INVESTIGATION FOR POLICE INSPECTORS THAT IS DUE TO COMMENCE THIS COMING JULY, WHILE DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HELD WITH TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON MEANS TO TRAIN MOTOR VEHICLE EXAMINERS IN THE SPECIALIST MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS ARE BEING HELD WITH THE AIM OF RECRUITING A QUALIFIED ENGINEER TO SUPERVISE THE MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALL SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. THE POLICE SHARE THE GROUP’S CONCERN ABOUT THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF POLICE POUNDS BUT APPRECIATE THAT LAND AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS HAVE DELAYED THE PROVISION OF MORE PERMANENT FACILITIES.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED FOR ; ADVICE ON THE TREATMENT OF FINANCIAL PENALTIES FOR BREACH OF FRANCHISE. THE ADVICE WAS THAT SUCH PENALTIES SHOULD NOT PROPERLY BE REGARDED AS OPERATING COSTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING APPROPRIATE FARE LEVELS AND THIS VIEW WOULD BE CONVEYED TO ALL THE BUS COMPANIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. HE ADDED THAT THE AG’S CHAMBERS ALSO SUPPORTED THE SETTING UP OF A UNIT WITHIN TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE AND ADMINISTER PROSECUTIONS IN RESPECT OF DEFECTIVE FRANCHISED BUSES.
AT THE SAME TIME AS CMB IS MONITORED CLOSELY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF ITS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF WILL CONTINUE CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE CHANGES IN STAFFING LEVELS AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE REPORT, HE SAID.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
MARINE DEPARTMENT COMPLETES FIRE
*****
INVESTIGATION
A MARINE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ADVISED THIS AFTERNOON THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD COMPLETED AN INVESTIGATION INTO A FIRE ON BOARD A NUMBER OF DANGEROUS GOODS LIGHTERS, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE ON DECEMBER 5, 1984.
ON THE DAY DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE.
IN QUESTION, A TOTAL OF 10 CRAFT CARRYING WERE ANCHORED IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS
ONE OF THE VESSELS THE +TSIN TSUN 300* ARRIVED IN HONG KONG FROM TAIPING, CHINA ON DECEMBER 5, 1984, LADEN WITH 8 194 CARTONS CF FIREWORKS, HAVING A DECLARED TOTAL POWDER WE IGHT OF 603 KILOGRAMS. ANOTHER VESSEL, THE +YUET KONG 365* ARRIVED IN HONG KONG FROM CANTON, ON DECEMBER 4, 1984, LADEN WITH 11 000 CARTONS OF FIREWORKS, HAVING A DECLARED TOTAL POWDER WEIGHT OF 1 067 KILOGRAMS.
BOTH VESSELS IN QUESTION WERE SECURED ALONGSIDE EIGHT LOCALLY LICENSED LIGHTERS IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE, WHICH WERE ENGAGED IN THE HANDLING OF CARTONS OF FIREWORKS FOR TRANSHIPMENT THROUGH HONG KONG.
AT 0845 HOURS ON DECEMBER 5, 1984, A TOTAL OF TEN VESSELS WERE MOORED TOGETHER IN A TIGHT CLUSTER IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE, IN A POSITION APPROXIMATELY 200 METRES DUE SOUTH OF HARBOUR MOORING BUOY A16.
ONE VESSEL, +WAI MOON NO. 7+ WAS AT ANCHOR. THE VESSELS +TSIN TSUN 300+ AND +YUET KONG 365*, CARRYING CF FIREWORKS FOR TRANSHIPMENT, WERE SECURED ALONGSIDE NO. 7+, ON THE PORT AND STARBOARD SIDE RESPECTIVELY.
TWO CHINESE
CARTONS +WAI MOON
A ROw OF FOUR DUMB STEEL LIGHTERS (WAI MOON NOS. 2, 3, 6 AND 8) WERE MOORED CLOSE ASTERN OF WAI MOON NO. 7. WAI MOON NOS. 2 AND 3 WERE EACH SECURED TO WAI MOON NO. 7 BY NYLON ROPES.
A FURTHER ROW OF THREE DUMB STEEL LIGHTERS (WAI MOON NOS. 4 AND 5 AND TAK WAH) WERE EACH SECURED CLOSE ASTERN OF WAI MOON NOS. 2 AND 3, BY NYLON ROPES.
ADJACENT LIGHTERS IN BOTH ROWS WERE SECURED TO EACH OTHER BY NYLON ROPES, FORWARD AND ArT, AND ALL VESSELS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WAI MOON NO. 6, WERE MOORED WITH THE FORWARD END FACING IN A NORTHWESTERLY DIRECTION.
INSOMUCH AS TRANSHIPMENT OPERATIONS WERE IN OPERATION AT THE TIME OF THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRE, IN ADDITION TO WHICH RECORDS OF THE DISPOSITION AND QUANTITIES OF C . GO ON BOARD EACH GF THE SEVEN DUMB STEEL LIGHTERS WERE DESTROYED IN THE FIRE, IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE TO ASCERTAIN DEFINITIVELY THE DISPOSITION OF CARGO.
/however, observation
THURSDAY, APRIL 4. 1985
- 5 -
HOWEVER, OBSERVATION OF THE LIGHTERS FOLLOWING THE FIRE AND SCRUTINY OF MANIFESTS SUGGEST THAT THE DISPOSITION OF CARGO *Ao AS FOLLOWS:
TSIN TSUN 300
YUET KONG 365
FULLY LADEN WITH 8 194 CARTONS FIREWORKS, ABOUT TO COMMENCE DISCHARGE.
FULLY LADEN WITH 11 000 CARTONS FIREWORKS, ABOUT TO COMMENCE DISCHARGE.
wAI MOON NO. 7 UNKNOWN, BUT PROBABLY LIGHTLY LADEN.
WAI MOON NO. 6 • SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITY OF FIREWORKS IN THE HOLD AND ON THE HATCHBOARDS. APPROXIMATELY 25 CARTONS OF PLASTIC LABELS IN THE DECKHOUSE.
WAI MOON NO. 8 UNKNOWN QUANTITY IN HOLD. APPROXIMATELY 10 WOODEN CASES OF FIREWORKS IN DECKHOUSE.
WAI MOON NO. 2 • HOLD SUBSTANTIALLY FULL OF CARTONS. A FEW CARTONS OF FIREWORKS IN DECKHOUSE.
wAI MOON NO. 3 X HOLD FULL AND AFTER AREA OF HATCHBOARDS STACKED WITH CARTONS OF FIREWORKS.
WAI MOON NO. 4 HOLD FULL OF CARTONS AND BOXES OF FIREWORKS SOME CARTONS OF FIREWORKS STOWED ON HATCHBOARDS AT AFTER END.
TAK WAH « SIX 20 FOOT FREIGHT CONTAINERS FILLED WITH FIREWORKS. NO FIREWORKS IN OPEN STOWAGE.
WAI MOON NO. 5 NO FIREWORKS IN HOLD. A SMALL NUMBER OF BOXES OF FIREWORKS STOWED IN DECKHOUSE.
DURING THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 5, 1984, CARTONS OF FIREWORKS WERE BEING TRANSFERRED FROM WAI MOON NO. 8 TO WAI MOON NO. 6.
AT 1012 HOURS ON DECEMBER 5, 1984, THE PILOT OF A PRIVATE HELICOPTER, FLYING OVER THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE, EN ROUTE FROM TSI NG Yl ISLAND, TOWARDS OCEAN TERMINAL, ADVISED KAI TAK AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL BY RADIO THAT A FIRE HAD BROKEN OUT ON BOARD ONE OF A GROUP OF LIGHTERS MOORED TOGETHER IN THE WESTERN DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGE.
HE REQUESTED THE INFORMATION BE PASSED TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS DESCRIBED AS BEING +LARGE+ AND +GETTING OUT OF HAND* AT THE TIME OF THE REPORT.
/FOLLOWING TE3 .......
'flR 13DAY, APRIL 4, 1985
6 -
FOLLOWING THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE, THE TWO CHINESE VESSELS +TSIN TSUN 300+ AND +YUET KONG 365+, CAST OFF FROM WAI MOON NO. 7, AND CARRYING A NUMBER OF WORKERS WHO HAD CROSSED OVER FROM OTHER WAI MOON LIGHTERS, LEFT THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY.
MOORING LINES SECURING THE BURNING LIGHTERS TO WAI MOON NO. 7 WERE LET GO AND LIGHTERS WAI MOON NOS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 AND 8 AND TAK WAH DRIFTED SOUTHEASTWARDS, INITIALLY REMAINING CLOSE TOGETHER IN A GROUP, AND THEN DRIFTED APART AS THE REMAINING MOORING ROPES WERE BURNED BY THE FIRE.
FIRE SPREAD FROM WAI MOON NO. 6 SUCCESSIVELY ACROSS THE FIRST ROW OF LIGHTERS TO WAI MOON NOS. 8, 2 AND 3, AND THEN TO WAI MOON NO. 4, TAK WAH AND WAI MOON NO. 5, IN THE SECOND ROW.
A NUMBER OF EXPLOSIONS OCCURRED DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE FIRE AND NUMEROUS FIREWORKS DISCHARGED INTO THE AIR LANDING ON LIGHTERS AND IN THE SEA.
BY 1015 HOURS, WAI MOON NO. 3 WAS BROUGHT TO ANCHOR, WHILST THE REMAINING BURNING LIGHTERS DRIFTED APART IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTON.
FLAMES, EXTENDING TO AN ESTIMATED HEIGHT OF 30 METRES, WERE FANNED BY A NORTH-WESTERLY WIND AND BY 1018 HOURS SMOKE ROSE TO AN ESTIMATED HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 610 METRES. BY 1020 HOURS A NUMBER OF MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES HAD ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND WERE ENGAGED IN THE RESCUE OF SURVIVORS FROM THE HARBOUR, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AND COMMERCIAL VESSELS. A TOTAL OF 12 PERSONS, INCLUDING ONE IN AN UNCONSCIOUS STATE, wERE TAKEN ON BOARD MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCH NO. 45 BY 105n HOURS. FIRE BOAT +ALEXANDER GRANTHAM+ ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AT 1026 HOURS AND COMMENCED FIRE FIGHTING OPERATION WITH WATER JETS.
FOLLOWING A RAPID RESPONSE FROM A NUMBER OF MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES ORDERED TO THE SCENE, THOSE SUITABLY EQUIPPED COMMENCED FIGHTING THE FIRE ON THE BURNING LIGHTERS WITH WATER JETS. A NUMBER CF MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES TOOK THE BURNING LIGHTERS IN TOW, AND BY 1318 HOURS, SIX LIGHTERS WERE SECURED ALONGSIDE WESTERN RECLAMATION, WHERE THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOOK OVER FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS FROM THE SEAWALL. THE SEVEN BURNING LIGHTERS WERE SECURED IN THE SAME LOCATION AT 1500 HOURS.
MR KWAN KAM-SHING, AGED 35 YEARS, WHO HAD BEEN WORKING IN THE HOLD OF WAI MOON NO. 8, AT THE TIME OF THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRE, WAS UNCONSCIOUS WHEN RESCUED FROM THE SEA. HE WAS CERTIFIED DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL. NO EXTERNAL WOUNDS WERE PRESENT ON MR KWAN’S BODY.
TEN PERSONS WERE INJURED AND TREATED IN HOSPITAL.
/I1BM3IATELY P.-tiOfi.....
Ti: aSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRE, AND AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, CARGO WAS BEING TRANSHIPPED FROM WAI MOON NO. 8 TO WAI MOON NO. 6. NYLON STRAP SLINGS WERE USED FOR LIFTING THE CARGO AND EACH SLING WAS LOADED WITH APPROXIMATELY 40 CARTONS OF FIREWORKS.
THE INVESTIGATION HAS ESTABLISHED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 HOURS A SLING OF FIREWORKS WAS LIFTED OUT OF THE HOLD OF WAI MOON NO. 8, USING THE CARGO DERRICK OF WAI MOON NO. 6.
WHEN THE SLING WAS OVER THE SIDE OF WAI MOON NO. 6, A CARTON OF FIREWORKS FELL FROM THE SLING ONTO THE DECK OF WAI MOON NO. 6 AND IMPACTED ON THE PORT SIDE NEAR THE AFTER END OF THE CARGO HATCH, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING UPON WHICH A FIRE BROKE OUT.
HAVING REGARD TO THE FOREGOING, THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR CHAN YUE-YAN, J.P., HAS ORDRED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF HANDLING AND TRANSHIPPING SUCH COMMODITIES THROUGH HONG KONG.
0
LISTING RULES FOR STOCK TRADING SET OUT ******
IN APRIL 1984, PROPOSED LISTING RULES WERE PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, AND SUBMITTED FOR COMMENT BY INTERESTED PARTIES, NAMELY THE STOCK EXCHANGES, LEGAL ACCOUNTING AND STOCKBROKING BODIES, ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, BANKS, FINANCIAL PUBLICATIONS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES. BASED ON THE MANY COMMENTS RECEIVED, DRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS WERE PREPARED AND, AFTER APPROVAL BY TnE SECURITIES COMMISSION, WERE FORWARDED TO THE LAW DRAFTSMAN.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, MR RAY ASTIN, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE PUBLICATION OF THE DRAFT SECURITIES (STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING) RULES 1985. THIS DRAFT DIFFERS IN SOME MATERIAL RESPECTS FROM THE APRIL 1984 VERSION. ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS DECIDED THAT IT SHOULD ALSO BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSULTATION AS DONE EARLIER. SUBJECT TO ANY AMENDMENT CONSIDERED DESIRABLE IN THE LIGHT OF FURTHER COMMENTS RECEIVED, IT IS PROPOSED TO SUBMIT THE DRAFT FOR FORMAL APPROVAL BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSION IN MAY 1985. SUBJECT TO THE VIEWS OF THE SECURITIES COMMISSION, THE DRAFT 1985 RULES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL FOR DECISION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THEREAFTER.
/a SUMUxiY........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
- 8 -
A SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE PROPOSED SECURITIES (STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING) RULES 1985 FOLLOWS:
SECURITIES (STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING) RULES 1985 SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS
THE RULES SET OUT CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES IN CONNECTION WITH APPLICATIONS FOR THE LISTING OF SECURITIES ON STOCK EXCHANGES. THE RULES ALSO INTRODUCE FURTHER STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS FOR INCREASED DISCLOSURE OF IMPORTANT COMPANY INFORMATION.
LISTING APPLICATIONS
A COMPANY SEEKING A LISTING OF ITS SECURITIES ON A STOCK EXCHANGE MUST COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATUTORY LISTING RULES AS WELL AS THE LISTING EXCHANGE. THE 1985 RULES REQUIRE THE LISTING APPLICATION TO CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO ENABLE AN INFORMED ASSESSMENT TO BE MADE OF THE COMPANY, TOGETHER WITH DETAILS OF THE SECURITIES TO BE LISTED, THE MANNER OF THEIR ISSUE, THE IDENTITY OF SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY OR ITS PARENT COMPANY, THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE COMPANY’S DIRECTORS AND, CHIEF EXECUTIVE (RULE 3). COPIES OF A LISTING APPLICATION TOGETHER WITH SUPPORTING PROSPECTUS MUST BE SERVED ON THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES (RULE 4). THE COMMISSIONER MAY DIRECT A STOCK EXCHANGE TO SUSPEND DEALINGS IN THE SECURITIES OF A COMPANY IF IT HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS (RULE 5).
THE RULES DO NOT SUPPLANT THE ROLE OF THE LISTING EXCHANGE. ON THE CONTRARY THEY ARE SUPPLEMENTAL TO, AND SUPPORTIVE OF, THE ESSENTIAL ROLE PLAYED BY THE EXCHANGES. IN SOME RESPECTS THEY MERELY FORMALISE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE LONG BEEN ACCEPTED IN PRACTICE.
SUSPENSIONS AND CANCELLATIONS
THE COMMISSIONER MAY DIRECT A STOCK EXCHANGE TO SUSPEND DEALINGS IN SECURITIES, IF IT APPEARS TO HIM THAT THIS IS ACCESSARY TO MAINTAIN AN ORDERLY MARKET. HOWEVER IN THIS CASE AND IN ANY OTHER CASE fcHERE HE DIRECTS A SUSPENSION, HE MJST FORMALLY REPORT THIS TO THE COMMISSION GIVING NOTICE TC THE AFFECTED COMPANY AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER CONSIDERING THE COMMISSIONER’S REPORT AND ANY REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY THE COMPANY CONCERNED, THE COMMISSION MAY AS APPROPRIATE DIRECT THAT THE SUSPENSION BE LIFTED SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS, THAT THE SUSPENSION SHOULD REMAIN IN FORCE OR THAT THE LISTING BE CANCELLED.
/SIaTUTORY DKDB2a?AiONG..........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
- 9
STATUTORY UNDERTAKING
LISTED COMPANIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO AN UNDERTAKING WITH THE LISTING EXCHANGE IN THE FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE RULES.
THE COMMISSIONER HAS POWER TO AUTHORISE AMENDMENT OF THIS STATUTORY UNDERTAKING IN AN APPROPRIATE CASE. EXISTING LISTED COMPANIES MUST ENTER THE PRESCRIBED UNDERTAKING WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE RULES (RULE 17).
THE PRESCRIBED UNDERTAKING DOES NOT SUPERSEDE ANY PREVIOUS UNDERTAKING ENTERED INTO BY A LISTED COMPANY WITH A STOCK EXCHANGE, AND A STOCK EXCHANGE MAY REQUIRE A LISTED COMPANY TO ENTER INTO A FURTHER UNDERTAKING ON OTHER MATTERS IF IT SO WISHES.
THE COMMISSIONER MAY DIRECT A STOCK EXCHANGE TO SUSPEND DEALINGS IN THE SECURITIES OF A COMPANY WHICH HAS FAILED TO ENTER INTO THE STATUTORY UNDERTAKING OR FAILED TO COMPLY WITH ITS TERMS (RULE 9).
REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATUTORY UNDERTAKING
THE FORM OF THE STATUTORY UNDERTAKING IS SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE RULES. IT REQUIRES LISTED COMPANIES TO MAKE TIMELY DISCLOSURE TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, THE LISTING EXCHANGE AND ITS SHAREHOLDERS OF MATERIAL INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE COMPANY AND TO THE MARKET PRICE OF ITS SECURITIES. LISTED COMPANIES ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO SUPPLY COPIES OF ANNUAL AND INTERIM REPORTS WHICH MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT GIVING SPECIFIED INFORMATION, SUCH AS THEIR PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES, TRADING RESULTS, SHARE AND LOAN CAPITAL, INDEBTEDNESS, AND SHARES HELD IN THEM BY THEIR DIRECTORS, CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND THEIR ASSOCIATES.
IN ADDITION, LISTED COMPANIES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE BY WAY OF PRESS RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT CIRCULAR DETAILS OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS, NAMELY CHANGES IN THE CHARACTER OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS, THE ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF SUBSIDIARIES, TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE COMPANY’S ACQUISITION OR DISPOSAL OF SUBSTANTIAL ASSETS, AND TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND ITS DIRECTORS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OR THEIR ASSOCIATES. ESSENTIALLY A TRANSACTION IS ’SUBSTANTIAL’ IF IT INVOLVES ASSETS EXCEEDING 15 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF THE COMPANY’S CONSOLIDATED ASSETS (EXCLUDING CURRENT AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS). ADDITIONALLY, A PROPERTY COMPANY IS REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE TRANSACTIONS WHICH INVOLVE PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS OR DISPOSAL., WHERE THE ASSETS CONCERNED EXCEED 20 PER CENT OF THE VALUE ALL PROPERTY OWNED BY IT OR ITS GROUP PRIOR TO THE TRANSACTION.
/VUITiSa........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
10
wA ) VER
THE COMMISSIONER MAY WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT OF ANY PROVISION CF THE RULES OR THE STATUTORY UNDERTAKING. HE MAY DO SO IF HE CONSIDERS THAT A COMPANY CANNOT COMPLY wITH SUCH A PROVISION OR THAT IT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE FOR IT TO DO SO. IN EXTENDING SUCH A vAIVER, THE COMMISSIONER MAY IMPOSE SUCH REASONABLE CONDITIONS AS HE THINKS FIT (RULE 15).
-----o------
MACAU GOVERNOR TO PAY RETURN VISIT * X X *
THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA WILL BE PAYING AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26, AT THE INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.
THE OCCASION WILL BE A RETURN VISIT WHICH THE MACAU GOVERNOR WAS TO HAVE MADE IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, BUT WHICH HAD TO BE POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER.
EXCHANGES OF VISITS BETWEEN THE GOVERNORS OF HONG KONG AND MACAU HAVE BEEN CUSTOMARY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THE MACAU GOVERNOR, WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, WILL ARRIVE BY JETFOIL AT THE MACAU FERRY PIER IN THE MORNING, AND WILL BE MET BY SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND LADY YOUDE.
ON ARRIVAL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE LATER IN THE MORNING, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA WILL BE BRIEFED BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFF ICIALS ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.
AFTER LUNCH AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA WILL TOUR THE TERRITORY BY HELICOPTER AND VISIT SHA TIN.
REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA wILL RETURN TO MACAU IN THE EVENING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOP THE MACAU GOVERNOR’S VISIT WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
--------o----------
/li .......
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
11
HOUSING MANAGEMENT GOES THE COMPUTER WAY * X * * X X
A NEW COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM CAME INTO USE TODAY AT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING READY ASSISTANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ITS LARGE STOCK OF COMMERCIAL AND NON-DOMESTlC PROPERTIES.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (ESTATE MANAGEMENT), MR FUNG TUNG, PRESSED THE KEYBOARDS AT A CEREMONY TO START THE LIVE-RUN OF THE COMMERCIAL AND NON-DOMESTl C TENANCIES MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (CANTMIS).
CANTMIS PROVIDES FOR READY USE AT FINGERTIPS COMPREHENSIVE DATA OF MORE THAN 40 000 COMMERCIAL AND NON-DOMESTl C PROPERTIES INCLUDING SHOPS, SHOPSTALLS, COOKED-FOOD STALLS, SCHOOLS AND WELFARE PREMISES.
THROUGH DATA MANIPULATION FOR VARIOUS MANAGEMENT PURPOSES, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS ABLE TO CUT DOWN HOUSING STAFF’S WORKLOAD, THUS ENABLING THEM TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON DOMESTIC TENANTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
+AMONG OTHER THINGS, CANTMIS CHECKS ON DUPLICATION OF COMMERCIAL TENANCIES AND BRINGS UP REGULAR LETTING POSITION OF THE PREMISES,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY.
HE SAID THE SYSTEM WOULD ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE RENT STRUCTURE OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES FOR RENT REVIEW PURPOSES.
+ IT PROVIDES FOR MORE RESEARCH STUDIES ON THE RENT LEVELS OF PARTICULAR TRADES IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS SO THAT READY REFERENCE CAN BE DRAWN.
♦ APART FROM AUTOMATICALLY BRINGING UP COMMERCIAL TENANCIES FOR RENT REVIEWS, CANTMIS ALSO MAKES MONTHLY RENT COLLECTION PRINTOUTS.+
MEANWHILE, TWO OTHER COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARE BEING DEVELOPED WHICH WILL HELP INCREASE EFFICIENCY IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LARGE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME.
-----o------
/12 ........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
12 -
RULES SET OUT FOR FUND-RAISING IN SCHOOLS
*****
SCHOOLS ARE REMINDED IN A RECENT CIRCULAR THAT THEY MUST OBSERVE CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS.
IN THE CIRCULAR, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT POINTS OUT THAT THE ONLY FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES PERMITTED IN SCHOOLS ARE THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS OF THE TUBERCULOSIS AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION AND THE COMMUNITY CHEST, AND COLLECTIONS ORGANISED FOR SPECIFICALLY APPROVED SCHOOL OR CHARITABLE PURPOSES.
CERTAIN PERMITS AND LICENCES WILL HAVE TO BE OBTAINED WHEN ORGANISING PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, SUCH AS CONCERTS, BAZAARS, STAGE PLAYS, FILM SHOWS, STAGE PERFORMANCES OR OTHER ACTIVITIES AS DEFINED IN THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE WITHIN THE SCHOOL PREMISES IN CONNECTION WITH APPROVED FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGNS.
A PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING TO ADVERTISE, PRESENT JR TO CARRY ON SUCH PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT. A LICENCE FROM THE LICENSING AUTHORITY (URBAN COUNCIL FOR URBAN AREAS AND THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES) MUST ALSO BE OBTAINED TO KEEP OR USE ANY PLACE OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT.
SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST BE SOUGHT FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE FOR ACTIVITIES WHICH INCLUDE THE SELLING OF LIQUOR, THE USE OF STARTING PISTOLS OR SHOOTING STALLS WHERE AIR RIFLES ARE USED.
APPLICATIONS FOR PERMITS OR LICENCES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AT LEAST 18 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE FUNCTIONS.
FIRE SERVICES REQUIREMENTS MUST ALSO BE COMPLIED WITH IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT OR STAGE PERFORMANCES.
DOOR-TO-DOOR COLLECTIONS AND PUBLIC SOLICITATION OF SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE PROHIBITED UNLESS COVERED BY A PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION PERMIT OBTAINED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
IN THE CASE OF WALKATHONS, PRIOR PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. IF THE EVENT INVOLVES ANY RAISING CF FUNDS IN PUBLIC, THE SCHOOLS MUST ALSO OBTAIN A PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION PERMIT.
MOREOVER, IF SCHOOLS WISH TO PUBLICISE THE ACTIVITIES WITH BILLS OR POSTERS, THEY ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVE THE RELEVANT SECTION
CF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.
/SCHOOLS ...........
THUfiSMY, APRIL 4. 19^5
- 13 -
SCHOOLS ARE ALSO REMINDED OF THE STANDING REQUIREMENTS LISTED IN THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS 1971 WHICH PROHIBIT COLLECTIONS OR APPEALS FOR SUBSCRIPTION AMONG PUPILS WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
A FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER CONCERNED FOR EXAMINATION WITHIN TWO MONTHS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF EACH ACTIVITY
ALL FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES MUST BE ON AN ENTIRELY FREE AND VOLUNTARY BASIS, AND IN COMMUNICATIONS TO PARENTS THERE MUST BE NO SUGGESTION THAT A STUDENT’S OR AN APPLICANT’S STANDING IS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE PARENTS MIGHT MAKE, NOR SHOULD ANY PARTICULAR AMOUNT BE SUGGESTED.
-----o------
BILLIARD SALOON GETS LICENCE - WITH SPECIAL RIDER *****
A BILLIARD SALOON ON TSING Yl ISLAND WOULD HAVE TO ABIDE BY SPECIAL OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS AS A PROVISO FOR THE GRANTING OF A LICENCE TO MINIMISE ANY LIKELY NUISANCE IT MIGHT CREATE TO NEARBY RESIDENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROVISO WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A SPECIAL RIDER ADDED TO THE LICENCE STIPULATING THAT THE BILLIARD SALOON IN MAYFAIR GARDENS MUST NOT OPERATE BEYOND MIDNIGHT.
+BECAUSE OF THE OBJECTIONS RAISED BY SOME RESIDENTS AGAINST THE PRESENCE OF A BILLIARD SALOON IN THEIR NEIGHBOURHOOD, THE LICENSING AUTHORITY HAD UNDERTAKEN A MOST SCRUPULOUS AND FAIR EXAMINATION OF ALL THE ISSUES INVOLVED BEFORE THE DECISION WAS TAKEN TO GRANT THE LICENCE.
+THIS PAINSTAKING EXERCISE INCLUDED A METICULOUS SURVEY ON THE GENERAL ACTIVITY OF PEOPLE AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES AT ITS VICINITY AT NIGHT TIME, WHICH SHOWED A DIMINUTION OF ACTIVITY AFTER MIDNIGHT. ACCORDINGLY, THE AUTHORITY HAD STIPULATED THAT THE SALOON MUST CLOSE ITS DOORS BY MIDNIGHT AT THE LATEST,* THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
IN RESPONSE TO THE OBJECTIONS RAISED BY RESIDENTS OVER THIS ISSUE, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AS THE LICENSING AUTHORITY, HAD PERSONALLY EXAMINED THE VARIOUS FACTORS CONCERNED.
/THIS INCLUDSD........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
THIS INCLUDED A MEETING ON DECEMBER 14 WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF A TENANTS’ COMMITTEE TO HEAR THEIR REASONS FOR OBJECTING. IT WAS AFTER THIS THAT A SURVEY OF THE AREA IN WHICH THE BILLIARD SALOON WILL OPERATE WAS CONDUCTED.
+MR BARNES ALSO MADE VISITS AT NIGHT TO TSI NG Yl ISLAND TO SEE FOR HIMSELF THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE SALOON WILL OPERATE.
♦TO FURTHER ACQUAINT HIMSELF WITH THE USUAL CONDITIONS INSIDE BILLIARD SALOONS AND THE TYPE OF CLIENTELE THEY ATTRACT, W BARNES VISITED A NUMBER OF TYPICAL BILLIARD SALOONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR. HE ALSO CONSULTED THE POLICE ABOUT THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME ASSOCIATED WITH BILLIARD SALOONS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, ALTHOUGH INITIAL TESTS HAD SHOWN THAT THE SALOON’S AIR-CONDITIONING PLANT WOULD HA'.E CREATED A NOISE NUISANCE, THE BILLIARD SALOON LICENCE APPLICANT HAD SINCE MADE ADJUSTMENTS AND THE NOISE LEVEL WAS NOW ACCEPTABLE.
IT HAS, IN FACT, FULFILLED ALL THE USUAL AND RELEVANT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS.
+THE OVERHEAD SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND OTHER FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BE SATISFACTORY. AND NOW THAT ALL REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLIED WITH, A LICENCE WILL BE ISSUED TO THE APPLICANT,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
- - 0
SQUATTER CONTROL SQUADS REMAIN ON WATCH X * * *
THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S SQUATTER CONTROL SQUADS WILL REMAIN ON THE WATCH AGAINST ILLEGAL HUT-BUILDING AND CONVERSION ACTIVITIES OVER THE EASTER HOLIDAY.
+THEY WILL CONTINUE PATROLLING SQUATTER AREAS, PARTICULARLY THE BLACK-SPOTS, DURING THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY,* SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY.
HE SAID ANY NEW SQUATTER STRUCTURES OR EXTENSIONS DISCOVERED WOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED wOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.
+HOUSING STAFF WILL KEEP PARTICULAR WATCH ON ILLEGAL CONVERSION OF SURVEYED STRUCTURES OF WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE FULL RECORDS ON THE DIMENSIONS AND USAGE.*
- - 0 -
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
- 15 -
YUEN LONG DB ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN * * * *
MR TAI KUEN WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING THIS MORNING.
ALSO AT THE MEETING, MR TANG NA I-MAN WAS ELECTED THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
-----o------
ENROLMENT IN LEARN-TO-SWIM TO START
*****
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S POPULAR +LEARN-TO-SWIM+ COURSES WILL BE ABLE TO ACCEPT MORE THAN 10 230 PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR.
ALTOGETHER, 341 CLASSES DIVIDED INTO SIX SERIES WILL BE ORGANISED. OF THE TOTAL, 299 CLASSES WILL BE FOR BEGINNERS, 34 FOR SWIMMERS OF INTERMEDIATE LEVEL AND EIGHT FOR THOSE OF ADVANCED LEVEL.
EACH SERIES WILL LAST FOR FIVE WEEKS WITH THREE ONE-HOUR SESSIONS PER WEEK.
THE FIRST SERIES WILL COMMENCE ON APRIL 15 AND ENROLMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED AS FROM SATURDAY (APRIL 6).
DETAILS OF ENROLMENT ARE CONTAINED IN THE APPLICATION FORMS WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE COUNCIL’S VARIOUS SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES. ENTRY FEE FOR EACH APPLICANT IS $20.
THOSE INTERESTED SHOULD APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
THE OTHER FIVE SERIES WILL START ON MAY 20, JUNE 24, JULY 29, SEPTEMBER 2 AND OCTOBER 14 RESPECTIVELY. ENROLMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED A WEEK BEFORE THE START OF EACH SERIES.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
16
EXHUMATION WORK TO BEGIN
* * * *
ALL HUMAN REMAINS BURIED IN THE GRAVES OF FOUR PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS IN 1978 ARE NOW DUE FOR EXHUMATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID A TOTAL OF 9 255 GRAVES AT THESE PUBLIC CEMETERIES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THIS YEAR’S EXHUMATION EXERCISE. OF THESE, 7 306 ARE AT WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY, 989 AT SANDY RIDGE CEMETERY, 666 AT SANDY RIDGE URN CEMETERY AND 294 AT CHEUNG CHAU CEMETERY.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM THE FOUR PUBLIC CEMETERIES IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE ANNUAL RECYCLE EXERCISE TO RECOVER THE GRAVE SPACES FROM PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS BURIED IN THESE GRAVES ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED WITH THE EXHUMATION BEFORE APRIL 30 (TUESDAY).
THEY SHOULD FIRST APPLY FOR AN EXHUMATION PERMIT AT THE CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA OFFICE OF THE RSD AT 6 CHEONG HANG ROAD, HUNG HOM, KOWLOON.
THE EXHUMED REMAINS CAN BE RE-BURIED IN THE URN SECTION OF PUBLIC CEMETERIES, OR AFTER CREMATION, ITS ASHES DEPOSITED AT A GOVERNMENT OR PRIVATE COLUMBARIUM OR KEPT AT HOME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID HUMAN REMAINS WHICH WERE NOT REMOVED AFTER APRIL 30 WOULD BE EXHUMED AND CREMATED AT A GOVERNMENT CREMATORIUM AND THE ASHES WOULD BE RE-BURIED AT THE SANDY RIDGE URN CEMETERY OR OTHER PUBLIC URN CEMETERY.
NEW ID CARDS FOR MEN BORN 1941 - 1944 * * *
MEN BORN BETWEEN 1941 AND 1944 WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS FROM APRIL 15 TO MAY 18 THIS YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID ABOUT 113 003 PEOPLE WOULD BE AFFECTED IN THIS PHASE.
THEY MUST BRING ALONG THEIR OLD ID CARDS WHEN THEY CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES.
/THESE CEBITS ........
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
- 17 -
THESE OFFICES ARE OPEN FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS, AND THEIR ADDRESSES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
HONG KONG : BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WANCHAI.
EAST KOWLOON : AMOY GARDEN PLAZA, 2ND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
WEST KOWLOON : CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2ND FLOOR, 393
CANTON ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
TSUEN WAN : EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET.
SHATIN : SHATIN CENTRE, PODIUM FLOOR, 2-16 WANG POK STREET.
YUEN LONG : HOP YICK CENTRE, 2ND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD.
TUEN MUN : CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK
FA YUEN.
SHEUNG SHU I : TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED APPLICANTS THAT THEY COULD MAKE USE CF THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SERVICE IF THEY WISH TO VISIT A SPECIFIC CFFICE ON A PARTICULAR DAY.
♦BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FORM WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE, AND RETURN IT TO THE ISSUE OFFICE OF THEIR CHOICE AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE PHASE,* HE SAID.
HE REITERATED THAT NO AMNESTY WOULD BE GRANTED TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO WOULD BE REPATRIATED UPON DETECTION.
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REMINDER FOR ’CLEAN AND GREEN’ PARTICIPANTS ******
PARTICIPANTS OF THE +CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME* WHO HAVE COMPLETED STAGE I OF THE SCHEME ARE TODAY REMINDED TO TAKE PART IN STAGE II WHICH HAS BEGUN.
DURING THE SECOND STAGE, THEY WILL EACH BE REQUIRED TO PLANT A TREE ON ANY DAY DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS (APRIL 5-8) OR ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY (APRIL 14).
/THE TREE .......
THURSDAY, APRIL 4. 1985
- 18 -
THE TREE MUST BE PLANTED IN ANY ONE OF THE SIX SELECTED COUNTRY PARKS IN QUARRY BAY, POK FU LAM, TWISK, BRIDE’S POOL, PAK TAM CHUNG AND NAM SHAN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4 PM.
+THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD PRODUCE HIS PASS CARD TO THE STAFF CF THE REPORTING POST FOR IT TO BE STAMPED. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WILL BE GIVEN A SEEDLING AND A SET OF PLANTING EQUIPMENT,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME WORKING GROUP SAID.
THOSE COMPLETING THE TREE-PLANTING STAGE, WILL BE ENTITLED TO TAKE PART IN A LUCKY DRAW, WHEN 250 PEOPLE WILL BE CHOSEN FOR A FREE PICNIC AT CHEUNG SHEUNG, SAI KUNG, ON APRIL 28.
-----0------
GROUP AIMS TO PROMOTE INDUSTRY
******
FACTORY OPERATORS AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS ARE URGED TO JOIN THE EASTERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT.
+THE AIM OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY, AND TO LIAISE WITH INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE DISTRICT TO WORK TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE SAID.
+WE WELCOME PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS TRADES TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION SO THAT IT CAN BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE IN LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IN THE DISTRICT,* HE SAID.
THE ASSOCIATION, A NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION, HAS TWO CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP: ORDINARY AND AFFILIATED MEMBERS.
ORDINARY MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO PAY $300 ENTRANCE FEE AND AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION OF $200, WHILE THE ENTRANCE FEE AND ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION FOR AFFILIATED MEMBERS ARE $100 EACH.
THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL SEND OUT LETTERS, INTRODUCTORY NOTES AND APPLICATION FORMS TO MORE THAN 3 000 FACTORIES AND COMPANIES IN THE DISTRICT, EXPLAINING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION AND URGING THEM TO JOIN.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES. FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE EASTERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM MR BILLY KO ON 5-573265.
0 -------
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
19
THREE SITES OFFERED FOR RENT X X 5
TENDERS ARE BEING SOUGHT BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCIES OF THREE SITES.
THE FIRST SITE AT HIP WO STREET, KWUN TONG, IS FOR STORING GOODS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL.
THE TENANCY FOR THE 7 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE IS FOR ONE YEAR AND IS RENEWABLE QUARTERLY THEREAFTER.
THE OTHER TWO SITES ARE AT FAU TSOI STREET, YUEN LONG. THEY MEASURE 4 574 AND 4 989 SQUARE METRES, AND ARE FOR USE AS FEE-CHARGING CAR PARKS ON A THREE-MONTH TENANCY, RENEWABLE MONTHLY.
TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 19.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, SURVEY DIVISION, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONGf DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 1OTH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON; AND DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG, YUEN LONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND TAI KIU MARKET, 2 KIU LOK SQUARE, YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE YUEN LONG SITES.
0 - -
SERVICE LANE DECLARED PUBLIC * * * *
THE PRIVATE SECTION OF THE SERVICE LANE AT CHUNG KING MANSIONS IN KOWLOON WAS DECLARED PUBLIC TODAY, IN A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE.
THE LANE IS LOCATED AT THE SIDES AND REAR OF 36 - 44 NATHAN
ROAD
AS THE LANE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND IS COVERED BY VARIOUS UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES, IT IS INCONVENIENT TO THE PERSONS USING THE LANE AS A PASSAGE WAY AND HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD.
THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING OVER THE LANE UNDER PART V OF THE CROWN LAND ORDINANCE FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE, WHICH WILL INITIALLY ENTAIL THE CLEARANCE OF THE UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES.
/20 .
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
CONCERT MARKS YOUTH YEAR * * * *
THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (B) WILL PRESENT A SYMPHONIC CONCERT AT THE AUDITORIUM OF TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY (APRIL 6) AT 8 PM.
THE CONCERT IS JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR.
IT WILL FEATURE BEETHOVEN’S OVERTURE TO 'KING STEPHEN’OP. 117, STRAUSS JR.’S TALES FROM THE VIENNA WOODS - WALTZ OP. 325, ARNOLD’S LITTLE SUITE FOR ORCHESTRA NO.l OP.53 AND MENDELSSOHN’S SYMPHONY NO.3 IN A MINOR OP.56 ’SCOTCH’.
MR LUI KI-LING AND MR STEVEN WONG WILL BE CONDUCTING THE YOUNG INSTRUMENTALISTS OF THE ORCHESTRA.
TICKETS AT $5 EACH ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE AND TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL BOX OFFICE. FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 0-750465.
NEW DATES SET FOR PUBLIC SESSION * * * *
YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD’S +MEET THE PUBLIC* SESSION WILL HAVE A NEW ARRANGEMENT STARTING APRIL 10 (WEDNESDAY).
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL MEET THE PUBLIC ON EVERY WEDNESDAY INSTEAD OF FRIDAY, FROM 6.30 PM TO 8.30 PM IN THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 490-492 NATHAN ROAD, HOP FAT COMMERCIAL CENTRE. RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO LODGE COMPLAINTS OR AIR THEIR VIEWS CAN MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING 3-323791.
THE FIRST TWO DB MEMBERS ON DUTY WILL BE MR CHIU YU-HEI AND hf? LAI WING-TAK.
THE SESSIONS STARTED IN NOVEMBER 1982 TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR THE PUBLIC TO REFLECT PROBLEMS TO THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
ABOUT 400 CASES WERE HANDLED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SINCE THE SESSIONS BEGAN.
- 0 -
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985
- 21 -
LANE TO BE CLOSED FOR ROAD WORKS
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CLOSE A SECTION OF LAI WO LANE TOGETHER WITH A FOOTPATH LINKING THE EASTERN END OF THE LANE TO SUI WO ROAD, TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW VEHICLE TURN-AROUND AT THE SOUTHERN END OF LAI WO LANE.
THE AREA TO BE CLOSED WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE INCLUDED WITHIN A NEW LOT WHICH WILL BE GRANTED TO THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION AS A SITE FOR A SECONDARY SCHOOL AND A JUNIOR SCHOOL. THE SECONDARY SCHOOL IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON PART OF THE LOT.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORK IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (THURSDAY).
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORK CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY; AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 2 TUNG LO WAN HILL ROAD, SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES AND AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, 6TH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST REACH THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
- 0 ----------
HOLIDAY NEWS SERVICE * * *
THE DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS — FROM APRIL 5 TO 8.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO INTERRUPTION OF THE DAILY NEWS SERVICE, WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANSMITTED AS USUAL BY TELEPRINTER AND FACSIMILE NETWORK THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS.
0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL APPOINTED ....................... 1
SALE OF STANLEY SITE FURTHER POSTPONED ................... 1
PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING PROJECT AWARDED ................... 2
INVESTIGATION INTO PERAK PIONEER LIMITED ................. 5
SECRETARY NAMED FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL ..................... 5
BOARD TO HOLD FIRST MEETING .............................. 4
PLANTING SCHEME DRAWS OVER 3 OOO PARTICIPANTS ............ 5
TENDER FOR AP LEI CHAU HOUSING PROJECT APPROVED .......... 5
ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING SCHEME OFFERED ...................... 6
NEW PUBLIC SERVICES CENTRE FOR TUEN MUN .................. 7
ROAD CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE WORK........................... 7
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ..................................... 8
WATER STORAGE FIGURES .................................... 8
URBCO OPENS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO PUBLIC .......... 9
URBCO MEETS UNDER A NEW FORMAT ........................... 10
FUNDS APPROVED FOR BUILDING MAINTENANCE .................. 11
GOVERNMENT URGED TO CLEAN UP CARGO AREAS ................. 11
BLITZ ON FOOD OPERATORS IN OPEN SPACES ................... 12
FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ON VACANT SITES ARE ILLEGAL .......... 12
ROOF OVER JADE HAWKER BAZAAR BEING CONSIDERED ............ 13
URBCO TO PAY WATER CHARGES FOR BAZAAR .................... 13
KOWLOON HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMME APPROVED ........ 14
LIBRARY DESIGNATED IN SAU MAU PING ....................... 14
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
1
NEW DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL APPOINTED
H * * *
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR MARK HEATH AS DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, IN SUCCESSION TO SIR JOHN CURLE WHO IS RETIRING IN JUNE.
SIR MARK HEATH, KCVO, CMG, AGED 58, IS A MEMBER OF HER MAJESTY’S DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. HE FIRST JOINED THE (THEN) FOREIGN
CFFICE IN 1950 AND HAS SINCE SERVED IN VARIOUS DIPLOMATIC POSTS, INCLUDING JAKARTA, COPENHAGEN, SOFIA, OTTAWA, AND OECD (PARIS). SINCE 1982, HE HAS BEEN HM AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE.
-----o------
SALE OF STANLEY SITE FURTHER POSTPONED * * * *
THE SALE OF A SITE AT STANLEY MARKET ROAD ON WHICH AN OLD BANYAN TREE IS PERCHED HAS BEEN FURTHER DEFERRED.
THE 570-SQUARE METRE SITE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR AUCTION ON MARCH 1, BUT THE SALE WAS POSTPONED TO APRIL 18 FOR FURTHER STUDIES BECAUSE OF CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS CF THE PUBLIC OVER THE FATE OF THE BANYAN TREE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT SAID THE SECOND POSTPONEMENT WAS REQUIRED TO ALLOW TIME FOR A DETAILED RE-PLANNING STUDY. THE STUDY WOULD DETERMINE WHETHER, AND IF SO TO WHAT EXTENT, THE SITE COULD BE COMMERCIALLY DEVELOPED WITHOUT FELLING THE BANYAN TREE. OTHER POSSIBLE USES OF THE SITE WOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED.
+RELEVANT ASPECTS WHICH WILL ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDE THE PRESENT HEALTH OF THE TREE, THE PLANNED WIDENING OF STANLEY MARKET ROAD, THE LIKELY TIMING OF THIS IMPROVEMENT, AND DEMAND FROM DEVELOPERS FOR THIS TYPE OF SITE,+ HE SAID.
A FINAL DECISION WILL BE MADE ON CONCLUSION OF THE DETAILED STUDY.
I -----o--------
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
2
PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING PROJECT AWARDED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AWARDED THE FIRST PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL LOT IN MA ON SHAN, SHATIN, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME TO HOUSE A POPULATION OF 15 OOO.
THE 7'. 3 HECTARE SITE AT SCENIC TAI SHU I HANG VALLEY WAS AWARDED TO WILLOWGARTH COMPANY LIMITED AT A PREMIUM OF $300 300 300.
THE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT UNDER THE SCHEME, WHICH IS THE LARGEST IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, COMPRISE A TOTAL OF 3 960 UNITS IN
17 BLOCKS.
THE AWARD CONTRACT WAS FORMALLY SIGNED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER, SHA TIN, MR EDMUND FUNG AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY, MR CHOW YEI-CHING.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID OF THE TENDERS RECEIVED, THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY WILLOWGARTH WERE CONSIDERED THE BEST IN DESIGN TERMS BY THE SPECIAL TENDER BOARD AND THAT THE PREMIUM
TENDERED WAS COMPETITIVE.
HE SAID THAT UNDER THE SALES CONDITIONS, THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WITH A MAXIMUM GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 212 000 SQUARE METRES AS WELL AS ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL SPACE NOT EXCEEDING 4 500 SQUARE METRES.
THE DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE WOULD INCLUDE A KINDERGARTEN WITH 13 CLASSROOMS, A NURSERY WITH AT LEAST 75 PLACES, A POLICE REPORT IN CENTRE, A BUS TERMINUS, A MARKET AND A COVERED GAMES AREA, HE SAID.
THE SALEABLE AREAS OF THE UNITS RANGE FROM 39.7 SQUARE METRES TO 55 SQUARE METRES.
PHASE I OF THE DEVELOPMENT, COMPRISING 10 RESIDENTIAL TOWERS WITH 2 025 UNITS AND A COMMERCIAL CENTRE, IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN AUGUST 1987, WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHEME WILL BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER, 1988.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
5
INVESTIGATION INTO PERAK PIONEER LIMITED
* X *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE HAS APPOINTED INSPECTORS UNDER THE TERMS OF SECTION 143(1) (C) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF PERAK PIONEER LIMITED AND REPORT TO HIM THEREON.
THE INSPECTORS APPOINTED ARE MR WILLIAM WAUNG, BARRISTER-AT-LAW- AND MR PAUL FREDERICK MARTEN SHEWEEL, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, OF f'-ESSRS COOPERS AND LYBRAND, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS.
-------o---------
SECRETARY NAMED FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL * * * *
A YOUNG LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IS TO TAKE OVER THE POST OF SECRETARY TO THE NEWLY FORMED PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
MRS PAMELA TAN, A BRITISH UNIVERSITY GRADUATE, WILL TAKE OVER FROM MR PETER PELHAM ON APRIL 15.
SHE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN 1977 AS AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY DEALING WITH LABOUR AND REHABILITATION MATTERS IN THE FORMER SOCIAL SERVICE BRANCH WHERE SHE SERVED FOR TWO YEARS. SHE WAS NEXT POSTED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BEFORE RETURNING TWO YEARS LATER TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AS FINANCE OFFICER IN THE FINANCE BRANCH.
MRS TAN, 29, SEES HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS SETTING UP THE SECRETARIAT TO SERVICE THE PRC WHICH WILL ADVISE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN APRIL 1986 AS AN INDEPENDENT BODY WITH STATUTORY FUNCTIONS AND FINANCIAL AUTONOMY.
+MY IMMEDIATE TASK IS TO GET THE PRC UNDERWAY AND IN PARTICULAR TO ASSIST IN DEVISING ITS INTERNAL ORGANISATION AND OPERATION. I HAVE TO SEE TO IT THAT THE PRC HAS THE MEANS TO PERFORM ITS FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AS LAID DOWN IN THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE,+ MRS TAN SAID.
DEPARTING SECRETARY MR PELHAM SAID DURING HIS SIX-MONTH TERM WITH THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL, HE HAD HELPED IN FORMULATING STANDING ORDERS OF THE PRC, ITS COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, THE PLANN NG AND PROVISIONING OF THE PRC’S CONFERENCE FACILITY, INTERPRETATION SERVICE AND OTHER LOGISTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
-----o -
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
4
BOARD TO HOLD FIRST MEETING
* * *
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 3 PM.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE FORMATION OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
THE FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR CARRYING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS, AND THE REVISION CF GUIDELINES ON VETTING APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS FOR CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE WORK OF THE ICAC AND LIAISON ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING, THERE WILL BE A CLOSED SESSION AT 2 PM DURING WHICH THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE ELECTED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE 16TH FLOOR, SINCERE BUILDING, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
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/5........
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
5
PLANTING SCHEME DRAwS OVER 3 OOO PARTICIPANTS
* * * *
SOME 3 000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE 1985 COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT BY PLANTING TREES AT SELECTED SITES IN SIX OF THE COUNTRY PARKS DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS), NR K.C. IU SAID MORE THAN 3 600 TREES WERE PLANTED DURING THE FOUR-DAY HOLIDAY PERIOD, BRINGING TO 4 500 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TREES PLANTED SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED ON MARCH 29.
MR IU SAID APART FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ORGANISED GROUPS INCLUDING STUDENTS, SCOUTS, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS AND PARTICIPANTS OF THE +CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME* ALSO TOOK PART.
HE SAID THAT THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME WOULD END ON SUNDAY (APRIL 14) WHEN AT LEAST 2 000 YOUNG PEOPLE, MOSTLY STUDENTS FROM ORGANISED GROUPS, WERE EXPECTED TO TURN UP AT THE SIX DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS TO PLANT TREES.
HE ALSO REMINDED +CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME* PARTICIPANTS, WHO HAD NOT YET PLANTED TREES AS A REQUIREMENT FOR COMPLETING STAGE TWO OF THE SCHEME, TO DO SO ON SUNDAY.
TREE SEEDLINGS ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FOR PLANTING AT SELECTED SITES AT TWISK, TAI MO SHAN; BRIDE’S POOL IN TAI PO ; QUARRY BAY AND POK FU LAM ON HONG KONG ISLAND’ NAM SHAN ON LANTAU AND PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG.
0 -------
TENDER FOR AP LEI CHAU HOUSING PROJECT APPROVED
* * * X
A LARGE TENDER WORTH OVER $206 MILLION HAS JUST BEEN GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR MORE BLOCKS IN LEI TUNG ESTATE ON AP LEI CHAU TO HOUSE ANOTHER 15 000 PEOPLE.
+CONSTRUCTI ON WORKS WILL SOON BEGIN ON THE FOUR 35/38-STOREY TRIDENT BLOCKS UNDER THE SECOND PHASE OF THE HOUSING PROJECT,* SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TODAY.
HE SAID THAT WHEN THESE BLOCKS WERE READY BY 1987, THEY WOULD PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 3 248 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS FOR 15 000 PEOPLE.
/♦THE BUILDING
PUESDA' APiilL 9, 1985
♦ THE BUILDING TENDER ALSO COVERS A PRIMARY SCHOOL, A SEVENSTOREY COMMERCIAL AND CARPARK BLOCK AS WELL AS OTHER ASSOCIATED SERVICES AND EXTERNAL WORKS.
♦ LEI TUNG ESTATE IS BEING DEVELOPED IN THREE PHASES AND IS THE SECOND PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON AP LEI CHAU.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID CONSTRUCTION WORKS WERE NOW UNDERWAY ON FOUR TRIDENT BLOCKS WITH 4 020 FLATS FOR 15 000 PEOPLE UNDER ITS FIRST PHASE.
♦ UPON FULL COMPLETION BY 1988, LEI TUNG ESTATE WILL BECOME A SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY WITH EIGHT RENTAL AND SEVEN HOME OWNERSHIP BLOCKS FOR 37 000 PEOPLE.+
THE TENDER WAS ACCEPTED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S BUILDING COMMITTEE AT ITS LAST MEETING.
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ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING SCHEME OFFERED
*****
THE ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING BOARD INVITES EMPLOYERS TO JOIN THE ACCOUNTANCY TRAINEESHIP SCHEME BY OFFERING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING TO YOUNG EMPLOYEES WITH FORM 5 EDUCATION LEVEL.
THE SCHEME, IMPLEMENTED LAST YEAR BY THE ACCOUNTANCY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, AIMS AT INTRODUCING ORGANISED TRAINING TO THE ACCOUNTING SECTOR.
♦THE SCHEME INVOLVES THREE-YEAR PRACTICAL TRAINING AND TWO-YEAR COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ON PART-TIME DAY RELEASE BASIS,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID.
UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST YEAR ACCOUNTING COURSE AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, TRAINEES WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM LEVEL I OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ACCOUNTING TECHNICIANS.
TO JOIN THE SCHEME, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AND HAVE IT REGISTERED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
EMPLOYERS MAY ALSO MAKE USE OF THE PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE COUNCIL TO RECRUIT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION.
FURTHER ENQUIRES ON THE SCHEME CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BOARD ON 5-8932341 EXT. 25^.
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/7.......
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
7
NEW PUBLIC SERVICES CENTRE FOR TUEN MUN fc W X * K
A NEw PUBLIC ENQUIRIES SERVICES CENTRE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO SERVE RESIDENTS AND VILLAGES IN THE NORTHERN PART OF TUEN MUN.
LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR IN SIU HONG COURT COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES AS HANDLING OF ENQUIRIES AND COMPLAINTS, ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, DISTRIBUTING GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS, AND REFERRAL OF CLIENTS WHO REQUIRE FREE LEGAL ADVICE.
THE CENTRE WILL BE OPEN FROM 8.45 AM TO 1 PM IN THE MORNING, AND FROM 2 PM TO 5.15 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS’ AND FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS. THE CENTRE’S TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 0-851925.
ROAD CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE WORK X * *
ELECTRIC ROAD BETWEEN BOAT STREET AND FUK YUEN STREET IN NORTH POINT WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY (APRIL 12) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WORK ON A FOOTBRIDGE.
DURING THE CLOSURE, ELECTRIC ROAD BETWEEN FUK YUEN STREET AND POWER STREET WILL BE REROUTED TWO WAYS, WHILE POWER STREET WILL BECOME ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND. ALL VEHICLES WILL. BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM OIL STREET INTO KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND WHERE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE SECTION BETWEEN OIL STREET AND POWER STREET.
VEHICLES HEADING FOR CITY GARDEN SHOULD PROCEED VIA OIL-STREET, KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND, POWER STREET AND |J-ECTRIC ROAD. THOSE HEADING FOR FORTRESS HILL ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA OIL STREET KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND, NORTH POINT ROAD, JAVA ROAD, TONG SHU I ROAD AND KING’S ROAD WESTBOUND.
THE ABOVE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE REPEATED FROM M!DNIGHT ON SATURDAY (APRIL 13) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
a
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 12), ROAD P3 EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WU I ROAD AND ALL ITS SLIP ROADS LEADING TO TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED 24-HOUR RESTRICTED ZONES.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONES, MOTORISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS.
FROM THE SAME DAY AND TIME, TAI CHUNG KIU ROAD OUTSIDE JAT MIN CHUEN, SHA TIN WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
_---------0---------------
aATER STORAGE FIGURES * * *
STORAGC IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (TUESDAY) STOOD AT 57?3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 336.032 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 418.087 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 71.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
-------o - -
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
- 9
URBCO OPENS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES TO PUBLIC
******
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS OPENING UP ITS DOORS ON ITS DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND TO KEEP ABREAST WITH THE MORE OPEN FORM CF GOVERNMENT NOw EVOLVING IN HONG KONG, SAID ITS CHAIRMAN, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, AT THE COUNCIL’S OPEN MONTHLY MEETING TODAY.
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THAT IN FUTURE THE URBAN COUNCIL WOULD, AFTER COMPLETING ITS ROUTINE BUSINESS OF A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSION AND RESOLVING NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO VARIOUS BY-LAWS IN OPEN MEETING, FORMALLY GO INTO COMMITTEE IN PUBLIC, TOO.
♦WHAT WE WILL BE GOING ON TO DISCUSS, THEREFORE, IS SOME OF THE DAY-TO-DAY SUBJECTS THAT ARE NORMALLY THRASHED OUT AND DECIDED AT THE FORTNIGHTLY MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL’S STANDING COMMITTEE,* HE SAID.
♦BECAUSE THE COUNCIL PUTS GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE DOING RATHER THAN THE SAYING, IT HAS IN THE PAST MADE A WIDE RANGE OF IMPORTANT DECISIONS AT THESE MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE HELD HERE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS BUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS - NOT THAT ANY GREAT SECRETS WERE BEING DISCUSSED, RATHER SO THAT THE COUNCIL COULD PUSH AHEAD AS SWIFTLY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE WITH OUR MANY RESPONSIBILITIES,* HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL NOW HAS 12 SELECT COMMITTEES, NINE SUB-COMMITTEES AND VARIOUS OTHER BOARDS, WORKING PARTIES AND ADVISORY PANELS THAT ARE MEETING AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH IF NOT MORE OFTEN.
AND NEVER A WORKING DAY PASSES WITHOUT THE URBAN COUNCIL BEING INVOLVED IN IMPORTANT MEETINGS COVERING THE MULTIPLICITY OF CIVIC DUTIES IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, HE ADDED.
♦TODAY, HOWEVER, WE ARE LIVING IN A MORE -- SHALL I SAY — POLITICAL CLIMATE. THE MAN IN THE STREET WANTS TO KNOW MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE MATTERS WHICH AFFECT HIS DAY TO DAY DOINGS, AND TO BE SURE THAT HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE UPKEEP OF THIS GREAT CITY OF OURS IS BEING SPENT WISELY AND JUD ICIOUSLY,+ MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
♦THE COUNCIL, IN RESPONSE TO THIS DEVELOPING TREND, IS GLAD TO BRING OUT INTO THE OPEN THE, SHALL I SAY, NUTS AND BOLTS OF ADMINISTERING URBAN HONG KONG AND PROVIDING NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL SERVICES BUT ALSO -- ON A CULTURAL AND SPORTING FRONT -- THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE TO OUR 4.5 MILLION URBAN DWELLERS.+
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/1O........
TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1985
10 -
URBCO MEETS UNDER A NEW FORMAT
******
ONLV A FEW WORKING DAYS AFTER BECOMING THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM THIS AFTERNOON FOUND HIMSELF IN CENTRE-STAGE AT THE URBAN COUNCIL’S MONTHLY OPEN MEETING.
THE COUNCIL WAS MEETING UNDER A NEW FORMAT, AND WENT INTO COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH FOUR IMPORTANT ITEMS NORMALLY DEALT WITH BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT THE REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE.
MR CHUI JOINED CHEONG-LEEN, ON THE HIMSELF BEING ASKED UNDER DI SCUSSION.
THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, ROSTRUM — AND ALMOST A SERI ES OF QUEST! ONS
MR HILTON
IMMEDIATELY FOUND
ABOUT THE ITEMS
THE QUESTIONS COVERED SUCH POINTS AS THE NECESSITY FOR EXPENSIVE WORK ON UNDERGROUND DUCTS AT LEI CHENG UK SWIMMING POOL (TO ENABLE MODERN MAINTENANCE METHODS TO BE USED IN THEIR OVERHAUL) WHETHER IT WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONTRACT OUT ITS OWN MAINTENANCE WORK RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT (ON PAST EXPERIENCE, NO, BUT IT WOULD BE CLOSELY RE-EXAMINED) WHY A BEACH BUILDING AT STANLEY MAIN BEACH WAS TO BE DEMOLISHED AND REBUILT (IT IS USED EXTENSIVELY, AND HAS BEGUN TO DETERIORATE AND CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD) WHY THE COUNCIL SHOULD PAY HAWKERS’ WATER BILLS AT A TEMPORARY MARKET IN CHAI WAN (THE HAWKERS WERE TO HAVE BEEN MOVED LATE LAST YEAR TO A PERMANENT MARKET, BUT THIS HAS BEEN DELAYED IN THE MEANTIME THE COUNCIL MUST HONOUR ITS PROMISE TO PAY THE WATER BILLS) WHY ARE SOME PROJECTS DELAYED (BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH CONTRACTORS, WHO THEMSELVES SOMETIMES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE WEATHER) WHY THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT LIAISE WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON ROADSIDE BEAUTIFICATION PLANS (IT ALREADY DOES SO NEVERTHELESS A CRITICAL REVIEW IS NOW IN TRAIN).
NOT SURPRISINGLY, MR CHUI WAS WARMLY THANKED BY MR CHEONG-LEEN FOR HIS FRANK AND INFORMATIVE ANSWERS AFTER THE FOUR PAPERS HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED AND ULTIMATELY AGREED BY THE MEETING.
DURING HIS QUESTI ON-AND-ANSWER +GRILLING,+ MR CHUI MADE THE POINT SEVERAL TIMES THAT IN EVERYTHING IT DID, THE DEPARTMENT WAS HIGHLY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO PLACE EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY FIRST, WHILE GETTING ON WITH THE JOB OF PROVIDING DAY-TO-DAY SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE OF URBAN HONG KONG.
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/11 ........
:'UEc , a; :<l 9, 1985
11
FUNDS APPROVED FOP BUILDING MAINTENANCE ******
THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS ACCEPTED THE BUILDING MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR 1985-86 AS RECOMMENDED BY THE GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE SURVEYOR.
THE DECISION WAS REACHED AFTER DISCUSSIONS BY MEMBERS DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE AT THE COUNCIL’S OPEN MEETING TODAY.
THE TOTAL COST FOR THIS MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE IS ESTIMATED AT $22 MILLION.
SOME OF THE MAJOR WORKS INCLUDED ARE THE RENEWAL OF WATER PIPES AT VICTORIA PARK, THE RESURFACING OF THE CONCOURSE AND PARKING AREAS IN WHITFIELD DEPOT, THE RENEWAL OF PLOODLIGHTS OVER THE MAIN POOL AND THE ROOF OF THE PLANT ROOM IN MORRISON HILL SWIMMING POOL, THE CONSTRUCTION OF FURTHER DUCTING FOR UNDERGROUND WATER PIPES IN LEI CHENG UK Swimming pool, the resurfacing of a number of tennis COURTS, AND THE RENEWAL AND REPLACEMENT OF SOME FLOODLIGHTING POLES AND FITTINGS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREAS.
-----0-----
GOVERNMENT URGED *
TO CLEAN UP CARGO AREAS * * * * *
THE URBA , COUNCIL HAS CALLED ON THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE TO USE THE REVENUE RAISED FROM PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS TO FUND BETTER CLEANSING SERVICES THERE.
DR RONALD LEUNG, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIPNE SELECT COMMITTEE, TOLD THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY THAT LANDS FENCED OFF AS PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS ARE +RESTRICTED AREAS* AND ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS MADE CLEAR AT THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 16 THIS YEAR AT WHICH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SHUM SHU I . 0 DISTRICT BOARD WAS PRESENT, HE SAID.
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEES OF VARIOUS DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE ALSO BEEN INFORMED IN DETAIL OF THc VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE, DR LEUNv ADDED.
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/12........
TU£. >aY, APRIL 9, 1985
BLITZ ON FOOD OPERATORS IN OPEN SPACES
* * * * * *
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN OUT 225 PROSECUTIONS DURING THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY THIS YEAR AGAINST FOOD BUSINESS OPERATORS USING PAVEMENTS OR OPEN SPACES OUTSIDE THEIR PREMISES FOR THE PREPARATION OR STORAGE OF OPEN FOOD.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY MR TONG KAM-BIU AT THE URBAN COUNCIL OPEN MEETING TODAY, MR WALTER SULKE, CHAIRMAN OF "PE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, WARNED THAT SUCH A MALPRACTICE CONSTITUTED AN OFFENCE UNDER THE EXISTING FOOD BUSINESS BY-LAWS.
+THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THIS OFFENCE IS A FINE OF 32 OOO AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS,+ HE SAID.
■♦-DISTRICT HEALTH INSPECTORS PAY REGULAR INSPECTIONS TO ALL FOOD PREMISES AND TAKE OUT PROSECUTIONS WHEN THESE AND OTHER BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BY-LAWS ARE NOTICED.*
--------c - - - -
FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ON VACANT SITES ARE ILLEGAL
******
COOKED FOOD STALLS OR EATING ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING ON PRIVATE LAND OR VACANT BUILDING SITES ARE ILLEGAL.
THIS WAS STATED BY MR WALTER SULKE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FOOD HYGIENE SELECT COMMITTEE, WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY MR TONG KAM-BIU AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
MR SULKE SAID: +LOCATED AS THEY ARE ON PRIVATE LAND, THEY CANNOT BE LICENSED AS HAWKERS. NEITHER CAN THEY BE LICENSED AS FOOD BUSINESSES AS THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY MEET THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTn.
+SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS ARE ILLEGAL AND ARE SUBJECT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION.*
TU'SW.Y, APRIL 9, 1985
ROOF OVER JADE HAwrxER BaZAAR BEING CONSIDERED * * * * * *
THE urban council is considering the request by the JADE HAWKERS TO PUT UP A ROOF OVER THE JADE HAWKER BAZAAR AT RECLAMATION STREET AND KANS. STREET, SAID MRS ELSIE ELLIOTT, CHAIRPERSON OF THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY MR KWAN LIM-HO AT TODAY’S URBAN COUNCIL MEETING, MRS ELLIOTT SAID DISCUSSIONS ARE EE ING HELD BETWEEN THE JADE HAWKERS, THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS TO THE BEST MEANS OF PROVIDING THE ROOF, WHICH HAS TO COMPLY WITH ALL BUILDING AND SAFETY REGULATIONS.
+THE POSSIBILITY OF ALLOWING THE HAWKERS TO ERECT THE ROOF THEMSELVES IS BUT ONE OF THE OPTIONS BEING EXAMINED,* SHE SAID.
+ONCE A PROPOSAL IS FINALISED, A SUBMISSION WILL BE MADE TO THE MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE FOR CONSIDERATION.*
EXPLAINING THE COUNCIL’S POLICY, MRS ELLIOTT SAID THAT ALTHOUGH ROOFS ARE GENERALLY NOT PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL FOR HAwKER PITCHES, HAWKERS MAY BE PERMITTED TO ERECT SHADES AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
BUT THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDe ROOFS IN THOSE HAWKER BAZAARS WHICH HAVE A LIFE EXPECTANCY OF MORE THAN 12 MONTHS, SHE ADDED.
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-JR ECO TO FAY WATER CHARGES FOR BAZAAR ******
THE URBAN COUNCIL, AT ITS MONTHLY OPEN MEETING TODAY, AGREED TO RAY THE CHARGES FOR WATER CONSUMED BY HAWKERS AT THE CHAI WAN TEMPORARY COOKED FOOD BAZAAR.
ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL, A TEMPORARY COOKED FOOD BAZAAR WAS BUILT AT WAN TSUI ROAD, CHAI WAN, IN SEPTEMBER 1983 TO ACCOMMODATE 11 LICENSED COOKED FOOD STALLS FORMERLY OPERATING IN THE OPEN SPACE BETWEEN BLOCKS 18 AND 20 OF THE CHAI WAN HOUSING ESTATE.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED THAT THE WATER CHARGES BE SETTLED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL BECAUSE THE CHAI WAN COOKED FOOD BAZAAR WAS ONLY TEMPORARY IN STATlo. GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE BAZAAR wOULD BE DEMOLISHED BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST NEXT YEAR, IT wOULD NOT BE ECONOMICAL r OR THE HAwKERS TO INSTALL THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL wATER METERS AND INTERNAL PIPING.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE wATER CHARGE..- FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN OCTOBER 1983 AND NOVEMBER 1984 TOTALLED 342 130.
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/14
TUESDAY. APRIL 9, 1985
14
KOWLOON HIGHwAv BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMME APPROVED * M * *
AT ITS MONTHLY OPEN MEETING TODAY, THE URBAN COUNCIL APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF $840 >00 TO FINANCE THE TWO-YEAR hOwLOON HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMME FOR 1985-87.
THE MONEY WILL BE RELEASED FROM THE COUNCIL’S MINOR PROJECTS BLOCK VOTE, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL.
UNDER THE 1985-87 PROGRAMME, SOME 45 200 PLANTS w ILL BE DLANTED AT 14 SITES IN KOwLOON, AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 11 PER CENT OVER THE 1983-85 FIGURE.
THESE SITES ARE LOCATED IN YAU MA TEI, MONG KOK, SHAM SHU I PO, KOWLOON CITY, WONG TAI SIN AND KWUN TONG.
IN ADDITION TO THE PLANTING PROGRAMME AT THE 14 SITES, CONCRETE OR FIBRE-GLASS PLANTERS OF VARIOUS SIZES OR DESIGNS WOULD ALSO BE PLACED AT SUITABLE LOCATIONS TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMME IN KOwLOON WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1979. UNDER THIS PROGRAMME, TREES, SHRuBS AND FLOWERS ARE PLANTED ALONG CENTRAL ROAD DIVIDERS, ROADSIDE VERGES OR BENEATH FLYOVERS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS WORK IS BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT WITH THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF LAND CREATED BY MAJOR HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENTS, HE ADDED.
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LIBRARY DESIGNATED IN SAU MAU PING
X * *
AT ITS OPEN MEETING TODAY, THE URBAN COUNCIL APPROVED THE DESIGNATION OF UNITS NO. 104-109 ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE SAU MING HOUSE IN SAU MAU PING ESTATE AS A LIBRARY.
COVERING AN AREA OF SOME 260 SQUARE METRES, IT WILL PROVIDE A BASIC STOCK OF ABOUT 22 000 BOOKS INCLUDING SEVERAL SECTIONS OF REFERENCE MATERIALS.
THERE WILL BE LENDING LIBRARIES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, A NEWSPAPER/PERIODI CAL READING SECTION AND SPACE FOR FUTURE LIBRARY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES.
FITTING-OUT WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JULY THIS YEAR.
AT PRESENT, SAU MA'J PING 13 SERVED BY REGULAR A MOBILE LIBRARY VAN AND A DISTRICT LIBRARY IN KWUN TONG.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NOTHING DRAMATIC ABOUT POWER TO DISSOLVE LEGCO ............... 1
HONG KONG DESTINED TO BE THE REGIONAL CAPITAL CITY FOR THE FAR EAST .......................................................... 3
CIVIL SERVICE PAY RISE OFFER.................................. 6
GOVERNOR VISITS TWO URBAN DISTRICTS .......................... 7
DECEMBER JOB, PAYROLL FIGURES RET. CASED...................... 7
ISLAND EARMARKED FOR NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ........... 12
DB MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT POLICE OPERATIONS ..................... 1J
SEMINAR ON FINANCIAL REPORTING OFFERED........................ 14
DB MEMBERS VISIT POWER STATION ............................... 14
ISLANDS DISTRICT BOaRD CHAIRMAN ELECTED ...................... 15
BOARD TO ELECT CHAIRMAN AT FIRST MEETING ..................... 15
TENANCIES SOUGHT FOR KOWLOON SITES ........................... 16
UNLICENSED RESTAURANT OPERATOR FINED 39 200 .................. 16
ANTI-MOSQUITO CAMPAIGN IN FULL FORCE ......................... 1"
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1335
1
NOTHING DRAMATIC ABOUT POWER TO DISSOLVE LEGCO
******
IN MOVING OVER TO A PARTLY ELECTED SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, IT IS A PERFECTLY NORMAL PROGRESSION TO HAVE A NORMAL TERM FOR THE LEGISLATURE AND ALSO TO PROVIDE FOR A SHORTER PERIOD IF CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDwARD YOUDE, SAID THIS AFTER TOURING THE LIM POR YEN INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN MONG KOK TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
♦ WE ARE MAKING VARIOUS CHANGES OF COURSE AND ONE OF THE CHANGES IS THAT WE ARE MOVING OVER TO A PARTLY ELECTED SYSTEM AND IT IS A PERFECTLY NORMAL PROGRESSION IN CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS KIND TO HAVE A PERIOD FOR THE LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS WITH US THREE YEARS, BUT ALSO TO PROVIDE FOR A SHORTER PERIOD IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE IT.
♦SO TT IS NOTHING VERY DRAMATIC, THIS POWER. YOU WILL FIND IT EXISTS IN MANY JURISDICTIONS. BUT IT IS THERE IN ORDER TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY.
♦I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT,+ HE SAID.
♦THERE WILL BE A NORMAL TERM BUT IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES CALL FOR A DIFFERENT TERM THEN THE POWER WOULD BE THERE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO DISSOLVE THE LEGISLATURE.
♦BUT AS I SAY, THE POWER EXISTS IN MANY JURISDICTIONS AND T 15 A VERY NATURAL DEVELOPMENT WHEN WE ARE MOVING THE WAY WE ARE IN HONG KONG,+ HE ADDED.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON POLITICAL GROUPS RECENTLY SET UP IN ONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID:
♦IT WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO GET TOO ATTACHED TO LABELS.+
HE SAID THERE wAS NOTHING VERY NEW IN HONG .1G ABOUT PEOPLE aHO SHARE SIMILAR INTERESTS FORMING GROUPS. IT »D BEEN GOING ON A.ND QUITE A NUMBER HAD BEEN FORMED IN HONG • NG OVER THE -AST TWO OR THREE YEARS AND THERE WERE SOME OLD ESTAB' SHED ONES.
/♦I THINK........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
2
+l THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON IS THE OBJECTIVES OF THESE GROUPS AND THE WAY THEY INTEND TO OPERATE AND I THINK THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GROUPS WHICH ARE NOw BEING DISCUSSED ARE VERY MUCH HOW THEY CAN ASSIST IN MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG. SO I THINK MY ADVICE IS, DON’T GET TOO STUCK ON THE LABELS. LOOK TO THE OBJECTIVES.+
QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INTERFERE IF THE OBJECTIVES WERE NOT IN THE INTEREST OF HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD REPLIED: + l DON’T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING TO INTERFERE WITH. IF PEOPLE, AS I SAY, OF SIMILAR INTERESTS FORM ASSOCIATIONS WITH PERFECTLY NORMAL AND RESPECTABLE OBJECTIVES THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN.*
ON THE REMARKS YESTERDAY BY A SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIAL, HU YAOBANG, THAT THERE WOULD BE CHANGES IN HONG KONG AFTER EDWARD WAS ASKED IF HE SAW IT AS A CONTRADICTION OF
1997, SIR THE JOINT
DECLARATION.
+N0, I DON’T SEE ANY CONTRADICTION WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, THE JOINT DECLARATION MAINTAINS THE ESSENTIALS OF THE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AND THAT IS QUITE CLEARLY LAID DOWN. BUT HONG KONG IS CHANGING ALL THE TIME. WE LIVE IN A DEVELOPING WORLD. BUT I DON’T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTS HONG KONG TO REMAIN STATIC.+
ASKED TO COMMENT ON MR HU’S REMARKS THAT CHINA WANTED MORE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM HONG KONG TO JOIN THE COMMUNIST PARTY, SIR EDWARD SAID IT WAS NOT FOR HIM TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THESE MATTERS WHICH WERE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN HONG KONG.
SPEAKING ABOUT HIS VISIT TO YAU MA TEI AND MONG KOK, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD FOUND IT VERY USEFUL AS IT HAD ENABLED HIM TO SEE A NEW CENTRE AND AT THE SAME TIME AN AREA WITH AN OLD BUILDING SO THAT HE COULD SEE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
♦AND AS YOU KNOW, WE DO ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY TO BUILDING NEW TOWNS BUT TO TRYING TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN SOME OF THE OLDER AND MORE DENSELY POPULATED PARTS OF HONG KONG.*
HE SAID WHAT IMPRESSED HIM WHEN HE WENT TO DISTRICTS LIKE THIS WAS THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS TO TRY TO IMPROVE THINGS FOR THE DISTRICT WHICH THEY SERVED.
+0F COURSE THIS AFTERNOON I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO SOME CF THE ELECTED MEMBERS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS AND INDEED TO MEET SOME MEMBERS WHOM I HAVE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME BECAUSE MONG KOK WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS I CAME TO, YOU MAY REMEMBER TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO. I HAVE FOUND IT IMPRESSIVE, THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS ARE PREPARED TO PUT INTO THEIR DISTRICT BOARDS,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
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/3
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
3
HONG KONG DESTINED TO BE THE REGIONAL CAPITAL CITY FOR THE FAR EAST X * X *
THERE IS NO OBVIOUS COMPETITOR TO HONG KONG FOR THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL CAPITAL CITY IN AND FOR THE FAR EAST, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT THE ECONOMIES OF THIS DEVELOPING REGION NEEDED A FOCUS AND A CENTRE WHERE THERE VAS A CONCENTRATION OF THE COMPLEX SERVICES REQUIRED FOR OPERATING IN THE WORLD ECONOMY.
*7 BELIEVE IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL COME TO PERCEIVE THAT THE LONG TERM VALUE OF HONG KONG AS A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY LIES IN THE ON-GOING DEVELOPMENT OF ITS SOPHISTICATED AND HIGHLY * EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL, MERCANTILE AND FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON THE TWIN CONCEPTS OF THE MARKET MECHANISM AND THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, COMBINED WITH MINIMUM REGULATORY SYSTEMS AND FREE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE EXCHANGES,* HE SAID.
♦IF HONG KONG IS ENABLED TO FULFIL WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE its ultimate destiny — to be the regional capital city of the far EAST — THEN THE HONG KONG SAR WILL HAVE ACQUIRED AN ADDITIONAL DIMENSION BEYOND THE DREAMS OF THOSE WHO NEGOTIATED THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT.
+ IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT, WHEREAS TO PRESERVE THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG IN ITS PRESENT DIMENSION, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BASIC POLICIES ELABORATED BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT FOR THE HONG KONG SAR IN ANNEX I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION IS SELF-EVIDENT, THE CONTINUING OBSERVANCE OF THESE POLICIES WOULD TAKE ON A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS ADDITIONAL DIMENSION.*
THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE VALUE OF HONG KONG AS A CAPITALIST ENCLAVE INSIDE THE SOCIALIST MOTHERLAND WOULD WITHER AWAY AS THE RESULTS OF CHINA'S MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES BEGAN TO COME ON STREAM.
+1 DO NOT BELIEVE THAT HONG KONG WILL CEASE TO BE A VIABLE AND PRODUCTIVE ASSET,* HE SAID.
+WHILST THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR REMAINED THE BASE OF THE ECONOMY AND THE SOURCE OF LIVELIHOOD FOR OVER ONE-THIRD OF THE LABOUR FORCE, HONG KONG HAS RAPIDLY EMERGED, SINCE THE MIDDLE OF THE 1970S, AS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL, MERCANTILE AND FINANCIAL CENTRE IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
/+IT IS .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
+IT IS ALREADY THE LARGEST SUCH CENTRE IN ThE FAR EAST AND IS SAID TO RANK THIRD IN THE WORLD LEAGUE AFTER LONDON AND NEW YORK.
’’+BE THAT AS IT MAY, THE CITY OF HONG KONG PROVIDES AND MARKETS, OFF-SHORE AS WELL AS ON-SHORE, A WIDE RANGE OF FINANCIAL AND ALLIED SERVICES INDEPENDENT OF VISIBLE TRADE TRANSACTIONS AND I SEE NO OBVIOUS COMPETITOR TO HONG KONG FOR THE ROLE OF THE REGIONAL CAPITAL CITY IN AND FOR THE FAR EAST,+ HE SAID.”
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID IT WAS LOGICAL AND SENSIBLE TO START DEVELOPING A SYSTEM WHICH WAS COMPATIBLE WITH AND, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, REINFORCED THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY PROMISED BY THE Si NOBRI TISH AGREEMENT FOR THE FUTURE HONG KONG SAR GOVERNMENT, AND A SYSTEM WHICH WAS SELF-GENERATING.
+NOW THE ESSENCE OF ANY SELF-GENERATING SYSTEM IS THAT IT SHOULD BE SO FIRMLY ROOTED IN, AND ACCOUNTABLE TO, THE COMMUNITY AS TO OBVIATE THE NEED FOR EXTERNAL DIRECTION AND SO SENSITIVE TO GEO-POLITICAL REALITIES AS TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF INTERVENTION FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE SOVEREIGN POWER,+ HE SAID.
+AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS LITTLE POINT IN DEVISING ANY NEW SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH PUTS AT RISK THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG FOR, WHATEVER VIEW ONE TAKES OF HONG KONG’S LONGER TERM DESTINY, CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY ARE THE VERY RAISON D’ETRE OF ITS CONTINUED EXISTENCE.
+IT WAS SIMPLE PRUDENCE, THEREFORE, TO ADOPT A GRADUAL STEP BY STEP APPROACH.
♦MOREOVER IN VIEW OF THE GROWTH MOMENTUM, COUPLED WITH SOCIAL STABILITY WHICH WE HAVE ENJOYED FOR MANY YEARS PAST IT WOULD SEEM TO MAKE SELF-EVIDENT SENSE TO BUILD THE NEW SYSTEM ON THE MOST RELEVANT FEATURES OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM,+ HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID ONE SUCH FEATURE WAS THE LONG-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSULTATION AND CONSENSUS, WHICH WAS CHARACTERISED BY AN ABSENCE OF FACTIONS AND ADVERSARIAL POLITlCS.
♦ IT IS A PRACTICE WHICH DEPENDS ON THE ABSENCE OF PARTIES TAKING UP AN +OPPOSI Tl 0N + STANCE FOR ITS OWN SAKE,+ HE SAID.
♦ IT IS A PRACTICE WHICH IS SUBJECT ORIENTED. IT IS A PRACTICE DESIGNED TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY VI A A PRAGMATIC APPROACH. YET IT IS A PRACTICE WHICH DOES NOT RULE OUT GROUPINGS OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE EITHER GENERALLY OR BY ISSUES.
/♦WHATEVER INSTANT........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 198?
- 5 -
♦ WHATEVER instant commentators may claim, sometimes with evidential support, the practice allows, indeed requires full and FRANK DISCUSSION OF THE MANY IMPORTANT MATTERS WHICH ARISE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION SO THAT DECISIONS ARE REACHED ON THE BASIS OF A GENERAL CONSENSUS.
♦ THIS PRACTICE HAS ENABLED HONG KONG TO ENJOY SUSTAINED PERIODS OF INTERNAL STABILITY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. IT MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN, OR LIGHTLY THROWN ASIDE, THEREFORE, IN DEVELOPING PLANS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF MORE REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO A DIRECTLY ELECTED SYSTEM FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS STRONGLY ADVOCATED BY A NUMBER OF GROUPS, SIR PHILIP SAID THERE COULD BE NO OBJECTION TO DIRECT ELECTIONS AS SUCH, MUCH LESS TO A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT LATER ON, SAY, IN 1988.
♦ BUT, AS EXPLAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER AND THIS WAS NOT WIDELY DISPUTED, DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD RUN THE RISK OF A JERKY SHIFT TO ADVERSARIAL POLITICS, INTRODUCING AN ELEMENT OF INSTABILITY AT A CRUCI AL TIME,+ HE SAI D.
♦ HONG KONG HAS HAD NO EXPERIENCE OF INDIRECT, LET ALONE DIRECT, ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND DIRECT ELECTIONS AT REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL ARE A RELATIVELY NEW FEATURE OF OUR POLITlCAL LIFE.
♦ THE GOVERNMENT HAS, THEREFORE, TAKEN THE VIEW THAT, GIVEN THE SHORT TIME AVAILABLE AND THE FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING MISTAKES, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHICH WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO UNWIND, THE APPROACH ADOPTED IN THE WHITE PAPER IS THE ONE MOST LIKELY TO SECURE THE IMMEDIATE AND LONGER TERM OBJECTIVES,+ HE SAID.
ON ELECTION OF MEMBERS FROM FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, SIR PHILIP STRESSED TWO POINTS.
♦ THE FIRST IS THAT THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY CONCEPT IS PURELY A MECHANISM FOR IDENTIFYING CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHO ARE COMPETENT TO REPRESENT THE
• INTERESTS OF A PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE FUNCTIONAL AREA CONCERNED,+ HE SAID.
♦THE SECOND IS THAT THE ULTIMATE PURPOSE OF REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF A PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY IS, OF COURSE, TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
/+THE UNDERLYING......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
6 -
♦ THE UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY OF THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY CONCEPT is, therefore, to enable the elected representatives of the various CONSTITUENCIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TASK OF GOVERNING THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE RATHER THAN TO PROTECT THEIR OWN INTERESTS,* HE SAID.
IN CONCLUSION, SIR PHILIP SAID HONG KONG WAS ABOUT TO DEVELOP, THROUGH A MIX OF SYSTEMS, ITS OWN UNIQUE LEGISLATURE TAILORED TO ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
♦ AS THIS NEW STYLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE A DIVERSITY OF ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT WILL BE, SELF-EVIDENTLY, DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+ HE SAID.
+AT THE SAME TIME, VIA THIS MIX OF SYSTEMS, A SOLID FOUNDATION WILL BE LAID FOR ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS INDICATED BY THE REVIEW SCHEDULED FOR 1987 AND ANY OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WHICH MAY LATER FLOW FROM THE BASIC LAW WHEN PROMILGATED.
-------o - -----
CIVIL SERVICE PAY RISE OFFER * * *
FOLLOWING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) OF THE PAY CLAIMS SUBMITTED BY THE STAFF SIDES OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL, THE MODEL SCALE 1 STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL AND THE POLICE FORCE COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AUTHORISED THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE TO MAKE AN OFFER OF A PAY AWARD TO THE STAFF SIDES.
AT MEETINGS WITH THE STAFF SIDES NR MARTIN ROWLANDS MADE THE FOLLOWING
THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING, OFFER
UPPER SALARY BAND + 8.76%
($13 165 - $23 555 P.M.)
MIDDLE SALARY BAND + 9.12%
($4 040 - $12 460 P.M.)
LOWER SALARY BAND +10.77%
(BELOW $4 000 P.M)
THE MEETINGS WERE ADJOURNED UNTIL NEXT WEEK IN ORDER TO GIVE TIME TO THE STAFF SIDES TO CONSIDER THE OFFER.
MR ROWLANDS EXPLAINED, +THE GOVERNMENT OFFER IS STRICTLY IN LINE WITH THE RESULTS OF THE RECENT PAY TREND SURVEY OF PRIVATE SECTOR SALARIES ADJUSTMENT.+
-----o--------
/7........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
GOVERNOR VISITS TWO URBAN DISTRICTS
******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) VISITED A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING IN YAU MA TEI AND AN INDOOR GAMES CENTRE IN MONG KOK.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SIR EDWARD FIRST WENT TO THE ALHAMBRA BUILDING ON NATHAN ROAD WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON PLANS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE 25-YEAR OLD BUILDING.
SIR EDWARD LATER TOURED THE NEWLY-OPENED $5.4 MILLION LIM POR YEN INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN THE TAI KOK TSUI AREA. THE CENTRE, RUN BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, PROVIDES MUCH-NEEDED SPORTS FACILITIES TO RESIDENTS OF THE DENSELY-POPULATED AREA.
AFTER THE TOUR, SIR EDWARD MET MEMBERS OF THE NEW YAU MA TEI AND MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARDS AT AN INFORMAL GATHERING.
0 - -
DECEMBER JOB, PAYROLL FIGURES RELEASED * * * *
THERE WERE 898 900 PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 5.1 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1983, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
IN DECEMBER 1984, EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AT 573 800, WAS 7.9 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1983.
EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR, AT 169 500, WAS UP BY 4.8 PER CENT.
BUT EMPLOYMENT ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES DROPPED BY 2.8 PER CENT RELATIVE TO THE DECEMBER 1983 LEVEL.
/A DEPAHTMOITAL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 19&5
8 -
A DEPARTMENTAL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE STATISTICS FOR MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY IN DECEMBER 1984 WERE DERIVED FROM THE SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL CONDUCTED EVERY QUARTER BY THE DEPARTMENT, COVERING THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR,THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR. THERE IS A SEPARATE EMPLOYMENT SURVEY COVERING BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES.
THE OVERALL EMPLOYMENT FIGURES BY MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS, TOGETHER WITH A COMPARISON WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1983 AND SEPTEMBER 1984, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PERSONS ENGAGED (EMPLOYMENT) IN PERCENTAGE CHANGE*
SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC. , 83 SEPT. 84 DEC. . 84 DEC. 84 ON DEC. 83 DEC. 84 ON SEPT. 84
MANUFACTURING 855 400 904 700 898 900 +5.1 -0.6
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION (MANUAL WORKERS ON SITES ONLY) 70 600 67 700 68 600 -2.8 +1.3
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 532 000 555 800 573 800 +7.9 +3.2
FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 161 700 167 700 169 500 +4.8 +1.1
* BASED ON UNROUNDED EMPLOYMENT FIGURES.
/COMPARING DECEMBER .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
9 -
COMPARING DECEMBER 1984 WITH SEPTEMBER 1984, EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECREASED MARGINALLY BY 0.6 PER CENT. ON THE OTHER HAND, EMPLOYMENT INCREASED BY 3.2 PER CENT FOR THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, BY 1.1 PER CENT FOR THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR AND BY 1.3 PER CENT FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES.
THE SURVEY ALSO PROVIDES VACANCY STATISTICS FOR THESE MAJOR SECTORS, OTHER THAN FOR BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION. THE OVERALL FIGURES BY MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS, TOGETHER WITH A COMPARISON WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1983 AND SEPTEMBER 1984, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
NUMBER OF REPORTED
VACANCIES IN PERCENTAGE CHANGE*
SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC. 83 SEPT. 84 DEC. 84 DEC. 84 ON DEC. 83 DEC. 84 ON SEPT. 84
MANUFACTURING 32 530 37 740 23 810 -26.8 -36.9
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPOR’ TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 4 820 6 450 6 160 +27.7 - 4.5
FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERV ICES 1 780 2 230 2 330 +30.9 + 4.3
4 BASED ON UNROUNDED VACANCY FIGURES •
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1983, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECREASED BY 26.8 PER CENT IN DECEMBER 1984. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES INCREASED BY 27.7 PER CENT FOR THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND BY 30.9 PER CENT FOR THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
10
RELATIVE TO SEPTEMBER 1984, THE NUMBER OF REPORTED VACANCIES DECREASED BY 36.9 PER CENT FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND BY 4 5 PER CENT FOR THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR. ON THE OTHER HAND, AN INCREASE OF 4.3 PER CENT WAS REGISTERED FOR THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR.
ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE SURVEY ARE STATISTICS ON MONTHLY PAYROLL OUTLAYS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR.
QUARTERLY TOTALS FOR EACH OF THESE SECTORS ARE SHOWN IN THE FOLLOWING TABLE:
TOTAL QUARTERLY PAYROLL IN % CHANGE*
SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY 4TH QTR. 1983 4TH QTR. 1984 4TH 4TH QTR. 1984 ON QTR. 1983
HK$ MN HK$ MN
MANUFACTURING 5 953 7 086 +19.0
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 4 030 4 916 +22.0
FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERV ICES 2 267 2 604 + 14.9
* EASED ON UNROUNDED PAYROLL FIGURES
/COMfAREx, with ........
WEDNESDAY, APHID 10, 1985
11
C"—-r D wITH THE SAME QUARTER A YEAR AGO, PAYROLL OUTLAYS IN THE Ar THREE SECTORS INCREASED BY 19.0 PER CENT, 22.0 PER CENT AND 14.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984.
APT^R ADJUSTMENT FOR VARIATIONS IN TOTAL PAYROLL OUTLAYS ARISING -RiY CHANGES IN THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT, A NOMINAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IS OBTAINED. TO ALLOW FOR THE EFFECTS OF PRICE CHANGES, THE NOMINAL INDEX IS DEFLATED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) TO GIVE THE REAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED.
VALUES OF THESE TwO INDICES ARE GIVEN IN THE TABLES BELOW:
NOMINAL INDEX OF
PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED
(JUNE 1980 - 100) % CHANGE
SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC. 83 DEC. 84 DEC. 84 ON DEC. 83
MANUFACTURING 171.9 190.3 + 10.7
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 190.0 215.9 +13.6
FINANCING, INSURANCE, 231.2 253.8 + 9.8
REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES
REAL INDEX OF
PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED (JUNE 1980 - 100) % CHANGE
SELECTED MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DEC. 83 DEC. 84 DEC. 84 ON DEC. 83
MANUFACTURING 116.3 123.0 + 5.8
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 128.6 139.6 + 8.6
FINANCING, INSURANCE, 156.4 164.1 + 4.9
REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES
/BETWEEN DECEMBER
Wl'NESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
12
BETWEEN DECEMBER 1983 AND DECEMBER 1984, INCREASES OF 10.7 PER CENT, 13.6 PER CENT AND 9.8 PER CENT WERE REGISTERED IN THE NOMINAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIl, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR AND THE FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN THE REAL INDEX OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED WERE 5.8 PER CENT, 8.6 PER CENT AND 4.9 PER CENT.
DETAILED BREAKDOWNS OF THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE QUARTERLY REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL STATISTICS, DECEMBER 1984, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT HK$11 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG AND AT THE SALES COUNTER OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT ROOM 1904, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
-----0 ---------
ISLAND EARMARKED FOR NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS * * * *
ANY NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS REQUIRED TO BE BUILT IN THE FUTURE WILL BE LOCATED ON THE ISLAND OF HEI LING CHAU, THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+AND IF ANY OF THE EXISTING FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG ARE TO BE RE-PROVISIONED, THEY WILL ALSO BE SITED ON I LING CHAU,+ MR GARNER SAID.
HE SAID THAT SEVERAL SITES ON THE ISLAND HAD IN FACT BEEN EARMARKED FOR NEW INSTITUTIONS IF AND WHEN REQUIRED.
MR GARNER WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A CH INESE-STYLE PAVILION AT THE CONCOURSE OF THE HEI LING CHAU PIER.
THE PAVILION, BUILT BY INMATES OF ONE OF THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES, WILL SERVE AS A SHELTER FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF AND VISITORS TO THE ISLAND.
TODAY’S CEREMONY ALSO MARKED THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAKING-OVER OF HEI LING CHAU BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
/THE ISLAND .......
rfSL'h!Y, APKIL 10, 1985
- 15 -
THE ISLAND wAS TAKEN OVER FROM THE LEPROSY MISSION (HONG KONG AUX IL I A-Y) AND GAZETTED AS A DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE ON APRIL 10, 1975.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE FOUR INSTITUTIONS ON THE ISLAND COMPRISING A CLOSED CENTRE FOR REFUGEES, A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION FOR YOUNG PRISONERS AND TWO DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES INCLUDING ONE FOR YOUNG INMATES UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE. SOME 600 STAFF ARE WORKING ON THE ISLAND LOOKING AFTER MORE THAN 2 600 INMATES.
LATER IN THE EVENING, A FAREWELL PARTY WAS HELD ON THE ISLAND FOR SUPERINTENDENT CHUN CHAK-LAM OF HEI LING CHAU CLOSED CENTRE WHO WILL SOON BE RETIRING AFTER 31 YEARS’ SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
-----0-----
DB MEMBERS LEARN ABOUT POLICE OPERATIONS * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE NEW KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON LEARNED ABOUT POLICE OPERATIONS AND THE CRIME SITUATION IN KWUN TONG.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK, THE 23 BOARD MEMBERS VISITED THE KWUN TONG POLICE STATION, AND .vERE BRIEFED BY THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER (KWUN TONG), ROBERT STEELE, ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
BOARD MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT A REPORT ON THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OVER THE PAST YEAR HAD BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THEIR DISCUSSION AT THE FIRST KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON MAY 6.
THEY WERE ALSO INTRODUCED TO THE NEW POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER OF SAU MAU PING DISTRICT, MR TEDDY U.
AFTER THE BRIEFING, THE PARTY TOURED THE POLICE STATION TO SEE THE VARIOUS FACILITIES AND OPERATION OF THE STATION.
TODAY’S VISIT WAS PART OF THE FOUR-MONTH FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMME FOR BOARD MEMBERS. SIMILAR ACTIVITIES TO INTRODUCE OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE ARRANGED IN NEXT FEw MONTHS.
------0-------
WEDNESDAY, APR IL 10, 1935
SEMINAR ON FINANCIAL REPORTING OFFERED * * * *
JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO ENROL IN A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR ENTITLED +UNDERSTANDI NG AND REPORTING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT* TO BE HELD ON MAY 6 WITH A REPEAT ON MAY 7.
THE ONE-DAY PROGRAMME IS AN INTENSIVE PRACTICAL DISCUSSION OF COMPONENTS OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
ORGANISED BY THE BANK OF AMERICA, THE SEMINAR IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB OF HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION.
THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ACCOUNTANCY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EAST ASIA, MACAU, MR ANTHONY C.W. TAM, WILL BE THE INSTRUCTOR.
THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SPEAKING SEMINAR IS FREE OF CHARGE AND IS OPEN TO AlL JOURNALISTS IN HONG KONG. ENROLMENT IS LIMITED TO 35 PARTICIPANTS EACH CLASS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
CLOSING DATE OP APPLICATION IS APRIL 25. FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE SEMINAR AND APPLICATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM MR FRANK NG, SECRETARY OF THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD ON 5-8932341 EXT. 283.
- - c - -
DE MEMBERS VISIT POWER STATION * * *
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS VISITED THE AP LEI CHAU ' ,v£R STATION THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING TO LEARN ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE STATION.
THE VISIT IS DART OF THE FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE NEW DISTRICT BOARD.
MEMBERS WERE FIRST BRIEFED BY THE STAFF OF THE HONG aONG CLECTRIC COMPANY LTD. ON THE GENERAL FEATURES OF THE STATION, FOLLOWED BY A TOUR OF THE STATION.
IN ADDITION TO THE VISIT AND A ROUND-THE-DI STR I CT TOUR HELD uAST MONTH, THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAS ALSO ORGANISED TALKS BY OFFICIALS FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ON VARIOUS TOPICS.
TALKS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, TOWN ■LANNING PROCEDURES, FUNCTIONS OF THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AS WELL AS TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT MATTEKo.
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS wILL BE BRIEFED ON THE URoAN COUNC u CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, THE DEVELOPMENT OF t_E I TUN-.- ESTATE Aht REHOUSING POLICY, AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRA . IN THE DISTRICT AT ANOTHER INFORMAL GATHERING THIS FRIDAY.
- 0 -
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1985
15
ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN ELECTED * * * * *
MR LAM WAI KEUNG WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
DURING THE MEETING, MR FONG LOI WAS ELECTED AS THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
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BOARD TO ELECT CHAIRMAN AT FIRST MEETING * * * *
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE THIRD TERM KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD wiLL BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
AT THE MEETING, THE CHAIRMAN WILL BE ELECTED; AND THE TERMS OF REFERENCE AND STANDING ORDERS OF THE BOARD WILL BE DISCUSSED.
COMMITTEES UNDER THE BOARD WILL BE FORMED AND DATES OF MEETINGS WILL ALSO BE DECIDED.
ALSO TABLED FOR DISCUSSIONS wILL BE THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE BUDGET FOR 1985/86.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON, FOLLOWING THE ELECTION CF THE CHAIRMAN WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AT 2 15 PM. IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE ■xOwLOON Cl ulSTrdCl OFFICE AT 141-143 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD, 1ST FLOOR, MORNING J?v BUILDING, TO KWA WAN, KOWLOON.
- C -
WEDNESDAY, APRIL ID, 1985
16
TENANCIES SOUGHT FOR KOWLOON SITES * * * *
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCIES OF TWO KOWLOON SITES.
THE FIRST SITE IS ADJACENT TO CHUK YUEN ESTATE, WONG TAI SIN. THE 1.15-HECTARE SITE IS FOR USE AS A FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR PRIVATE CARS AND GOODS VEHICLES INCLUDING CONTAINER VEHICLES WITHOUT THEIR TRAILERS AND/OR CHAS IS.
THE TENANCY IS FOR THREE YEARS AND IS RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE OTHER SITE AT CHA KWO LING ROAD, YAU TONG, IS FOR STORAGE AND/OR CARGO HANDLING, BUT EXCLUDING CONCRETE BATCHING PURPOSES. IT HAS AN AREA OF 2 160 SQUARE METRES.
THE TENANCY FOR THE SITE IS SIX MONTHS AND IS RENEWABLE ON MONTHLY BASIS THEREAFTER.
THE DEADLINE FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS IS NOON ON APRIL 26.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND PLANS INSPECTED AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, SURVEY DIVISION, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG- AND DISTRICT LANDS OpPICE, KOWLOON EAST, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
------o ------
UNLICENSED RESTAURANT OPERATOR FINED $9 200
* * * * *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY URGED RESTAURANT OPERATORS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES NOT TO START THEIR BUSINESS BEFORE A LICENCE WAS ISSUED AS THEY WOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.
THE APPEAL WAS ISSUED AFTER A TUEN MUN RESTAURANT OPERATOR WAS BROUGHT TO THE TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY RECENTLY FOR AN OFFENCE CF OPERATING A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A LICENCE.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RESTAURANT - HOOVERCITY COMPANY LIMITED - PLEADED GUILTY TO THE CHARGE AND WAS FINED $5 □□□ PLUS AN ADDITIONAL DAILY FINE OF 84 200 FOR 42 DAYS AT 8100 EACH DAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ANYONE OPERATING A RESTAURANT WITHOUT A LICENCE IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF 810 000 PLUS $250 DAILY FINE AND A JAIL SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE FOOD BUSINESS REGULATION (NEW TERRITORIES).
LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 472 CONVICTIONS OF UNLICENSED RESTAURANTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE RECORDED.
------C-------
WiiDNESDAI, APRIL 10, 19&5
17
ANT I-MOSQUITO CAMPAIGN IN FULL FORCE
* * * *
AS THE EXISTING WARM AND WET LEATHER IS IDEAL FOR MOSQUITO BREEDING, PEST CONTROL STAFF FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT ARE STEPPING UP ANT I-MOSQUI TO ACTIVITIES IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS IN THE URBAN AREA.
FIRST TO GET OFF THE GROUND ARE THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICTS WHERE PEST CONTROL STAFF ARE CONCENTRATING ON SOME A8 TARGET SPOTS TO ELIMINATE POTENTIAL MOSQUITO BREEDING PLACES.
THEY WILL PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO HILL SLOPES AND UNATTENDED OPEN SPACES WHERE STAGNANT WATER ARE OFTEN FOUND IN TREE HOLES AND DISCARDED ARTICLES.
IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS, THE DEPARTMENT IS ENLISTING THE ASSISTANCE OF VARIOUS LOCAL AREA COMMITTEES, OWNERS INCORPORATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES.
THEY WILL HELP DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION LEAFLETS AND POSTERS ADVISING RESIDENTS OF VARIOUS WAYS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO BREEDING AND TO CLEAR THE NUISANCE.
OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE URBAN AREA WILL START SIMILAR ACTIVITIES SHORTLY.
-----0------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1965
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR PHILIP LOOKS AT BORDER DEVELOPMENTS ................. 1
CHAIRMEN ELECTED FOR TWO DISTRICT BOARDS ................ 1
RABIES INFECTED AREA REDUCED............................. 2
MARCH CLOUDIER, COOLER THAN USUAL ....................... 2
RATEPAYERS REMINDED OF DEADLINE.......................... 5
TUNG WAH DIRECTORS CALL ON SDA .......................... 6
PUBLIC SEEK HELP THROUGH UC' S WARD OFFICES ............. 6
STUDENTS INVITED TO APPLY FOR AID........................ 7
NEW PREMISES FOR NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE .................. 9
SENIOR STAFF COURSE MEMBERS TO MEET TEE MEDIA ........... 9
NEW BOARD TO HOLD FIRST MEETING......................... 10
PROPERTY REVIEW 1985 ON SALE............................ 10
PRESS CONFERENCE........................................ 11
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1935
1 -
SIR PHILIP LOOKS AT BORDER DEVELOPMENTS
******
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY DROPPED IN ON THE OFFICERS ON CONTROL DUTIES AT THE BORDER TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR WORK AND TO SEE THE NEW DEVELOPMENTS TAKING PLACE THERE.
DURING HIS VISIT TO THE CONTROL POINTS AT MAN KAM TO, LO WU AND SHA TAU KOK, SIR PHILIP RECEIVED A COMPREHENSIVE BRIEFING ON THE WORK OF THE POLICE, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE VARIOUS BORDER POSTS.
SIR PHILIP ALSO INSPECTED THE SHA TAU KOK BRIDGE WHICH WAS OPENED TO CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC LAST MONTH, AND TOURED THE IMMIGRATION HALL AT LO WU STATION.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR SECURITY (OPERATION AND REFUGEES), MR KEN WOODHOUSE, THE POLICE DISTRICT COMMANDER/FRONTIER, AND SENIOR STAFF OF THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENTS.
CHAIRMEN ELECTED FOR * * *
TWO DISTRICT BOARDS * *
MR PANG HANG-YIN WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.
ALSO AT THE MEETING, MR CHEUNG KUEN WAS ELECTED THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
IN KOWLOON CITY, MR WONG SIK-KONG WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING THIS AFTERNOON.
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T-'JRSDAY, APRIL 11, 1935
2
RABIES INFECTED AREA REDUCED * * * * *
THE DESIGNATED RABIES INFECTED AREA, WHERE MOVEMENT OF DOGS INTO AND OUT OF THE AREA ARE RESTRICTED, WILL BE REDUCED IN SIZE FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE RABIES INFECTED AREA WILL BE CONFINED TO THE FRONTIER CLOSED AREA, THE AREA IMMEDIATELY SOUTH OF THE BORDER WITH CHINA AND NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED INTO OR OUT OF THIS AREA WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE DECISION WAS MADE AS SIX MONTHS HAD LAPSED SINCE THE LAST RABIES CASE WAS REPORTED.
HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THERE WOULD BE NO LET UP IN THE DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS TO PREVENT THE DISEASE FROM RECURRING, AND DOG CONTROL UNITS >vOULD CONTINUE TO CATCH STRAY DOGS AND INOCULATE OTHERS.
a|THIN THE RABIES INFECTED AREA, DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, STRINGENT ANTI-RABIES MEASURES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE ADOPTED INCLUDING HOUSE-TO-HOUSE VISITS TO ENSURE ALL DOGS WERE INOCULATED AND LICENSED. TALKS AND FILM SHOWS ON RABIES WOULD BE ORGANISED AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS ABOUT THE DISEASE DISTRIBUTED TO VILLAGERS.
SINCE THE FIRST RABIES CASE IN 25 YEARS WAS CONFIRMED IN OCTOBER 1980, MORE THAN 224 090 DOGS HAVE BEEN INOCULATED OR RE-INOCULATED AGA! NS’ THE DISEASE AND OVER 140 000 STRAY DOGS ELIMINATED.
DOG OWNERS ARE REMINDED THAT THEIR DOGS MUST BE LICENSED AND INOCULATED EVERY T REE YEARS AND FAILURE TO DO SO COULD RENDER THE OWNER LIABLE TO A FINE OF S5 000.
LAST YEAR, SOME 500 PEOPLE WERE FINED FOR NOT KEEPING THEIR DOGS UNDER CONTROL OR FOR POSSESSION OF UNLICENSED DOGS.
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MARCH CLOUDIER, COOLER THAN USUAL
*****
MARCH 1985 WAS CLOUDIER AND COOLER THAN USUAL. THE TOTAL DURATION OF BRIGHT SUNSHINE WAS ONLY 51.7 HOURS WHICH WAS 49.7 HOURS BELOW NORMAL, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY REPORTS.
THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS 16.7 DEGREES CELSIUS WHICH WAS 1.8 DEGREES CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL.
/THE MONTH1 S........
iUaSOA , APRIL 11, 1985
THE MONTH’S MEAN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE, 1 019.2 MILLIBARS, WAS the fifth highest on record for march.
THE WEATHER WAS OVERCAST WITH FOG AND DRIZZLE FROM MARCH 1 TO 3 UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A MOIST EAST TO SOUTHEASTERLY AIRSTREAM. BOTH FERRY AND AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES WERE DISRUPTED.
IT WAS CLOUDY WITH MIST ON MARCH 4. A COLD FRONT, WHICH FORMED OVER SOUTH CHINA ON MARCH 2, PASSED TO THE SOUTH OF HONG KONG LATE ON MARCH 4 AND THE MIST WAS CLEARED.
IT WAS CLOUDY WITH A TRACE OF LIGHT RAIN ON MARCH 5 BUT THERE WERE ALSO SUNNY INTERVALS IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY WITH SUNNY INTERVALS FROM MARCH 6 TO 3 ALTHOUGH THERE WAS DRIZZLE IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 8.
CLOUDY WEATHER WITH FOG AND DRIZZLE RETURNED EARLY ON MARCH 9. FOG CLEARED ON THE ARRIVAL OF A COLD FRONT LATER DURING THE DAY. IT REMAINED CLOUDY ON MARCH 10 BUT THERE WERE ALSO SUNNY INTERVALS.
ANOTHER COLD FRONT CROSSED THE SOUTH CHINA COAST EARLY ON MARCH 11 AND BROUGHT OVERCAST CONDITIONS WHICH PERSISTED UP TO MARCH 15. IT WAS COLD WITH LIGHT RAIN AT TIMES FROM MARCH 12 TO 15. A SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON ARRIVED ON MARCH 14 AND THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED TO A MINIMUM OF 10.6 DEGREES CELSIUS, THE LOWEST OF THE MONTH.
THE WEATHER WAS FINE ON MARCH 16 AND IT BECAME MILDER. CLOUDY WEATHER AGAIN SET IN ON MARCH 17 AND, APART FROM SOME SUNNY INTERVALS IN THE AFTERNOON ON MARCH 18 AND 19, CONTINUED UP TO MARCH 22. IT TURNED FINE AND SUNNY IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 23 AND THE WEATHER REMAINED FINE UP TO MARCH 25.
A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE FORMED OVER CENTRAL CHINA IN THE EVENING OF MARCH 24 AND MOVED SLOWLY SOUTHWARDS. ON MARCH 26, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF A WARM AND MOIST AIRSTREAM FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY WITH MIST AND DRIZZLE AT FIRST AND COASTAL FOG APPEARED LATER IN THE EVENING.
FOGGY CONDITIONS CONTINUED FERRY AND AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES. MAXIMUM OF 24.9 DEGREES CELSIUS THE MONTH.
ON MARCH 27 AND 28 DISRUPTING THE TEMPERATURE ROSE TO A ON MARCH 28, THE HIGHEST OF
IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 27 A CHINESE PASSENGER FERRY, RED STAR 283, SAILING FROM JIANGMEN TO GUANGZHOU, CAPSIZED IN XI JIANG NEAR JIANGWEl, 16 KM FROM JIANGMEN, IN THUNDERY SQUALLY WEATHER. DURING THE INCIDENT, 73 PEOPLE WERE DROWNED AND TWO WERE MISSING. THERE WERE ALSO REPORTS OF HAIL CAUSING CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN NEARBY DISTRICTS IN THE PROVINCE.
/TUB THOUGH ......
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1985
4 -
the though of ucw pressure eventually reached hong kong EARLY ON MARCH 29 BRINGING SQUALLY THUNDERSTORMS AND PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN. STRONG EASTERLY WINDS WERE EXPERIENCED OFF-SHORE AND ?N EXPOSED AREAS DURING THE DAY. IT REMAINED OVERCAST WITH lIGH' RAIN ON MARCH 30 AND THE WINDS GRADUALLY MODERATED. THE WEATHER CONTINUED CLOUDY WITH LIGHT RAIN ON MARCH 31.
THERE WERE NO TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE MONTH.
DURING THE MONTH FIVE AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER. THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON MARCH 24 AND THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WERE ISSUED ON MARCH 29.
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE
MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS:
WEATHER SYSTEM SI ( □N AL DATE OF AND TIME HOISTING DATE AND OF LOWE T1 ME RING
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON MARCH 5 8.30 AM MARCH 5 11.30 AH
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON MARCH 29 8.10 AM MARCH 29 2.^0 PM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON MARCH 29 6.35 PM MARCH 30 1.40 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON MARCH 31 11.00 PM APRIL 1 8.10 AM
THE MONTH'S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WERE:
SUNSHINE 51.7 HOURS = 49.7 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL 64.2 MM - 9.4 MM ABOVE NORMAL
CLOUDINESS
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE 19.0
MEAN TEMPERATURE 16.7
MEAN M’lNIMUM TEMPERATURE 15.0
MEAN DEW POINT 13.6
88% = 12% MORE THAN NORMAL
82% = NORMAL
DEG. C = 2.3 DEG. C BELOW NORMAL
DEG. C = 1.8 DEG. C BELOW NORMAL
DEG. C = 1.3 DEG. C BELOW NORMAL
DEG. C = 1.4 DEG. C BELOW NORMAL
TOTAL EVAPORATION
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE ON MARCH 28.
MINIMUM TEMP ERAT.RE ON MARCH 14.
63.4 MM = 36.5 MM BELOW NORMAL
OF 24.9 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED
OF 10.6 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED
- 0 -
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1985
RATEPAYERS REMINDED OF DEADLINE
******
RATEPAYERS ARE REMINDED CF 1985 MUST BE PAID BY 4 PM
THAT RATES FOR THE SECOND QUARTER ON APRIL 30.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TREASURY SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT LATE PAYMENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A FIVE PER CENT SURCHARGE AND A FURTHER SURCHARGE OF 10 PER CENT ON ACCOUNTS STILL OUTSTANDING SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DUE DATE.
HE SAID RATEPAYERS SHOULD HAVE BY NOW RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES SHOULD APPLY FOR A COPY AT THE TREASURY RATES SECTION, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), NINTH FLOOR, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG! THE YAU MA TEI SUB-TREASURY, FOURTH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD (MARKET STREET ENTRANCE), KOWLOON; OR THE KOWLOON CITY SUB-TREASURY, MAN SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR, 348-352 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD (CORNER OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND JUNCTION ROAD), KOWLOON.
+WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMAND NOTE IS RECEIVED, IT DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RATES SHOULD BE PAID BEFORE THE DUE DATE,* HE POINTED OUT.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT RATES ARE PAYABLE ON VACANT PREMISES BUT ARE REFUNDABLE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE RATING ORDINANCE.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS IN THE CASE OF A VACANT TENEMENT LAST USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED WHOLLY OR PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES OR FOR THE PARKING OF VEHICLES, UNLESS IT IS VACANT BY REASON OF AN ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT.
TO AVOID QUEUEING, RATEPAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER SENT BY POST OR BY EARLY PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT ANY OF THE OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.
RATEPAYERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THEIR AUTOPAY FORMS SHOULD READ THEIR DEMAND NOTES CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THEY CONTAIN ThE WORDING ’PAYMENT BY AUTOPAY AS AUTHORISED’.
THE ABSENCE OF SUCH WORDING MEANS THEIR FORMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PROCESSED, IN wHICH CASE THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY THEIR RATES IN THE NORMAL WAY -- IN PERSON OR BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER.
- 0
/6........
THjRSDAY, APRIL 11, 1-)S
TUNG wAH DIRECTORS CALL ON SDA * * * * *
THE BO*RD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS today 'Thursday) paid a courtesy call on the secretary for DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN CF THE GROUP’S ADVISORY BOARD.
THE 29-MEMBER DELEGATION wAS LED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR CHU FEE-uOONG.
- 0 -
PUBLIC SEEK HELP THROUGH UC’S WARD OFFICES * * *
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S WARD SYSTEM HAS AGAIN PROVED TO BE AM IMPORTANT SOURCE OF ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC AS EVIDENCED FROM A TOTAL OF 1 800 COMPLAINT CASES HANDLED BY URBAN COUNCILLORS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
OF THESE 456 CASES RELATING TO HAWKERS AND MARKETS, AMENITIES CLEANSING AND HYGIENE PROBLEMS FALLING WITHIN i HE SCOPE CF THE COUNCIL. THEY HAVE EITHER BEEN DEALT WITH ALREADY OR ARE STILL BEING LOOKED INTO BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AS FOR THE REMAINING CASES, 031 CONCERNED HOUSING, 118 WERE ON SOCIAL WELFARE, 105 ON LEGAL MATTERS AND THE_EALANCE ON OTHER NON-COUNCIL SUBJECTS. ALL HAVE BEEN REFERRtD TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR ACTION.
THE URBAN COUNCIL wARD SYSTEM WAS SET UP IN 1^65 WITH A VIEW TO HELPING RESIDENTS REDRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES. THERE ARE FIVE WARD OFFICES O'. HONG KONG ISLAND AND SIX IN KOwLOON.
THUdSDmY
RIl 11, 1985
STUDENTS INVITED TO APPLY FOR AID * * *
APPL ISA"IONS ARE INVITED FROM NEEDY HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THE U.K. FOR F|NANOih_ ASSISTANCE UNDER THE JOINT FUND ING_SCHEME FOR 1985—86. - S°OKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECH .IC GRANTS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE SCHEME, JOINTLY FI1.“\CED BY THE HONG KONG AND U.K. GOVERNMENTS IS OPEN TO ALL HONG KONG STUDENTS PURSUING FULL-1'. FIRST DEGREE HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA COURSES AT UNIVERSITIES, POLYTECHNICS -.ND MAINTAINED COLLEGES IN THE U.K.
+ALL APR ICANTS MUST HAVE RESIDED OR HAVE HAD THEIR HOMES IN HONG KONG FOR AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS PRIOR TO COURSE COMMENCEMEl. THE SPOKESMAM SAID.
+SUCCESS"UL APPLICANTS WILL BE OFFERED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE iNLY IN THE -ORM OF OUT-RIGHT GRANTS, BUT IF THE TOTAL RE.,Ut-_ EXCEEDS THE JOINT CONTRIBUTION OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS, TlEN caC-APPLICANT’S GRANT WILL EE EDUCED ON A PRO-RATA BASIS, aITh THEA LANCE MADE UP BY AN i’."EREST-FREE LOAN OFFERED BY THE HONo KONG GOVERNMENT,+ HE.SAID.
+THE MAXIMUM ASSISTANCE '.'.ILL BE THE FULL DIFFERENCE EET.EEI-THE BRITISH HOME AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS’ RATE OF TUITION FEES,+ HE ADDED.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM APRIL 15 (MONDAY) AT "HE STUDENT FINANCE SECTION OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE COMMITTEE AT Ml FLOOR, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, 22 ICE HOUSE ST-E_T HONG KONG (TEL: 5-2204-81).
APPLICANTS ARE -El JESTED TO BRING WITH THEM DOCUMENTARY -VIDENCE rF "-El~ HAVING JEEh ACCEPTED, CONDITIONALLY AT LEASi, :Y U.K. INSTITUTION — ' >E OF THE COURSES COVERED BY THE SC.--.
STULENT. ALREADY '■ THE U.K. MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS DIRECT FROM THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICES OF THEIR RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS OR, ALTERNATIVELY, FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:-
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OF? ICE - LONDON,
6 G.-.A"TC'. STREET,
LONDON W1X 3LE.
(TEL: 01-499-9821)
HONG KONG STUDENT CENTRE,
7A uANCASTtR GATE,
LONDON W2 2NH.
(TEl: -11-2E2-3O56)
HONG G GOVERNMENT OFFICE (MANCHESTER SUE-OFFICE),
4 M INSHULL STREET,
MANCHESTER Ml 3DZ.
(TEL: Oe1-236-2737)
/HONG KONG .......
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1985
8 -
HON'S ONG GOVEP’ OFFICE (EDINBURGH SUB-OFFICE), -F GEORGE STREET, 1ST FLOOR, EDINBURGH EH2 2LE.
fTEL: 331-226-423?)
COMPLETED IPPLIC-TION FORMS MUST BE RETURNED IN PERSON
TO THE STUDENT FINANCE SECTION OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE UMVEKSIT' ANO POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE. FOR STUDENTS ALREADY IN THE
THEY SHOULD SEND “HEIR APPLICATION FORMS BACK TO THE IF FAMILY IN HONG KONG AND REQUEST FAMILY MEMBER TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION QN “HEIR EEHALF.
THE CLOSING DATES FOR APPLICATIONS ARE:
(A) FOR ON-COURSE STUDENTS JULY 1
(B) FOR NEW STUDE T3 OCTOBER 1
T SPOKESMAN SAID O’-COURSE STUDENTS ARE THOSE WHO ARE already following first degree or higher national diploma COURSES AT THE U.K. Uh IvEPS ITIES/COLLEGES.
+TQ MEET “HE DEADLINE, O^-COURSE STUDENTS SHOULD NOT wAIT FPR THE RESULTS OF THE I' ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS, BUT SHOULD APPLY FIRST ON THP STRENGTH AN ENDORSEMENT ON PAGE 2 OF THE 4PPLICATION FORM Bv THEIR INSTITUTIONS THAT THEY WILL BE PROMOTED TO A HIGHER YEAR OF oTUDY IN 1985-86 SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY EaAMINATiON RESULTS,* HE SAID.
NEW STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS wHO START THEIR COURSES IN •^E 1935/86 ACADEMIC YEAR. THEY MAY APPLY ONCE THEY HAVE BEE. ACCEPTED (COND IT।ONALLv OR OTHERWISE) BY INSTITUTIONS IN THE U.K.
APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINES SPECIFIED ABOVE BuT BEFORE NOVEMBER 2 WILL BE ACCEPTED AND PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE •NTEREST-FREE LOANS ONLY. NO APPLICATION WILL EE ACCEPTED AFTER NOVEMBER 1.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID AS THE AMOUNT OF GRANT PAYABLE IN EACH CASE COULD ONLY BE DETERMINED AFTER ALL THE APPLICATIONS HAD BEEN PROCESS7’, IT wAS UNLIKELY THAT PAYMENT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE >OULD BE EFFECTED BEFORE TERM COMMENCEMENT.
- TuDENTS ARE THEREFORE STRONGLY ADVISED TO CRITICALLY EXAMINE THEIR OWN MEANS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO STUDY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 'ND B. PREPARED "0 PAY “nE FULL TUITION FEES IN T< -IRS“ INSTANCE, 7 PEUJIRED Bv THEIR INSTITUTIONS TO DO SU, -ilLE 4aA!t.. THE RES. Cc TKIR APPLICATIONS,* HE SAID.
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/9........
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1935
- 9 -
NEW PREMISES FOR NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE * K * *
THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD’S OPINIONS AND DELIBERATIONS WOULD, IN THE FUTURE, HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON THE FORMATION OF POLICIES AND PLANS THAT AFFECT THE DAILY LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE ALSO STRESSED THE GOOD UNDERSTANDING AND CLOSE COOPERATION THAT EXISTED BETWEEN THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WOULD CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO GOOD DISTRICT MANAGEMENT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF NEW PREMISES OF THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE NORTH DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, DR HAYES SAID: +IT IS GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT, AT LAST, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE ARE ESTABLISHED IN NORTH DISTRICT WITHIN EASY REACH OF THE RESIDENTS.*
THE OFFICES OF THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE NORTH DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE WERE SITUATED AT TAI PO FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT MOVED TO FANLING IN JANUARY.
DR HAYES SAID THAT THE OPENING OF THE NEW OFFICES WAS PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL, AS IT COINCIDED WITH THE ELECTIONS OF bR PANG HANG-YIN AS THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, AND MR CHEUNG KUEN AS THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
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SENIOR STAFF COURSE MEMBERS TO MEET THE MEDIA * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE SECOND SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE STAFF COURSE, TOGETHER WITH THE DIRECTOR OF STUDIES, MR LEN SNEDDON, WILL MEET THE MEDIA AT AN INFORMAL TEA PARTY ON SATURDAY (APRIL 13) AT 11 AM AT THE SENIOR STAFF COURSE CENTRE, 31ST FLOOR, SUN HUNG KAI CENTRE, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
THE COURSE WAS SET UP TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT AND OTHER SKILLS TO OFFICERS, GENERALLY OF DIRECTORATE LEVEL, TO PREPARE THEM FOR WIDER DUTIES IN FUTURE.
THIRTY SIX MEMBERS, COMPRISING 32 SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND FOUR REPRESENTATIVES OF EQUIVALENT RANK FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, PARTICIPATED IN THIS COURSE WHICH BEGAN IN JANUARY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO ATTEND.
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/IO .....
THURSDAY, APRIL 11,
1935
1C -
NE* SOARD TO HOLD FIRST MEETING * * * *
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS FIRS’ MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 3.30 PM.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE DISTRICT BOARD STANDING ORDERS, SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS, THE FORMATION OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
THE BOARD’S +MEET-THE-PUBLIC+ SCHEME AND THE SUMMARY OF WORK Oc VARIOUS COMMITTEES, DURING 1932-85 WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING, AT 2.30 PM THERE WILL BE A CLOSED-DOC’ SESSION TO ELECT THE N'Ev CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FIRST CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD AT 3.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM r- THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DI STR IC’ OFFICE ON THE T-URD FLOOR OF wILLIE BUILDING, 222-224 DES VOEUX ROAD, CENTRAL.
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PROPERTY REVIEW lp85 ON SALE
* * * *
THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT’S 1985 PROPERTY REV IE..
IS NOV. -VAILABLE AT $65 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE.
THE REVIEW COVERS THE CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 198L AND PROVIDES A SUMMARY OF SUPPLY, VACANCIES, TAKE-UP, RENTAL AND PURCHASE PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE MAJOR SECTORS OF THE PROPERTY MARKET.
A SUMMARY OF THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE REVIEW HAS BEEI RELEASED ON JANUARY 30.
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/11 .....
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1=»
11 -
PRESS CONFERENCE * * *
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (GENERAL) OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH, MR L.R. MACCULLOC; ■viLL MEET THE PRESS ,-T 2.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE CIS PRESS CONFER '.CE ROOM TO EXPLAIN THE PROCEDURES FOR REGISTERING ELECTOR' FOR Th- ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
-- WIL Bp ACCOMPANIED BY MR LEE LAP-SUN, PRINCIPAL aSSISTAN SECRETARY (ELECTORAL SERVICES) AND MR LAI KWAN-TA\ REGISTRATION officer.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
CONTENTS PAGS NO.
DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES FOR JLG MEMBERS ....................... 1
REGISTRATION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTORS ................ 1
TWO BILLS ON LAND TRANSACTIONS GAZETTED...................... 4
PROPOSAL FOR MORE UNOFFICIALS ON INDUSTRIAL BOARD ........... 4
CHEUNG SHA WAN ZONING PLAN AMENDED .......................... 5
ROAD UPGRADING SCHEME PROPOSED .............................. 5
AREA COMMITTEES PROVIDE VITAL DISTRICT LINKS ................ 6
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ON THE RISE............................. 7
HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS SOLD OUT................................ 8
DB MEMBERS ATTEND ORIENTATION SEMINAR........................ 8
ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN ......................... 9
SKILLS CONTEST FOR DISABLED PEOPLE .......................... 9
FIRST MANUAL OF JOB SPECIFICATION PUBLISHED.................. 10
HOUSING AUTHORITY BIDS FAREWELL TO EIGHT MEMBERS............. 11
CIVIC EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR SCHOOL HEADS .................... 12
ORPHANS RECEIVE CARE, ASSISTANCE FROM SWD ................... 12
SCHEME PARTICIPANTS REMINDED OF DEADLINE .................... 13
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE....................................... 13
WATER CUT
13
FRIDAY, APR.- 12, 1985
1 -
DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES FOR JLG MEMBERS K M X M
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO GRANT CERTAIN DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES IN HONG KONG TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) BILL SEEKS LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARAGRAPH 10 OF ANNEX II OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, PART OF WHICH READS +MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP SHALL ENJOY DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS APPROPRIATE WHEN IN THE THREE LOCATIONS+.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 17 AND IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS PASSAGE THROUGH LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 1.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BILL CAN BE SENT TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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REGISTRATION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTORS * * * *
REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS FOR THE FIRST EVER LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY (APRIL 15) AND LAST UNTIL MAY 6.
ANNOUNCING THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (GENERAL), ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH, MR L.R. MACCULLOCH CALLED ON ALL THOSE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO REGISTER FOR THE ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER.
+THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEATS ARE TO BE FILLED BY ELECTION, AND IS ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STEP TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. TO REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR FOR THIS MAJOR EVENT IS A PRIVILEGE WHICH NO RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION OR INDIVIDUAL SHOULD LIGHTLY GIVE UP,+ HE SAID.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MR L.S. LEE, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (ELECTORAL SERVICES) AND THE REGISTRATION OFFICER, MR LAI KWAN-TAT.
/ME lee .......
FfilMY, 12, 1385
2
MR LEE POINTED OUT THAT REGISTRATION IS QUITE SIMPLE. +ALL AN INDIVIDUAL HAS TO DO IS TO FILL IN HIS NAME, IDENTITY CARD NUMBER, HOME ADDRESS, BUSINESS ADDRESS, AN INDICATION OF WHETHER OR NOT IE IS A REGISTERED ELECTOR FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY AND MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION AN ORGANISATION WILL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BE REQUIRED TO APPOINT AN AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE. THE REGISTRATION FORM IS COMPLETE WITH A RETURN ADDRESS AND IS POSTAGE FREE FOR
DELIVERY,+ HE SAID.
+A PROVISIONAL REGISTER WILL BE COMPILED FOR PUBLICATION AND PUBLIC INSPECTION ON JUNE 21. ANY OBJECTIONS SHOULD BE F LED IN BY JULY 1. LATE APPLICATION, IF ANY, MAY ALSO BE MADE DURING THIS PERIOD,* MR LEE ADDED.
THE ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE A NEW ROLL, SEPARATE FROM THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL WHICH CONTAINS 1.4 MILLION ELECTORS FOR DISTRICT BOARD AND URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
IN CONTRAST, THE NEW ROLL IS EXPECTED TO CONTAIN NO MORE THAN 80 000 ENTRIES. SEPARATED INTO TWO PARTS, THIS ELECTORAL ROLL WILL CONTAIN PARTICULARS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE CONSTITUENCIES AND MEMBERS OF THE NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
AS STIPULATED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND REPEATED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS COMPOSED OF ALl MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
THE URBAN COUNCIL AND PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL EACH FORM A SPECIAL CONSTITUENCY WHILE THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE BEEN GROUPED INTO TEN DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES. EACH CONSTITUENCY WILL RETURN ONE ELECTED MEMBER TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THERE IS A TOTAL OF NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES DIVIDED UP INTO 11 DIVISIONS, WITH THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES EACH HAVING TWO DIVISIONS. APART FROM THE LABOUR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WHICH WILL RETURN TWO ELECTED MEMBERS, EACH OF THE OTHER FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY (OR DIVISION) WILL RETURN ONE ELECTED MEMBER, MAKING A TOTAL OF 12.
MR MACCULLOCH EXPLAINED THAT THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES COULD BE BROADLY CATEGORISED AS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. THEY ARE MADE UP OF VOTING MEMBERS OF MAJOR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS IN REPRESENTATIVE PROFESSIONS, HE SAID.
/FOB AN ......
FRIDAY, APHID 12, 1985
FOR AN ORGANISATION OR INSTITUTION TO REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR, EACH MUST APPOINT AN AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CASTING A VOTE ON ITS BEHALF. THE PERSON APPOINTED SHOULD HAVE ATTAINED THE AGE OF 21 YEARS AND MUST NOT BE REGISTERED, IN HIS OWN RIGHT, AS AN ELECTOR IN THE SAME CONSTITUENCY AS THE ORGANISATION HE IS REPRESENTING. AN AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE WILL ALSO NOT BE ALLOWED TO REPRESENT MORE THAN ONE ELECTOR.
AN ELECTOR WHO IS AN INDIVIDUAL SHOULD ALREADY BE A REGISTERED ELECTOR OR, FOR 1985 ONLY, BE ENTITLED TO BE REGISTERED AS AN ELECTOR ON THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL, THAT IS, UNDER THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS. THE BASIC QUALIFICATIONS ARE:-
(A) HOLDING A HONG KONG ID CARD
(B) HAVING ORDINARILY RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR THE 7 YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF APPLICATION OR BE A HONG KONG BELONGER WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE
(C) HAVING ATTAINED THE AGE OF 21 YEARS.
NO ELECTOR, WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL OR AN ORGANISATION, MAY BE REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY OR ELECTORAL DIVISION. IF THE ELECTOR IS ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION IN MORE THAN ONE, THE CONSTITUENCY OPTED FOR MUST BE STATED ON THE REGISTRATION FORM.
MR MACCULLOCH NOTED THAT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTIONS WOULD BE ADMINISTERED BY THE GOVERNMENT. THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH HAS ARRANGED FOR REGISTRATION FORMS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE TWO COUNCILS AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS THROUGH THE SECRETARIATS OF THESE BODIES, HE SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR REGISTRATION IN A FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ARE. BEING DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS AND, IN THE CASE OF TEACHERS, TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. APPLICATION FORMS CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND FROM THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION AT HARBOUR CENTRE IN WAN CHAI, HE ADDED.
TO FACILITATE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION HAS ALSO PRODUCED A PAMPHLET ENTITLED +A GUIDE TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 1985+. COPIES OF THE GUIDE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SAME DISTRIBUTION POINTS AS THE APPLICATION FORMS.
- 0
/4
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
TWO BILLS ON LAND TRANSACTIONS GAZETTED * * *
TWO AMENDMENT BILLS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY SEEKING TO PROVIDE FOR SEPARATE ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING OF PREMIUM INCOME TO BE OBTAINED FROM LAND TRANSACTIONS.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WILL HELP TO IMPLEMENT THE ARRANGEMENT FOR SHARING SUCH INCOME SET OUT IN THE SI NO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION.
UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, SUCH PREMIUM INCOME COULD BE PAID DIRECTLY INTO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND INSTEAD OF BEING PASSED THROUGH THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT.
THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 PROVIDES FOR ANNUAL ACCOUNTS CF THE FUND TO BE GIVEN TO THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT FOR HIS EXAMINATION AND AUDITING AND FOR A SUBSEQUENT REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR.
THE TWO BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 17 AND ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THEIR THIRD READING ON MAY 1.
PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SENT TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
- 0 -
PROPOSAL FOR MORE UNOFFICIALS ON INDUSTRIAL BOARD
X X X X X
THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WHICH IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE BILL PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE CORPORATION’S BOARD BY ONE, AND WILL PERMIT ITS ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP TO CONSIST OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, IF DESIRED BY THE GOVERNOR.
IT ALSO MAKES CLEAR THAT A PUBLIC OFFICER MAY BE APPOINTED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CORPORATION.
IF THE BILL IS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE CORPORATION WILL APPOINT DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHEN THE PRESENT INCUMBENT, MR VIC MILLER, RETIRES ON MAY 31. THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO HIS NORMAL DUTIES AS DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY.
- 0 -
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
- 5 -
CHEUNG SHA WAN ZONING PLAN AMENDED
******
AN AMENDMENT TO THE DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR CHEUNG SHA WAN IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE AMENDMENT, APPROVED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, IS TO RECLASSIFY THE WESTERN PART OF THE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND CHEUNG SHUN STREET FROM 'GOVERNMENT/ INST I TUTION/COMMUNITY’ TO 'OTHER SPECIFIED USES’.
THE SITE WILL BE DEVELOPED INTO A MODERN FUNERAL PARLOUR TO MEET THE FUTURE NEEDS OF FUNERAL SERVICES IN SOUTH AND WEST KOWLOON.
THE AMENDED PLAN MAY BE INSPECTED AT SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE, 37-39 TONKIN STREET, KOWLOON- PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICE, WEST WING ENTRANCE, AND THE TOWN PLANNING DIVISION, 4TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
ANY PERSON AFFECTED BY THE AMENDMENT MAY SUBMIT HIS OBJECTION IN WRITING ON OR BEFORE MAY 2, 1985 TO THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/O LANDS DEPARTMENT, 4TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
COPIES OF THE DRAFT AMENDMENT PLAN ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MAP AND PLAN SALES SECTION, LANDS DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, AND KOWLOON MAP AND PLAN SALES SECTION, 382 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON AT $10 EACH UNCOLOURED AND $60 EACH COLOURED.
- - - - 0 --------
ROAD UPGRADING SCHEME PROPOSED ******
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO UPGRADE NIM WAN ROAD IN TUEN MUN BY REALIGNING AND RESURFACING THE SECTION OF ROAD BETWEEN TAI SHU I HANG AND TSANG TSUI.
THE PROPOSED SCHEME, WHICH INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANCILLARY WORKS LIKE FOOTWAYS, BRIDGES AND PASSING PLACES, WILL FORM PART OF THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION’S RELAY STATION DEVELOPMENT AT TSANG TSUI.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A BETTER ACCESS TO RESIDENTS OF NEARBY AREAS SUCH AS TAI SHU I HANG, NIM WAN AND TSANG TSUI.
/A NOTICE .......
FKIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
- 6
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
RELATED PLANS AND NOTICE OF THE SCHEME CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY OR AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT CFFICE, TUEN MUN BUILDING, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN, DURING OFFICE HOURS.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS NOT LATER THAN JUNE 11.
--------0 - - - -
AREA COMMITTEES PROVIDE VITAL DISTRICT LINKS
* K * * *
AREA COMMITTEES HAVE EVOLVED TO BECOME AN IMPORTANT BRIDGE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS’ ' INCORPORATIONS, THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR LAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE TEN AREA COMMITTEES IN SHAM SHU I PO AT THE LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL.
+WHEN THEY WERE INSTITUTED IN 1972, THE AREA COMMITTEES WERE ONLY GEARED TO HELPING THE GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH COMMUNITY-RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN AND THE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGNS.
+HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS IN 1981j THESE AREA COMMITTEES HAVE HAD THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE REVISED TO TIE IN WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD’S WORK IN THE AREA OF CONSULTATION, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT,*
MR LAM SAID.
MR LAM ALSO SAID THAT THE NEW DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN SHAM SHU I PO HAD BEEN INVITED TO JOIN THE AREA COMMITTEES, WHICH WOULD HELP THEM KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT AND PROBLEMS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE SUB-DISTRICTS.
+THIS ARRANGEMENT ENABLES DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO PROMPTLY RELAY THE BOARD’S DECISIONS AND RESOLUTIONS TO THE AREAS, AND VICE VERSA; TO BRING FORWARD ANY AREA PROBLEM TO THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE TABLE AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY,* MR LAM SAID.
HE NOTED THAT OUT OF THE 27 INCUMBENT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, 15 ELECTED AND EIGHT APPOINTED MEMBERS WERE EITHER SERVING OR HAD SERVED IN THE AREA COMMITTEES.
/♦THIS ACCOUNTS........
FitlDAY, APRIL 12, 1965
+THIS ACCOUNTS FOR A HIGH RATE OF 85 PER CENT WHICH SPEAKS FOR ITSELF WHAT IMPORTANT ROLE THE AREA COMMITTEES ARE PLAYING ON THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD.
+WITH THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE AND DISTRICT ADMIN STRATI ON BEING FURTHER DEVELOPED, I TRUST THE AREA COMMITTEES WILL FACE A ----------------------------------- IN THE DAYS T0 COMEf+ MR lam
MUCH BUSIER AND MORE DEMANDING TASK SAID.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, AREA COMMITTEES WOULD AIM ICT’S 220 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES
ALSO ADDRESSING THE GATHERING MR SYLVESTER TSE SAID THIS YEAR THE AT STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE DI STR AND 180 OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS.
THIS YEAR THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 199 REPRESENTATIVES FROM A SPECTRUM OF THE COMMUNITY APPOINTED IN TEN AREA COMMITTEES IN SHAM SHU I PO.
-----o-----
VEGETABLE PRODUCTION ON THE RISE * * * *
LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCED 159 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES LAST YEAR, UP BY ABOUT FOUR PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1983, THE DIRECTOR CF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE 33RD TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT PRICES OF VEGETABLE REMAINED LOW, PARTICULARLY IN THE LATER HALF OF 1984, AND THE AVERAGE PRICE WAS 23 PER CENT DOWN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE PRICES OF VEGETABLES ARE NUMEROUS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND OUR CONTROL,* HE SAID. DR RIDDELL-SWAN ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD DO ITS BEST TO HELP LOCAL FARMERS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
*IN FACT, MORE THAN 10 000 ENQUIRIES FROM FARMERS SEEKING HELP ON ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DEALT WITH SATISFACTORILY.
+IN ADDITION, 1 369 LOANS AMOUNTING TO $18.1 MILLION HAVE BEEN MADE TO FARMERS FOR PRODUCTION PURPOSES FROM VARIOUS LOCAL FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT,* HE SAID.
/l)K BIBIffiLL-SWAN ........
i'RIMY, APBIL 12, 1985
- 8
DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THAT THE AMOUNT OF VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (VMO) LAST YEAR INCREASED BY 37 PER CENT TO ALMOST 140 000 TONNES AND OF THIS, 37 000 TONNES OR MORE THAN 55 PER CENT OF ALL THE LOCAL VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VMO CAME FROM VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVES.
HE SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FARMERS’ STUDY VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR, A SIMILAR VISIT WAS BEING ARRANGED THIS YEAR TO ENABLE MORE VEGETABLE FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM SUCH EXPERIENCE.
0 - -
HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS SOLD OUT * * * *
THE SALES BOOKS FOR THE THREE PROJECTS IN HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME PHASE VIIA CLOSED TODAY, WITH ALL 3 776 FLATS SNAPPED UP BY ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.
+AMONG THE FLATS SOLD, 3 248 FLATS ARE ON THE TRIDENT BLOCKS AT FUNG SHING COURT IN SHA TIN AND CHING SHING COURT IN TSING Yl, WHILE 528 FLATS ARE ON A TOWER BLOCK AT THE SECOND PHASE OF CHOI PO COURT IN SHEUNG SHUI,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TODAY.
♦ THEY HAVE ALL PROVED TO BE EXTREMELY POPULAR WITH HOMEPURCHASERS SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF SALES IN FEBRUARY,+ HE ADDED.
THE FLATS ARE PRICED FROM $96 600 TO $186 200 AND HAVE GROSS AREAS BETWEEN 41.9 AND 64.5 SQUARE METRES.
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DB MEMBERS ATTEND ORIENTATION SEMINAR
* * X X
A TOTAL OF 24 MEMBERS OF THE NEW TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY) ATTENDED A SEMINAR TO FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE WORK AND FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN THE DISTRICT.
THE ONE-DAY ORIENTATION SEMINAR, WAS ALSO AN INFORMAL MEETING FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
OFFICIALS FROM TEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BRIEFED BOARD MEMBERS ON THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR OFFICES AND THEIR FUTURE PLANS FOR TUEN MUN.
TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, BRIEFED THE MEMBERS ON THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE SIX FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE PROCEDURES FOR THE ELECTIONS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN AND ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WERE ALSO DISCUSSED BY BOARD MEMBERS.
- - 0 - -
ELECTION OF DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN * * * *
MR CHAU HOW-CHEN WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING HELD THIS AFTERNOON.
IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN, MR VINCENT KO, WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
- - 0 - -
SKILLS CONTEST FOR DISABLED PEOPLE * * * X
DISABLED PEOPLE ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS CONTEST WHICH OFFERS WINNERS A CHANCE TO COMPETE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ABILYMPIC TO BE HELD IN COLUMBIA.
THE CONTEST, THE SECOND ABILYMPIC IN HONG KONG, IS ORGANISED BY THE JOINT COUNCIL FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED (REHABILITATION DIVISION, HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE) WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT.
THE PURPOSE OF ORGANISING THIS EVENT IS TO DEMONSTRATE TO EMPLOYERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THE CAPABILITIES OF DISABLED PEOPLE IN VARIOUS OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS.
THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN TO PROMOTE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE AND TO HELP THEM DEVELOP OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS.
/THE CONTEST
FBID1Y, APRIL 12, 1?85
10 -
THE CONTEST WILL BE HELD AT THE INDUSTRIAL CENTRE OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC FROM JULY 19 TO JULY 21. IT IS OPEN TO ALL BLIND, DEAF, AND PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
CONTEST EVENTS RANGE FROM DRESSMAKING, WATCH REPAIR, TYPING, WOODCARVING AND BILLBOARD ADVERTISING, TO COMPUTER-PROGRAMMING.
ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE A CITATION. WINNERS IN EACH CONTEST EVENT WILL BE AWARDED A TROPHY. THEY MAY ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL ABILYMPIC TO BE HELD IN BOGOTA, COLUMBIA IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.
ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND SHOULD BE RETURNED BY APRIL 25. ENQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE SECOND HONG KONG ABILYMPIC AT 3-670071 EXT. 220.
-----o------
FIRST MANUAL OF JOB SPECIFICATION PUBLISHED
* * * *
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAS PUBLISHED THE FIRST MANUAL CF SPECIFICATION FOR PRINCIPAL JOBS IN THE SECTORS OF SEA FREIGHT, AIR FREIGHT CARRIERS, FORWARDING AGENTS, TRUCKING, WAREHOUSING AND CARGO HANDLING TERMINALS.
IN THE MANUAL, THE TRANSPORT AND PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION TRAINING BOARD OF THE COUNCIL HAS RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS WHICH LAID DOWN THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIRED FOR 49 PRINCIPAL JOBS AT MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY, CLERICAL AND OPERATIVE LEVELS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THE PURPOSE OF THE MANUAL IS TO ESTABLISH ADEQUATE AND UNIFORM SPECIFICATION OF SKILLS FOR PRINCIPAL JOBS IN THE INDUSTRY.
TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND EMPLOYERS CAN ALSO FOLLOW THE MANUAL IN DRAWING UP TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR TRAINEES AND EMPLOYEES.
THE MANUAL IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT $16.50 A COPY.
-----0------
FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
11
HOUSING AUTHORITY BIDS FAREWELL TO EIGHT MEMBERS
M * * *
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TODAY BADE FAREWELL TO EIGHT MEMBERS WHO HAD RETIRED AFTER MANY YEARS OF VALUABLE SERVICES.
AT A LUNCHEON MEETING, CHAIRMAN OF THE AUTHORITY, MR DAVID FORD, ALSO WELCOMED SEVEN MEMBERS NEWLY APPOINTED TO THE AUTHORITY AND ITS COMMITTEES.
MR FORD PAID TRIBUTE TO THE RETIRED MEMBERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS PUBLIC HOUSING.
+WE SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT OUR HOUSING PROGRAMME HAS BEEN WIDELY RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE FACTORS WHICH HAS HELPED STABILITY AND SOCIAL MOBILITY IN HONG KONG AND HAS HELPED IT FLOURISH.
+ ALL RETIRED MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A LONG TIME, CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIGGEST SOCIAL UNDERTAKING AND SUCCESS STORY OF HONG KONG.+
THE RETIRED MEMBERS ARE MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR GERALD FORSGATE, MRS ELSIE ELLIOTT, MR KENNETH T.C. LO, MR BROOK BERNACCHl, MR ALAN KWAN, MRS LEE KONG WAI-MUI AND MR DENIS S.T. WONG.
THE RETIRED MEMBERS WERE PRESENTED WITH SOUVENIRS BY MR FORD TO COMMEMORATE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AUTHORITY.
MANY OF THEM HAD SERVED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND ITS COMMITTEES FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND HAD CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE AUTHORITY’S PHENOMENAL GROWTH AND SUCCESS.
WELCOMING THE NEW MEMBERS, MR FORD SAID THE AUTHORITY NEEDED THEIR ADVICE AND CRITICISM IN ORDER TO FORMULATE BALANCED AND VIABLE HOUSING POLICIES TO MEET THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE 199O’S.
THE NEW MEMBERS ARE MR CARLOS CHEUNG, MR NORMAN LEUNG, MR THOMAS KWOK, MISS LEUNG WAI-TUNG, MR CHEUNG KIN-CHUNG, MR PAO PING-WING AND MR FUNG KIN-KEE.
+WITH THE EXPERIENCE, WISDOM AND CONTACTS OF MEMBERS, BOTH OLD AND NEW, I AM CONFIDENT OUR CHALLENGES WILL BE MET WITH RESOLUTION AND SUCCESS AS IN THE PAST,+ MR FORD SAID.
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FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 1985
12 -
CIVIC EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR SCHOOL HEADS * * * *
MORE THAN 6OO PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADS TODAY (FRIDAY) ATTENDED A ONE-DAY SEMINAR ON CIVIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THE SEMINAR WAS HELD SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THREE VENUES ON HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
PROGRAMME OF THE SEMINAR INCLUDED TALKS BY GUEST SPEAKERS, GROUP DISCUSSION AND PLENARY SESSION.
THE SEMINAR ON HONG KONG ISLAND WAS HELD AT TANG SHIU KIN VICTORIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL, Ol KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AND THE GUEST SPEAKERS WERE MR PAUL YIN, EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AND NR FUNG KAM-PANG, HEADMASTER.
THE SEMINAR IN KOWLOON WAS HELD AT GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, GASCOIGNE ROAD AND THE GUEST SPEAKERS WERE MR CHENG TAK-KIN, HEADMASTER AND MRS TAI LAM SAU-MUI, HEADMISTRESS.
THE SEMINAR IN THE NEW COLLEGE, WO CHE ESTATE, SHA NR LUI HAK-NING, HEADMASTER MEMBER.
TERRITORIES WAS HELD AT KIANGSU CHEKIANG TIN AND THE GUEST SPEAKERS WERE AND MR LYON LEE, KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT
A SIMILAR SEMINAR FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADS WAS HELD IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
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ORPHANS RECEIVE CARE, ASSISTANCE FROM SWD
* * * * *
SEVEN ORPHANS IN YUEN LONG HAVE BEEN RECEIVING CARE AND ASSISTANCE FROM STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE DEATH OF THEIR PARENTS IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN FEBRUARY.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOTALLING MORE THAN $79 000 FROM THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE TANG SHIU KIN/ HO TIM CHARITABLE FUND WAS GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN A FEW DAYS AFTER THE TRAGEDY.
SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE YUEN LONG FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE HAVE MAINTAINED CONTACTS WITH THE CHILDREN AND THEIR RELATIVES SINCE THE ACCIDENT.
FIVE OF THE CHILDREN, AGED BETWEEN EIGHT AND 15 YEARS OLD, HAVE BEEN MADE WARDS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
OTHER SERVICES FOR THE SEVEN CHILDREN INCLUDED REFERRALS FOR TUITION, HOME HELP SERVICE, COUNSELLING AND FINANCE MANAGEMENT.
MEANWHILE, READERS OF A CHINESE NEWSPAPER HAVE RAISED SOME $300 000 FOR THE WELFARE OF THE ORPHANS. THE MONEY HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
------o------- /13................................
Rf APRIL 12, 1985
“ 13 "
SCHEME PARTICIPANTS REMINDED OF DEADLINE *****
THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME WORKING GROUP TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN STAGE II OF I HE SCHEME THAT SUNDAY (APRIL 14) IS THEIR LAST CHANCE TO DO SO.
THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PLANT A TREE IN ANY ONE OF THE SIX DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS IN QUARRY BAY, POK FU LAM. JWISK, BRIDt. S POOL, PAK TAM CHUNG AND NAM SHAN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4 PM ON THAT DAV.
ON ARRIVAL AT THE REPORTING POST, EACH PARTICIPANT WILL BE GIVEN A SEEDLING AND A SET OF PLANTING EQUIPMENT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THEIR PASS CARDS WILL BE STAMPED BY THE STAFF AT THE REPORTING POSTS AS EVIDENCE OF THEIR PARTICIPATION.
ON COMPLETION OF THE TREE-PLANTING STAGE, THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ENTITLED TO TAKE PART IN A LUCKY DRAW DURING WHICH 250 PEOPLE WILL BE SELECTED FOR A FREE PICNIC AT CHEUNG SHEUNG IN SAI KUNG ON APRIL 28.
-----o-----
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE * * *
FROM 12.01 AM ON MONDAY (APRIL 15), THE ACCESS ROADS LEADING FROM TELFORD GARDENS TO WAI YIP STREET WILL BE CLOSED FOR SEVEN DAYS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES LEAVING TELFORD GARDENS WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE ACCESS RAMP LEADING TO TAI YIP STREET. KMB ROUTE 5D ON JOURNEYS TO HUNG HOM FERRY WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA SIU YIP STREET, WAI YIP STREET, LAI YIP STREET AND KWUN TONG ROAD BEFORE RESUMING ITS ORIGINAL ROUTE.
-----o-----
WATER CUT * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (APRIL 15) FOR LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS POUNDED BY CAINE ROAD, LADDER STREET, PO HING FONG, KUI IN FONG. FA I PING SHAN STREET, BRIDGES STREET, STAUNTON STREET AND ABERDEEN STREET, INCLUDING U LAM TERRACE AND hUuLYWOOD ROAD POLICE QUARTERS.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
Saturday, april 13, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR WARD TAKES A LOOK AT VILLAGE LIFE........................ 1
GOVERNOR TO VISIT NANKING, SHANGHAI ...................... 1
FEBRUARY EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS RELEASED ................. 2
SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE TO INFORCE COMPULSORY INSURANCE......... 9
HOTLINE HANDLES OVER 90 000 CALLS............................ 10
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS RECEIVE CASH ASSISTANCE............. 12
T.aBY YOUDE OPINS EXHIBITION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS ........... 12
SPECIAL REPROVISIONING ARRANGEMENTS.......................... 13
DB MEMBERS HOLD DISCUSSION WITH HOUSING OFFICIALS ........... 14
MORE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR FANLING ....................... 14
WARNING AGAINST ILLEGAL SLAUGHTERING ........................ 15
NEW FERRY PIER FOR TSING YI ................................. 15
MARKET STALLS FOR LEASE BY AUCTION .......................... 1$
FIRING PRACTICE.............................................. 16
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
1
SIR EDWARD TAKES A LOOK AT VILLAGE LIFE ******
VILLAGERS OF KAT 0 TURNED UP IN FORCE TO GREET THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY (SATURDAY) WHEN HE VISITED THE REMOTE ISLAND TO OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF A WATER SUPPLY PROJECT.
THE ORIGINAL MAINS WATER SUPPLY TO THE ISLAND WAS INSTALLED IN 1963 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ARMED FORCES.
BECAUSE OF THE EROSION OF THE PIPES, THE SUBMARINE SECTION OF THE MAINS WAS REPLACED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED TWO MONTHS AGO.
AFTER PERFORMING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY, SIR EDWARD TOURED THE ISLAND AND VISITED THE 3OO-YEAR-OLD TIN HAU TEMPLE WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN RENOVATED.
EARLIER, THE GOVERNOR ALSO VISITED ANOTHER REMOTE ISLAND, TAP MUN, TO LOOK AT VILLAGE LIFE.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, SIR EDWARD FLEW THERE BY HELICOPTER.
HE TOURED THE ISLAND AND VISITED THE KING LAM PRIMARY SCHOOL, THE TAP MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, AND THE 200-YEAR-OLD TIN HAU TEMPLE.
SIR EDWARD LATER CALLED ON THE FAMILY OF MR LAI LIN-KUN, WHO MOVED ASHORE TWO YEARS AGO AFTER HAVING BEEN A FISHERMAN FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.
-----o------
GOVERNOR TO VISIT NANKING, SHANGHAI ******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TOLD REPORTERS TODAY '’SATURDAY) THAT HE WOULD BE GOING TO CHINA EARLY NEXT MONTH SPENDING ABOUT A WEEK VISITING NANKING AND SHANGHAI.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER VISITING TWO OUTLYING ISLANDS, TAP MUN AND KAT 0, SIR EDWARD SAID HE EXPECTED TO LEAVE HONG KONG SOMEWHERE AROUND ABOUT THE SECOND OR THIRD OF MAY.
ASKED IF THERE WOULD BE OFFICIALS FROM NCNA ACCOMPANYING HIM, HE SAID HE EXPECTED THERE WOULD BE.
/DI RJSPQNSS........
SATO3LL.Y, -J.L 13. 1985
IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON WHETHER THE SIZE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN HONG KONG AND THE RECENT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT ITS RECRUITMENT WAS SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, SIR EDWARD SAID:
♦NO, I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING NEW ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, BUT AS I SAID THE OTHER DAY, I THINK THIS IS A MATTER FOR INDIVIDUALS RATHER THAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT. +
QUESTIONED IF THE NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP WOULD BE READY BEFORE JULY 1 WHEN THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT WAS RATIFIED, SIR EDWARD TOLD THE REPORTERS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO AWAIT THE DECISION CF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS +BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS TO ANNOUNCE THE TWO SIDES.*
SPEAKING ABOUT HIS TRIP TO TAP MUN AND KAT 0, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD BEEN HAVING A LOOK AROUND AT THE PROBLEMS AND THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED ON THOSE ISLANDS.
+THEY ARE MAINLY FISHERMEN AS YOU KNOW, BUT THEY DO HAVE THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE HOUSING AND HOUSING POLICY ON THE ISLANDS AND ABOUT IMPROVEMENT OF COMMUNICATION. IN FACT, ALL THE THINGS WHICH YOU WOULD EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT IN LIVING IN PLACES OF THIS KIND.*
_ _ - - 0 _--------
FEBRUARY EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS RELEASED ******
FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1985, VALUED AT
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE . ... __
$71 C25 MILLION, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 20 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1984, ACCORDING TO TRADE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. ON THE SAME BAS lb CF COMPARISON, DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 17 PER CENT TO $20 546 MILLION, IMPORTS BY 11 PER CENT TO $34 085 MILLION AND RE“EXPORJS BY 48 ER CENT TO $16 395 MILLION. DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS
TOGETHER INCREASED BY 29 PER CENT.
COMPARING THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1985 WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S.A. ROSE BY 15 PER CENT IN VALUE. ANALYSED BY COMMODITIES, INCREASES WERE RECORDED MAINLY IN CLOTHING (BY $925 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT), PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (BY $116 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT) AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $92 Mil 'ON 'OR 25 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $175 sILL ION OF. 25 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $51 MILLION OR EIGHT PER CENT).
/MOST COJCfclDITIBS..........
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
3
MOST COMMODITIES EXPORTED TO CHINA INCREASED IN VALUE, PARTICULARLY OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $380 MILLION OR 1 981 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $288 MILLION OR 178 PER CENT), AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY «155 MILLION OR 271 PER CENT). HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILES (BY $23 MILLION OR EIGHT PER CENT) AND FEEDING STUFF FOR ANIMALS (BY $5 MILLION OR 44 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY WERE REGISTERED FOR METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (BY $32 MILLION OR 619 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $27 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT) AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $11 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $83 MILLION OR NINE PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $48 MILLION OR 47 PER CENT).
MEANWHILE, INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF CLOTHING (BY $98 MILLION OR 18 PER CENT) AND METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (BY $37 MILLION OR 110 PER CENT)” AND IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CANADA OF CLOTHING (BY $59 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT).
DEMAND FOR GOODS IMPORTED FROM CHINA DECREASED SLIGHTLY IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1985 COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR. DECREASES WERE MAINLY RECORDED IN TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS (BY $397 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT). AND MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS (BY $101 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT). NEVERTHELESS, INCREASES WERE STILL RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $186 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT), TEXTILE FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (BY $130 MILLION OR 49 PER CENT), HIDES, SKINS AND FURSKINS, RAW (BY $89 MILLION OR 1 340 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $88 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT) AND TRAVEL GOODS. HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS (BY $88 MILLION OR 61 PER CENT).
AS FOR IMPORTS FROM JAPAN, INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $480 MILLION OR 73 PER CENT) AND ROAD AND AIR CUSHION VEHICLES (BY $377 MILLION OR 84 PER CENT). HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILES (BY $124 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT) AND IRON AND STEEL (BY $70 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN IMPORTS FROM THE U.S.A. WERE MOSTLY OF TOBACCO AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURES (BY $201 MILLION OR 107 PER CENT), OFF I Cc MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $165 MILLION OR 47 PER CENT), AND MANUFACTURES OF METAL (BY $63 MILLION OR 136 °ER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN TEXT IL; FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (BY 372 MILLION OR z<9 PER CENT) AND ORGANIC CHEMICALS (BY $29 MILLION OR 21 PER CENT).
/measwhili, dechkases
SA'fUBBAi, april 13, 1985
- 4 -
MEANWHILE, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS FROM TAIWAN CF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $18 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT) AND IN IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD AND AIR CUSHION VEHICLES (BY $28 MILLION OR 98 PER CENT). HOWEVER, IMPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF FROM TAIWAN INCREASED (BY $191 MILLION OR 58 PER CENT), AS DID IMPORTS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT FROM SINGAPORE (BY $127 MILLION OR 250 PER CENT).
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA (BY $4 492 MILLION OR 153 PER CENT), U.S.A. (BY $534 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT), JAPAN (BY $278 MILLION OR 41 PER CENT), MACAU (BY $108 MILLION OR 35 PER CENT), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) (BY $54 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT), ITALY (BY $53 MILLION OR 141 PER CENT), PHILIPPINES (BY $43 MILLION OR 22 PER CENT) AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (BY $37 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECLINES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO INDONESIA (BY $207 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (BY $115 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT).
MOST COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED THROUGH HONG KONG EXHIBITED STRONG GROWTH, IHE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $893 MILLION OR 210 PER CENT), OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $674 MILLION OR 242 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $577 MILLION OR 54 PER CENT), AND TEXTILES (BY $520 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT). DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS OF VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $52 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT), PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (BY $47 MILLION OR 35 PER CENT), AND FEEDING STUFF FOR ANIMALS (NOT INCLUDING UNMILLED CEREALS) (BY $36 MILLION OR 71 PER CENT).
THE FEBRUARY 1985 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS -SUMMARY* WILL BE ON SALE LATER THIS MONTH AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $5 PER COPY.
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE*, WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN FEBRUARY 1985 WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY MAY 1985 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $13 PER COPY. ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG (TEL. NO.j 5-214375).
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING TRADE STATISTICS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO.: 5-444436).
/FOLLOWING ARB .......
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
- 5 -
FOLLOWING ARE STATISTICAL TABLESs-
TABLE 1: DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKETS JAN.-FEB. 1985 ($ MN) JAN.-FEB. 1984 U MN) INCREASE(+)/ DECREASE(-) ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
U.S.A. 8 679 7 542 +1 137 + 15
CHINA 2 535 1 199 +1 336 +111
F.R. OF GERMANY 1 385 1 441 - 56 - 4
U.K. 1 385 1 338 + 46 + 3
CANADA 650 583 + 67 + 11
AUSTRAL 1A 649 556 + 93 + 17
JAPAN 608 609 1 - K
NETHERLANDS 379 351 + 28 + 8
SINGAPORE 366 373 7 - 2
SWITZERLAND 301 281 + 19 + 7
* LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
TABLE 2 s DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY
DIVISIONS
JAN.-FEB
1985 ($ MN)
JAN.-FEB
1984 ($ MN)
INCREASED) ($ MN)
PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES
7 560
6 211
+ 22
/MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
6
MISCELLANEOUS 2 760 2 315 4 446 + 19
MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS, JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES, AND PLASTIC ARTICLES)
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY HOUSEHOLD TYPE APPLIANCES AND SEMI-CONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS) 1 745 1 470 4 274 + 19
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1 506 1 358 4 147 + 11
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1 478 1 312 4 166 + 13
OFF ICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT 1 275 1 128 4- 147 + 13
TABLE 3s IMPORTS FROM TEN MAJOR SOURCES
MAJOR SOURCES JAN.-FEB. 1985 (S MN) JAN.-FEB. 1984 ($ MN) INCREASE(+)/ DECREASE(-) ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
CHINA 8 056 8 060 5 - *
JAPAN 8 043 6 730 +1 313 4 20
U.S.A. 3 747 3 207 4 540 + 17
TAIWAN 2 980 2 200 + 780 ♦ 35
/SINGAPORE........
SAOTBDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
- 7 -
SINGAPORE 2 010 1 721 + 289 + 17
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 1 291 905 + 386 + 43
U.K. 1 219 1 415 — 196 - 14
F.R. OF GERMANY 967 732 + 235 + 32
FRANCE 539 461 + 78 + 17
SWITZERLAND 452 491 — 39 - 8
* LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT
TABLE 4: IMPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY SECTIONS
COMMODITY SECTIONS JAN.—FEB. 1985 ($ MN) JAN.-FEB. 1984 ($ MN) INCREASE(+)/ DECREASE(-) ($ MN) PERCENT- CHANGt (%)
MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 10 154 7 198 +2 956 + 41
MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL (MAINLY TEXTILE PRODUCTS, DIAMONDS, IRON AND STEEL, AND PAPER) 8 457 8 987 - 530 - 6
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 6 020 5 081 + 939 + 13
FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 2 931 3 189 - 258 - 8
CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS 2 18? 2 197 14 - 1
MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED MATERIALS 1 752 1 799 - 47 - 3
/TABLE 5s .......
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
8
TABLE 5: RE-EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKETS JAN.-FEB, 1985 ($ MN) JAN.-FEB. 1984 (S MN) INCREASE(+)/ DECREASE(-) ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
CHINA 7 423 2 931 +4 492 +153
U.S.A. 2 205 1 671 + 534 + 32
JAPAN 964 686 + 278 + 41
TAIWAN 626 701 - 76 - 11
SINGAPORE 604 720 - 115 - 16
REPUBLIC OF KOREA 547 492 + 54 + 11
(SOUTH KOREA)
INDONESIA 429 636 - 207 - 32
MACAU 420 311 + 108 + 35
PHILIPPINES 240 197 + 43 + 22
AUSTRALIA 206 218 12 - 5
TABLE 6s RE- -EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODI TY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISIONS JAN.-FEB. 1985 (S MN) JAN.-FEB. 1984 (fc MN) INCREASE(+) ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 2 151 1 630 + 520 + 32
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES 1 639 1 061 + 577 + 54
/TELICOMMUNICATIONS AND.......
SATURDAY, Af-filL 13, 19&5
- 9 -
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 1 319 426 + 893 +213
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 1 189 980 + 209 + 21
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES 966 573 + 393 + 69
OFF ICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT 952 278 + 674 +242
-----0-----
SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE TO ENFORCE COMPULSORY INSURANCE * * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS ADOPTED A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE TO ENFORCE COMPULSORY INSURANCE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LAW REQUIRED THAT AN EMPLOYER MUST TAKE OUT AN INSURANCE POLICY TO COVER THE FULL AMOUNT OF HIS LIABILITIES FOR THE DEATH OR INJURY OF HIS EMPLOYEES DUE TO ACCIDENTS AT WORK.
UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE, INSTEAD OF ASKING EMPLOYERS TO PRODUCE THE ORIGINAL INSURANCE POLICY WHICH MIGHT NOT BE KEPT IN THE OFFICE, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ACCEPT AS PROOF ANY OF THE SEVERAL SPECIFIED DOCUMENTS, THAT AN INSURANCE HAD BEEN TAKEN OUT.
THESE INCLUDED THE INSURANCE POLICY OR ITS COPY) THE CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE OR ITS COPY) A NOTICE OF INSURANCE ENDORSED BY AN AUTHORISED INSURER; AND A DEBIT NOTE AND CORRESPONDING RECEIPT ISSUED BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FOR GROUP COMPANIES OR COMPANIES WITH A NUMBER OF BRANCH OFFICES, DEPOTS OR RETAIL OUTLETS, WHICH MIGHT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP A COPY OF THE POLICY AT EACH OFFICE, THEY COULD SEND, BY POST, A COPY OF THE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY TOGETHER WITH A COMPLETE LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES OR BRANCHES COVERED, TO THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, 7TH FLOOR, HENNESSY CENTRE, HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, FOR INFORMATION.
/HE SAID ........
SAIUBDA1 APRIL 13, 1985
10 -
HE SAID AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN OBVIATE THE COMPANY FROM KEEPING THE INSURANCE POLICY AT THEIR BRANCHES FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, A NOTICE OF INSURANCE, COMPLETED IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, WOULD STILL BE REQUIRED TO BE POSTED UP IN EACH PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY CONTACT THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS DIVISION AT 5-7956407.
-----0------
HOTLINE HANDLES OVER 90 000 CALLS * * * *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S HOTLINE HAS HANDLED MORE THAN 90 000 CALLS SINCE IT CAME INTO OPERATION IN OCTOBER 1980 TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE TO THE PUBLIC ON SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS.
+WE ARE HANDLING AN AVERAGE OF 20 000 CALLS EVERY YEAR,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE HOTLINE HAD PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN SUPPLEMENTING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND OTHER OFFICES.
+IT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH WE GET TO KNOW OF CASES REQUIRING OUR ASSISTANCE,* HE ADDED.
THE HOTLINE, AT 3-432255, OPERATES FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND SATURDAYS AND FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. OUTSIDE THESE HOURS, MESSAGES ARE RECORDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE NUMBER OF CALLS RELEVANT TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ON THE INCREASE.
IN 1983, 47 PER CENT OF THE CALLS RECEIVED WERE RELEVANT TO THE SERVICES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THIS PERCENTAGE ROSE TO NEARLY 55 PER CENT IN 1984.
+FOR THE MONTHS OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, THE PERCENTAGE CONTINUES TO REMAIN HIGH - AT 57 PER CENT AND 56 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PROBLEMS DEALT WITH BY THE HOTLINE FALLS INTO FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES!
* DIFFICULTIES IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS,
4 PROBLEMS RELATING TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE;
/♦ PROBLEMS ABI SING ......
SATiaau ail 13, 1985
11
* PROBLEMS ARISING FROM POOR MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH» AND
* FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.
APART FROM ANSWERING GENERAL ENQUIRIES, STAFF MANNING THE HOTLINE REFER CASES TO FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES AND OTHER SERVICE UNITS FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 2 OOO CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE RELEVANT UNITS FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE HOTLINE OPERATED PRIMARILY AS AN ENQUIRY AND REFERRAL SERVICE, THERE WERE OCCASIONS UPON WHICH PROFESSIONAL STAFF MANNING THE SERVICE WOULD PROVIDE IMMEDIATE COUNSELLING TO THE CALLER ON THE TELEPHONE.
CITING AN EXAMPLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A 28-YEAR-OLD WOMAN HAD BEEN CALLING THE HOTLINE OVER A TWO-MONTH PERIOD EARLIER THIS YEAR SEEKING HELP IN COPING WITH HER MARITAL PROBLEM.
SHE SAID HER HUSBAND WAS HAVING AN EXTRA-MARITAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER WOMAN, BUT SHE BELIEVED HE STILL LOVED HER AND THE CHILDREN.
WHEN THE WOMAN FIRST CALLED THE HOTLINE, SHE WAS VERY UNHAPPY AND DISPLAYED GREAT ANXIETY.
THROUGH COUNSELLING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT FROM STAFF OF THE HOTLINE, SHE BEGAN TO TAKE A MORE OPTIMISTIC VIEW OF HER SITUATION AND WAS MOTIVATED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM CALMLY WITH HER HUSBAND, WHO SUBSEQUENTLY SHOWED A POSITIVE CHANGE IN HIS ATTITUDE.
ON THE ADVICE OF THE HOTLINE STAFF, SHE LATER APPROACHED THE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE IN HER DISTRICT FOR FURTHER SERVICES.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE WORK OF THE HOTLINE IS TO RECEIVE REPORTS OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES FROM THE PUBLIC.
LAST YEAR, THE HOTLINE RECEIVED 139 CALLS ON SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES - 78 FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND 61 FROM THE POLICE.
MOST OF THESE WERE REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT’S NETWORK OF FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES FOR FURTHER ACTION. TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE CASES REFERRED TURNED OUT TO BE GENUINE CHILD ABUSE CASES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT PROMPT ACTION IN REPORTING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES NOT ONLY MIGHT SAVE THE LIFE OF A CHILD BUT COULD ASSIST THE FAMILY BY BRINGING THEIR DIFFICULTIES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AUTHORITIES WHO WERE IN A POSITION TO HELP THEM.
+THE EMPHASIS IS ON EARLY DETECTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION BY PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, HE SAID THE POLICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED AT ONCE.
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/12......
aTURDAY, APRIL 13, 1935
- 12 -
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS RECEIVE CASH ASSISTANCE
XXX
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME (TAVA) HAS AUTHORISED AN INITIAL PAYMENT OF $660 EACH TO FOUR PEOPLE WHO WERE INJURED IN A BUS ACCIDENT NEAR SHEK LEI PUI RESERVOIR ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 10).
THIRTY-SEVEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN THE CRASH.
ON THURSDAY, STAFF FROM THE TAVA SECTION VISITED FIVE OF THE INJURED IN THE HOSPITAL. ONE OF THEM DECLINED ASSISTANCE.
FOR THE OTHER 32 INJURED, SIX DECLINED ASSISTANCE AND FOUR DID NOT QUALIFY, SOME ARE BEING PROCESSED WHILE A FEW HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED.
0 --------
LADY YOUDE OPENS EXHIBITION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS
* * * * *
LADY YOUDE, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR, TODAY (SATURDAY) OPENED AN EXHIBITION ENTITLED +CIRCULATING PICTURE - EXHIBITION OF DISABLED DRIVERS’ SCHOOL+ AT NEW TOWN SQUARE IN SHA TIN.
THE EXHIBITION IS PRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF HANDICAPPED YOUTH TO INTRODUCE THE DRIVERS’ SCHOOL TO THE DISABLED AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE PRIVATE VEHICLES TO OVERCOME THEIR TRANSPORT PROBLEMS.
FOUNDED IN NOVEMBER 1979, THE DISABLED DRIVERS’ SCHOOL IS AIMED AT HELPING THE DISABLED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF MOBILITY BY PROVIDING SPECIALLY-ADAPTED VEHICLES AND TRAINING COURSES FOR THEM.
SINCE 1980, A TOTAL OF 440 DISABLED PERSONS HAVE ENROLLED FOR DRIVING TESTS AND 250 OF THEM PASSED.
AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY, LADY YOUDE WALKED AROUND THE EXHIBITION WHERE A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE TRAINING FACILITIES AVAILABLE AT THE SCHOOL AND INFORMATION ON THE PROCEDURES TO OBTAIN DRIVING LICENCES WERE ON DISPLAY.
LADY YOUDE ALSO SAW TWO SPECIALLY-ADAPTED VEHICLES WITH MODERN FACILITIES LIKE POWER-STEERING AND HAND-CONTROL BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR FOR DISABLED LEARNER DRIVERS.
0
/13........
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
- 13 -
SPECIAL REPROVISIONING ARRANGEMENTS * * *
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED SPECIAL REPROVISIONING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SHOP TENANTS AFFECTED BY THE REDEVELOPMENT OF KWAI FONG ESTATE.
THEY WILL EACH BE GRANTED AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE EQUIVALENT TO 12 MONTHS’ CURRENT RENT UPON THE SURRENDER OF THEIR EXISTING TENANCIES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID BLOCKS 9, 10 AND 11 OF KWAI FONG WILL BE REDEVELOPED AFTER MID-1987. A TOTAL OF 20 SHOPS, TWO CLINICS, 33 SHOPSTALLS IN A MARKET AND A CHINESE RESTAURANT WILL BE AFFECTED.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THEIR EXISTING TENANCY AGREEMENTS, THESE SHOP PREMISES AT KWAI FONG ARE LEASED AT COMMERCIAL RENT FOR A FIXED TERM OF THREE YEARS. THE TENANCY CAN BE TERMINATED WITHOUT COMPENSATION BY EITHER PARTY GIVING THREE-MONTHS’ NOTICE TO THE OT HER•
♦HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY’S MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION, TOOK THE VIEW THAT KWAI FONG SHOULD BE TREATED AS A SPECIAL CASE AND DECIDED TO GRANT EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE TO ALL SHOP TENANTS CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE MAJORITY WHOSE TENANCIES WILL EXPIRE BEFORE THE BLOCKS ARE REQUIRED FOR DEMOLITION.+
UNDER THE NEW RULING, THE SPOKESMAN CITED AS EXAMPLES THE EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE OF $5 746 TO $30 000 FOR MARKET STALLS, $72 000 FOR A PROVISION STORE, $176 700 FOR A CAFE AND $498 840 FOR THE ONLY CHINESE RESTAURANT.
♦IN ADDITION, TO ASSIST THESE OPERATORS IN RE-ESTABLISHING THEIR BUSINESSES, THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN A CONCESSION TO TAKE PART IN RESTRICTED TENDERS FOR SHOPS/SHOPSTALLS IN THE SAME ESTATE OR IN OTHER ESTATES.
♦A CERTAIN NUMBER OF NEW SHOP PREMISES AT CONVERTED TAI WO HAU ESTATE, WONG TAI SIN ESTATE AND LOK WAH ESTATE HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR RESTRICTED TENDERING BY THE SHOP TENANTS OF KWAI FONG.
♦furthermore, the current rent for their existing premises WILL BE FROZEN AND ANY STAGED ANNUAL RENT INCREASES, EVEN IF AGREED WILL NO LONGER BE IMPLEMENTED,+ HE SAID.
-----o------
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
14
DB MEMBERS HOLD DISCUSSION WITH HOUSING OFFICIALS ******
THIRTY-ONE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD TODAY GOT TOGETHER FOR A CASUAL DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIALS.
AT A TEA RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IN their honour, views and ideas on a wide spectrum subjects INCLUDING PUBLIC HOUSING WERE EXCHANGED BEWTEEN BOTH PARTIES.
TA DOAMATr-WoS-rTHE FIRST 0F A SERIES OF GATHERINGS TO BE ORGANISED JO RR?*OTE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND TO ESTABLISH A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT AND NEW DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
MORE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS FOR FANLING
*****
*
DEPARTMENT IS INVITING PART OF THE CONTINUING TOWN
THE NE.W TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT TENDERS FOR A PACKAGE OF PROJECTS AS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF FANLING NEW
IT INVOLVES THE FORMATION OF APPROXIMATELY 12 HECTARES OF LAND INCLUDING ROADS AND DRAINS WORK IN WO HOP SHEK AREA.
THE WORKS COMPRISE SITE. FORMATION, EXCAVATION IN CORPS RIDGE BORROW AREA, CONSTRUCTION OF CULVERTS, STORMWATER AND
DRAINAGE, DISTRIBUTOR ROADS, A PEDESTRIAN ELEVATED WALKWAY FURNITURE PEDESTRIAN SUBWAY> FOOTPATHS, CYCLE TRACKS AND STREET
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT ARE THE EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING WO HOP SHEK ROAD, IMPROVEMENT TO THE 'WEST ACCESS TO WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY AND DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING TEMPORARY ROAD BRIDGE ADJACENT TO THE FANLING KCR STATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE PROJECT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, SCHOOLS, RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL S:TART IN JUNE AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 27 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
0
/15........
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1995
- 15 -
WARNING AGAINST ILLEGAL SLAUGHTERING
******
NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGERS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL SLAUGHTERING ARE TODAY WARNED TO STOP THEIR BUSINESS IMMEDIATELY, OR THEY WOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID SUSTAINED EFFORTS WERE NOW BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO STAMP OUT THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
THE APPEAL WAS ISSUED AFTER TWO NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS, ONE IN YUEN LONG AND THE OTHER IN SAI KUNG, WERE RECENTLY BROUGHT TO COURT FOR RELATED OFFENCES.
THE OFFENDER IN YUEN LONG WAS FINED $5 000 -- $3 500 FOR AN OFFENCE OF OPERATING AN UNLICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSE AND $1 500 FOR A CHARGE OF POSSESSION OF PROHIBITED FOOD FOR SALE -- AT THE FANLING MAGISTRACY. I
THE SECOND OFFENDER WAS FINED $750 EACH FOR THE ABOVE TWO OFFENCES AT THE KWUN TONG MAGISTRACY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR OPERATING A SLAUGHTERHOUSE WITHOUT A LICENCE IS $10 000 WHILE THAT OF POSSESSING PROHIBITED FOOD FOR SALE IS $2 000.
MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO BUY MEAT FROM ON-STREET HAWKERS AS THEIR MEAT, WHICH WERE MOSTLY SUPPLIED BY UNLICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSES, WERE NOT HYGIENICALLY PREPARED AND WOULD PROBABLY BE UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
NEW FERRY PIER FOR TSI NG Yl ******
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FERRY PIER ON TSING Yl ISLAND.
THE WORKS INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF A SUPERSTRUCTURE ON A RECLAIMED SITE OF 1 400 SQUARE METRES, A PUBLIC TOILET AND CANOPIES TO THE BUS TERMINUS.
ON COMPLETION, FERRY OPERATIONS WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE PRESENT TSING Yl BAY PIER WHERE FURTHER RECLAMATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN EARLY JUNE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
------o-------
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 1985
16
MARKET STALLS FOR LEASE BY AUCTION * * * *
SIXTY-FOUR VACANT STALLS AT TAK WAH STREET TEMPORARY MARKET AND SHAM TSENG TEMPORARY MARKET IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE PUT UP FOR LEASE BY PUBLIC AUCTION NEXT WEDNESDAY (APRIL 17).
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES HALL OF TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AT 9.30 AM. THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL OF THE STALLS RANGES FROM $900 TO $4 500.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START BUSINESS ON MAY 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTENDING TO BID FOR THE STALLS ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS WHEN ATTENDING THE AUCTION.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, PLEASE CALL THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON 0-444281 EXT. 361.
-----o------
FIRING PRACTICE XII
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE ™NeEnFR0M M0NDAY (APRIL 15) TO SATURDAY (APRIL 20) BETWEEN o AM TO 5 PM.
r, . ™E PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
QUARTERLY JOBLESS RATE DECLINES .............................. 1
RAINSTORM REMINDER FOR SCHOOLS, PARENTS ...................... 2
COUNCIL EMBARKS ON LARGE RANGE OF PROJECT..................... 3
NEW I.D. CARD SCHEME ENTERS NEW PHASE......................... 5
PC PUTS BELIEF INTO ACTION ................................... 6
LIBRARY IN FULL SWING BY MID-YEAR............................. 7
STAFF OFFICER CALLS IT A DAY AFTER YEARS ..................... 10
REQUIREMENTS ON TEXTILE CONSIGNMENT CHECKS.................... 12
AWARD SCHEME OFFERED TO MARK YOUTH YEAR....................... 13
WORK STARTS ON HK’S LARGEST SQUASH CENTRE .................... 14
TENDERS CALLED FOR EXTENSION TO COLUMBARIUM .................. 14
TUEN MUN MARKET STALLS FOR LEASE.............................. 15
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ......................,.................. 15
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935
1
QUARTERLY JOBLESS RATE DECLINES * * * * *
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IMPROVED WHILE THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION REMAINED LARGELY STABLE IN THE QUARTER DECEMBER 1984 -FEBRUARY 1985 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 1984, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR DECEMBER 1984 -FEBRUARY 1985 WAS 3.1 PER CENT, AS COMPARED WITH THE RATE OF 3.8 PER CENT FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 1984. THE RATE FOR DECEMBER 1983 - FEBRUARY 1984 WAS 4.0 PER CENT. THE DECREASES OF 0.7 PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE PREVIOUS QUARTER AND 0.9 PERCENTAGE POINT OVER THE YEAR WERE BOTH STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT, THAT IS, THEY ARE GREATER THAN MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO ARISE FROM SAMPLING ERROR.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN THE QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 1985 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 82 100, AS COMPARED WITH 99 800 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 1984 AND 100 900 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 1984.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR DECEMBER 1984 - FEBRUARY 1985 WAS 1.2 PER CENT, AS COMPARED WITH THE RATE OF 1.0 PER CENT FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. THE RATE FOR DECEMBER 1983 - FEBRUARY 1984 WAS 1.6 PER CENT. THE DECREASE IN THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE OVER THE PREVIOUS QUARTER WAS STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 1985 WAS 31 800, AS COMPARED WITH 24 900 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING NOVEMBER 1984. THE NUMBER FOR THE QUARTER ENDING FEBRUARY 1984 WAS 41 400.
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.
COMMENTING UPON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (E.G. PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES WHICH HAD BEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FOR THE VARIATION IN FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME.
'...NJ..'-. Ai
14, 19?5
2
HE ALSO SAID THAT EASED ON A SYSTEM OF MANUAL EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION FROM SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES FOR THE LATEST MONTH, PROVISIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATES COVERING THE LATEST MOVING THREE-MONTH PERIOD COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SURVEY. THE PROVISIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) FOR JANUARY - MARCH 1985 WAS 3.1 PER CENT, AND THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 1.3 PER CENT. THE UNADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR DECEMBER 1984 - FEBRUARY 1985 WAS 3.1 PER CENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS SURVEY COVERS A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 14 OOO HOUSEHOLDS OR 53 000 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 AGED 15 AND ABOVE 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 MARCH 1985 SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AROUND JUNE 20.
------o-------
RAINSTORM REMINDER FOR SCHOOLS, PARENTS ******
WITH THE APPROACH OF THE RAINY AND TYPHOON SEASON, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ONCE AGAIN REMINDED SCHOOLS AND PARENTS OF ALL NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS AND PRECAUTIONS.
IN A RECENTLY ISSUED CIRCULAR TO ALL SCHOOLS, THE DEPARTMENT REMINDED ALL HEADS OF SCHOOLS OF THE NEED TO MAKE ALTERNATIVE । ARRANGEMENTS FOR INTERNAL TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS FOR THOSE PUPILS WHO MISS SCHOOL BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS.
THE CIRCULAR FURTHER STATED: +IT IS IMPORTANT TO REASSURE PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE PENALISED UNDER THESE EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO, STUDENTS LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS OR OUTLYING ISLANDS SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED FOR BEING LATE UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.+
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OVER THE RADIO AND TELEVISION CHANNELS CLOSING ALL SCHOOLS WILL BE MADE ONLY IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS IT.
/+WHERE POSSIBLE,
, A- .. 1A, 1985
♦WHERE POSSIBLE, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE IN THE EVENING OR EARLY MORNING BEFORE CHILDREN SET OUT FROM THEIR HOMES. THE FIRST RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE MORNING FOR AM AND WHOLE-DAY SCHOOLS WILL NOT BE LATER THAN 6.15 AM AND FOR PM SCHOOLS NOT LATER THAN 11 AM. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE REPEATED AT REGULAR AND FREQUENT INTERVALS,+ HE SAID.
WHERE RAINSTORMS ARE LOCALISED, IT WOULD BE UP TO PARENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL BEARING IN MIND WEATHER, ROAD AND TRANSPORT CONDITIONS IN THEIR LOCALITY.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEAR, ALL KINDERGARTENS WILL CLOSE WITH THE HOISTING OF THE TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 3. ALL SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE WITH THE HOISTING OF TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 8 OR HIGHER.
+IF KINDERGARTENS AND SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION WHEN THE RELEVANT SIGNALS ARE HOISTED, HEADS OF SCHOOLS SHOULD ENSURE THAT SAFE AND ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE FOR THEIR PUPILS TO RETURN HOME, SUCH AS COLLECTION BY THEIR PARENTS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AFTER THE PASSAGE OF A TYPHOON FOLLOWED BY THE LOWERING OF ALL SIGNALS ENABLING ALL SCHOOLS TO RESUME WITH THE NEXT SESSION, AN APPROPRIATE ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
♦NEVERTHELESS, PARENTS SHOULD USE THEIR DISCRETION IN SENDING CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL, IF IT SEEMS TO THEM THAT LOCAL WEATHER, ROAD OR TRANSPORT CONDITIONS HAVE NOT BY THAT TIME RETURNED TO NORMAL. HEADS OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO INFORM PARENTS CF THIS DISCRETION BY CIRCULAR LETTER,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0-------
COUNCIL EMBARKS ON LARGE RANGE OF PROJECT * * * *
THF URBAN COUNCIL’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, RANGING FROM JpOrYs AND^RECREATION FACILITIES TO PUBLIC AMENITIES, IS NOW IN TOP GEAR.
AT PRESENT 49 MAJOR AND MINOR WORKS PROJECTS ARE UNDER VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION AT AN OVERALL ESTIMATED COST OF $867 MILLION.
THE MAJOR PROJECTS ON THE RECREATIONAL AND SPORTING SIDE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
+ THE KOWLOON BAY RECREATION GROUND BEING BUILT ON RFTLAIMED LAND IN KOWLOON BAY TO PROVIDE MUCH—NEEDED ^CRE^SnAL FACILITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF KWUN TONG AND KOWLOON BAY.
THE
v Ax -Ju 1*4, Sj
4 -
+ THE CARPENTER ROAD PARK, STAGE II, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A ’GREEN LUNG’ ON THE VERGE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY.
+ THE TOK KWA WAN RECREATION GROUND, wHICH, LIKE THE KOWLOON BAY RECREATION GROUND, WILL PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED RECREATION FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
+ THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE CHOI HUNG ROAD PLAYGROUND, WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR THE ENERGIES OF MANY CHILDREN LIVING IN THE NEARBY HOUSING AND OTHER ESTATES.
+ THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER OF THE HIGHLY POPULAR INDOOR GAMES HALLS TO THE BOUNDARY STREET SPORTS GROUND.
+ THE PROVISION OF ANOTHER URBAN COUNCIL SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AT SHAM SHU I PO, ON THE LAND FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY A REFUGEE CAMP.
+ A SUNKEN GARDEN AND FITNESS AREA IN KOWLOON PARK WHICH WILL BE POPULAR WITH TSIM SHA TSUI RESIDENTS.
+ THE CHOI SAI WOO PARK IN NORTH POINT WHICH WILL PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED PASSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE INTENSIVELY DEVELOPED AREA.
+ THE SQUASH COMPLEX AT VICTORIA BARRACKS WHICH WILL PROVIDE SQUASH ENTHUSIASTS WITH 18 COURTS, ONE OF WHICH WILL BE USED AS AN EXHIBITION COURT FOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS.
+ THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN SPACE INTO A CHINESE-STYLE GARDEN AT HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
+ THE REPROVISIONING OF FOUNTAINS AND A REFRESHMENT KIOSK AT THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS TO TAKE IN CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENTS, IN DESIGN AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC FACILITIES, IN VIEW OF ITS POPULARITY AMONG VISITORS.
OTHER NOTABLE PROJECTS INCLUDE A MULTI-STOREY COLUMBARIUM AT DIAMOND HILL CREMATORIUM AND SIX MULTI-STOREY MARKET COMPLEXES LOCATED RESPECTIVELY IN WAN CHAT, WESTERN, NGAU CHI WAN, KWUN TONG, KOWLOON CITY AND SHAM SHU I PO.
APART FROM THESE, A NUMBER OF SMALLER PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY INCLUDING SITTING-OUT AREAS, REST GARDENS, REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS, PUBLIC TOILETS AND IMPROVEMENTS OR ADDITIONS TO EXISTING FACILITIES.
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1985
5
NEW I.D. CARD SCHEME ENTERS NEW PHASE
******
STARTING TOMORROW (APRIL 15), MEN BORN IN 1941, 1942, 1943 AND 1944 WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS.
THIS PHASE WILL LAST UNTIL MAY 18, DURING WHICH THEY MAY APPLY TO ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.
THESE OFFICES ARE LOCATED AT:
HONG KONG
EAST KOWLOON
WEST KOWLOON
TSUEN WAN
SHA TIN
YUEN LONG
TUEN MUN
SHEUNG SHUI
: BASEMENT, 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI.
: AMOY GARDEN PLAZA, 2ND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
: CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2ND FLOOR, 393 CANTON ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
: EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, 29-37 TSUEN FU STREET.
: SHATIN CENTRE, PODIUM FLOOR, 2-16 WANG POK STREET.
: HOP YICK CENTRE, 2ND FLOOR, 31 HOP YICK ROAD.
: CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, CHI LOK FA YUEN.
: TSUEN WO TAI LAU, GROUND FLOOR, 82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEK WU HUI.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE ISSUE OFFICES WERE BUSIER THAN USUAL ON THE FIRST AND LAST DAY CF EACH PHASE. HE THEREFORE ADVISED APPLICANTS TO AVOID THE RUSH ON THESE TWO DAYS.
+AT PRESENT, A NEW I.D. CARD SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION <• WFTHIN 18 WORKING DAYS AFTER APPLICATION, BUT AS FROM APRIL 19, IT WILL TAKE 28 WORKING DAYS AS THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY.BE MOVING OFFICE.
+FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE USE OF THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SERVICE, APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ANY DISTRICT CFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE,* HE ADDED.
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/6........
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 198$
- 6
PC PUTS BELIEF INTO ACTION
******
POLICE CONSTABLE 590 BELIEVES IN KEEPING THE STREETS SAFE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
AND IN PUTTING HIS BELIEF INTO ACTION, CONSTABLE ALAN CHEUNG PING KUEN (27) HAS MADE ABOUT 50 ARRESTS BETWEEN MAY 1983 AND SO FAR THIS YEAR WHILE ON BEAT DUTY IN THE STREETS OF TAl KOK TSUI
CONSTABLE CHEUNG HAS ALSO CONDUCTED MANY STOP AND SEARCHES AND FOUND MISSING AND WANTED PERSONS AMONG THOSE HE HAD STOPPED.
’’THAT’S WHAT A POLICEMAN IS PAID FOR,” MANY MAY REMARK.
BUT FOR A UNIFORMED OFFICER WALKING THE BEAT TO MAKE THAT MANY ARRESTS IS A FEAT WHICH DESERVES MENTION AND RECOMMENDATION AS MOST ARRESTS ARE MADE BY CRIME UNITS FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION INTO CRIMES AND CRIME REPORTS.
AND CONSTABLE CHEUNG IN FACT RECEIVED THE COMMANDING OFFICER’S COMMENDATION LAST WEEK FROM REGIONAL COMMANDER, KOWLOON, MR JOHN SHEPPARD ’’FOR ABILITY, ENERGY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY OF A VERY HIGH ORDER” BETWEEN MAY 1983 AND DECEMBER 1984.
WITH THAT MANY ARRESTS AND STOPPING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE STREETS ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT CONSTABLE CHEUNG WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF COMPLAINTS.
” IN MY CAREER AS A CONSTABLE WHICH BEGAN IN 1976 THERE WERE ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS AGAINST ME - ONE WAS OVER A TRAFFIC TICKET AND THE OTHER WAS A SUSPECT WHOM I HAD ARRESTED FOR A DRUG OFFENCE. THE FIRST COMPLAINT AFTER INVESTIGATION WAS JUDGED UNSUBSTANTIATED AND AS FOR THE OTHER, THE MAN WAS CONVICTED AND JAILED,” THE CONSTABLE SAID.
’’THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY COMPLAINTS IF AN OFFICER KNOWS HIS DUTY AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE LAW,” HE SAID.
IN ORDER TO KNOW THE LAW AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, CONSTABLE CHEUNG IS A REGULAR CUSTOMER AT THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES’ GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE.
” I GO THERE OFTEN TO BUY THE OFFPRINTS OF ORDINANCES. IF THERE ARE ONLY ENGLISH VERSIONS I WOULD BUY THAT, OTHERWISE I WOULD GO FOR THE CHINESE ONES. AND THE COST RANGES FROM ONE DOLLAR TO TENS OF DOLLARS,” HE SAID.
/THE CONSTABLE .......
. NL n; 14, 1905
7 -
THE CONSTABLE WAS BRIEFLY POSTED TO TSIM SHA TSUI AFTER PASSING OUT FROM POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN 1976. AFTER THAT HE WAS WITH EMERGENCY UNIT KOWLOON WEST FOR FOUR YEARS DURING WHICH HE ANSWERED VARIED CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE THAT INCLUDED HELPING A YOUNG WOMAN GIVE BIRTH.
IN 1980 CONSTABLE CHEUNG RESIGNED TO TRY ANOTHER CAREER. HE WORKED AS AN INSURANCE SALESMAN DURING THAT PERIOD BUT RETURNED TO POLICE WORK A YEAR LATER - AS A BEAT DUTY OFFICER IN TAI KOK TSUI.
AND IT WAS IN JULY 1933 THAT CONSTABLE CHEUNG RECEIVED HIS FIRST COMMENDATION.
THIS WAS THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMENDATION FOR RESCUING A WOMAN FROM THE STORMY WATERS OFF TAI KOK TSUI WATERFRONT.
0 - -
LIBRARY IN FULL SWING BY MID-YEAR ******
HONG KONG’S LARGEST PUBLIC LIBRARY -- WILL SWING INTO FULL YEAR.
LIBRARY — THE KOWLOON CENTRAL OPERATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS
PURPOSE-BUILT LIBRARY IS DIVIDED
CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FIRST . ...------
INTO TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE, COMPLETED AND OPENED LAST NOVEMBER, REPROVISIONED THE WATERLOO ROAD LIBRARY. THE SECOND PHASE, DUE FOR COMPLETION BY THE MIDDLE OF TH!S YEAR,, WILL PROV1^-COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE SERVICES, AUDIO-VISUAL FACILITIES AND AN
ADULT EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ROOM.
THE :>26.68 MILLION LIBRARY, AT PUI CHING ROAD IN HOMAN TIN, CONSISTS OF 12 FLOORS AND HAS A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 4 000 SQUAkE PETRES.
UPON FULL COMPLETION, THE LIBRARY WILL PROVIDE A BAS IC STOCK CF 250 000 BOOKS, INCLUDING 50 000 REFERENCE BOOKS, 150 000 ADULT BOOKS AND 50 000 JUNIOR BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THE LIBRARIAN (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES, MR MAK KIN-LAM.
APART FROM OFFERING A LENDING AND REFERENCE SERVICE, THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY ALSO INCLUDED AN AUDIO-VISUAL LIBRARY PROVIDING OVER 9 000 ITEMS OF AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS IN VIDEO-CASSETTE TAPES, AUDIO-CASSETTE TAPES, RECORDS, COMPACT D!SCS, SLIDES AND MICROFILMS, MR MAK SAID. SOME 3 030 CASSETTc TAP^-S ARE AVAILABLE FOR HOME LENDING.
/TWO EXTENSION .......
yA'f, APRIL 14, l85
8
TwO EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ROOMS, EACH EQUIPPED « I TH HI-FI EQUIPMENT, ONE 1 500 MM VIDEO TELEVISION, A SLIDE PROJECTOR AND A 16 MM FILM PROJECTOR, ARE PROVIDED FOR LIBRARY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES FOR READERS OF VARIOUS INTEREST AND AGE GROUPS.
THERE IS ALSO A STUDENTS’ STUDY ROOM WHERE MORE THAN 150 STUDENTS CAN STUDY IN A QUIET SURROUNDING.
+IF READERS WANT TO UPDATE THEMSELVES WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT OF CURRENT AFFAIRS, THE NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS READING ROOM PROVIDES SOME 700 CURRENT LOCAL AND FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS FOR THEM,* MR MAK SAID.
+THE OPENING OF THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY IS A MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES IN HONG KONG AND WILL ENABLE THE URBAN COUNCIL TO PROVIDE A WIDER RANGE OF LIBRARY FACILITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
MR MAK SAID THAT IT WAS THE COUNCIL’S POLICY TO PROVIDE ONE DISTRICT LIBRARY FOR EVERY 200 000 PEOPLE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOOKSTOCK WAS TO REACH A STANDARD OF 0.7 BOOK PER CAPITA AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF BASIC AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIAL.
+AT PRESENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL OPERATES 13 DISTRICT LIBRARIES, 10 SMALL LIBRARIES AND TWO MOBILE LIBRARIES. A DISTRICT LIBRARY AIMS AT SERVING RESIDENTS OF A PARTICULAR DISTRICT. FACILITIES PROVIDED BY A DISTRICT LIBRARY INCLUDE A LENDING LIBRARY FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, A NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS SECTION, h QUICK REFERENCE SECTION, A STUDENTS’ STUDY ROOM, AN EXTENSION ACTIVITIES ROOM AND AN AUDIO-VISUAL LIBRARY.
+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE A CENTRAL LIBRARY, IN ADDITION TO DISTRICT LIBRARY FACILITIES, PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE REFERENCE SERVICE, A LARGER BOOKSTOCK AND A CENTRAL STACK FOR THE POOL STOCK FOR SMALL LIBRARIES AND THE RESERVE COLLECTION FOR DISTRICT LIBRARIES.
+IT IS ALSO THE CENTRE OF THE NETWORK OF LIBRARY CO-OPERATION BETWEEN COUNCIL LIBRARIES AND HOUSES THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE INTER-LIBRARY LOAN SERVICE WITH OUTSIDE LIBRARIES,* HE SAID.
+IN ADDITION TO THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY, THE COUNCIL PLANS TO DEVELOP THE CITY HALL HIGH BLOCK INTO A CENTRAL LIBRARY FOR HONG KONG ISLAND WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURAL CENTRE AND THE MUSEUM OF ART IS COMPLETED IN 1988,+ MR MAK SAID.
/IN ORDER .......
Jt
.«DAxt APKxL 1^+, . .3
IN ORDER TC IMPROVE THE PUBLIC -IERARY SERVICE, THE URBAN COUNCIL ALSO PLANS TO COMPUTERISE ITS LIBRARY NETwORK. IN 1983, A DELEGATION *AS SENT TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES TO STUDY THEIR AUTOMATED LIBRARY SYSTEMS.
HOWEVER, wITH A TOTAL STOCK OF SOME 1.3 MILLION VOLUMES AND THREE QUARTERS OF THEM IN CHINESE, IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO FIND A SUITABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM CAPABLE OF HANDLING BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE MATERIALS AND THE LARGE TRANSACTION VOLUME OF THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THE USAGE OF THE COUNCIL’S LIBRARIES HAS REMAINED HIGH SINCE THE FIRST LIBRARY WAS OPENED IN THE CITY HALL IN 1962. THE NUMBER CF REGISTERED READERS HAS INCREASED FROM 10 000 IN 1962 TO OVER 1.1 MILLION IN 1084. THE CIRCULATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS HAS ALSO INCREASED THIRTY-FOLD DURING THE LAST 23 YEARS.
+THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION BORROWERS REGISTERED IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OPERATED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF BOOKS BORROWED FROM THESE LIBRARIES PER DAY IS ABOUT 24 000 WHILE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF BOOKS READ IN THESE LIBRARIES PER DAY IS ABOUT 46 □□□,+ MR MAK SAID.
+HOWEVER, IT IS THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY THAT GAINS THE HIGHEST RATE OF READERSHIP. EVERYDAY THERE ARE AROUND 10 000 PEOPLE USING THE LIBRARY AND ABOUT 3 100 BOOKS AND OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS ARE BORROWED. THE HIGHEST DAILY ISSUE RECORDED IS 5 500,+ HE SAID.
+T0 PROMOTE HEALTHY READING HABITS AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION, A READING PROGRAMME IS CURRENTLY HELD IN ALL THE LIBRARIES,* MR MAK SAID.
■•■LIBRARY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BOOKS AND ART EXHIBITIONS, STORY HOURS, LIBRARY VISITS, COMPETITIONS ON CREATIVE WRITING, SUBJECT TALKS, INTEREST CLUBS, FILM SHOwS AND HI-FI CONCERTS ARE ORGANISED REGULARLY IN THE LIBRARIES TO FURTHER THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST IN THE LIBRARY SERVICES.
+THE PROGRAMMES ARE USUALLY SUPPLEMENTED BY READING MATERIAL TO ENABLE THE PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE LIBRARY STOCK,* HE SAID.
-------0---------
/no........
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935
10
STAFF OFFICER CALLS it A DAY AFTER 34 YEARS X X X * *
WHAT DOES ONE MISS MOST ON THE LAST DAY OF A COLOURFUL 34-YEAR CAREER j7I TH THE GOVERNMENT DEALING MOSTLY IN FOOD INSPECTION, MARKET MANAGEMENT AND HAWKER CONTROL?
MR PONG KIN-HONG, WHO RETIRED AS STAFF OFFICER (ABATTOIRS, HAWKERS AND MARKETS) FROM THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 4 HAD THIS TO SAY : +WHAT STOOD OUT REALLY AS I LOOKED BACK WAS THE PRIMITIVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES UNDER WHICH WE HEALTH INSPECTORS HAD TO WORK IN SOME 15-30 YEARS AGO.
+IN THOSE DAYS, THE HEALTH INSPECTORS LITERALLY HAD TO GO DOWN ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES TO INSPECT THE CARCASSES STREWN ALL OVER THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE GROUNDS WHICH WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THE CONDITIONS IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES WERE FAR FROM HYGIENIC AND SLAUGHTERING WAS NORMALLY DONE ON THE FLOOR. YOU REALLY HAD TO BE IN TIPTOP SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION -OFTEN UNDER THE BROILING SUN AND INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
♦REFRIGERATION, THE ASSEMBLY-LINE SET UP OF CARCASS INSPECTION AND THE ALMOST CLINICAL AND ORDERLY WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE NOW PART OF THE STANDARD FOR PRESENT DAY ABATTOIRS WERE NOT EVEN DREAMED 0F,+ MR PONG SAID.
SO WHY THE SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR THE TOUGH OLD DAYS?
+IT WAS THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE SHARED IN TACKLING A DIFFICULT BUT MOST ESSENTIAL JOB UNDER VERY TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES. I PERSONALLY DERIVED MY GREATEST SATISFACTION FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS PROTECTED AS A RESULT OF MY THOROUGH INSPECTION. ONLY MEAT THAT ARE FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WILL THEN BE RELEASED TO THE CONSUMER,* SAID MR PONG, WHO TOOK A ONE-YEAR COURSE IN 1963-^4 AT THE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF MEAT TECHNOLOGY ON A GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT A GENERALLY REPUGNANT WORKING ENVIRONMENT WAS NOT ALL MR PONG AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAD TO CONTEND WITH IN THE EARLY YEARS OF HIS CAREER AS AN URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEALTH INSPECTOR.
+WE ALSO HAD TO BE ALERT AGAINST TRIAD ELEMENTS WHO INFILTRATED THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES. A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, WHO TRIED TO STOP A TRIAD FROM REMOVING UNINSPECTED MEAT FROM THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WAS SLASHED Ji TH A BUTCHER KNIFE. THE ATTACK SEVERED A TENDON IN ONE OF HIS HANDS WITH THE RESULT THAT HE CAN NO LONGER GRASP WITH THE INJURED HAND,* MR PONG SAID.
/MB PONG .......
: APKxL 14,
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC -IERARY SERVICE, THE URBAN COUNCIL ALSO PLANS TO COMPUTERISE ITS LIERaRY NETWORK. IN 1983, A DELEGATION «AS SENT TO CANADA AND THE UNITED STATEo TO STUDY THEIR AUTOMATED LIBRARY SYSTEMS.
HOWEVER, a ITH A TOTAL STOCK OF SOME 1.3 MILLION VOLUMES AND THREE QUARTERS OF THEM IN CHINESE, IT MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO FIND A SUITABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM CAPABLE OF HANDLING BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE MATERIALS AND THE LARGE TRANSACTION VOLUME OF THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
THE USAGE OF THE COUNCIL’S LIBRARIES HAS REMAINED HIGH SINCE THE FIRST LIBRARY WAS OPENED IN THE CITY HALL IN 1962. THE NUMBER CF REGISTERED READERS HAS INCREASED FROM 10 000 IN 1962 TO OVER 1.1 MILLION IN 1084. THE CIRCULATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS HAS ALSO INCREASED THIRTY-FOLD DURING THE LAST 23 YEARS.
+THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION BORROWERS REGISTERED IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES OPERATED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF BOOKS BORROWED FROM THESE LIBRARIES PER DAY IS ABOUT 24 □□□ WHILE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF BOOKS READ IN THESE LIBRARIES PER DAY IS ABOUT 46 000,+ MR MAK SAID.
+HOWEVER, IT IS THE KOWLOON CENTRAL LIBRARY THAT GAINS THE HIGHEST RATE OF READERSHIP. EVERYDAY THERE ARE AROUND 13 003 PEOPLE USING THE LIBRARY AND ABOUT 3 100 BOOKS AND OTHER LIBRARY MATERIALS ARE BORROWED. THE HIGHEST DAILY ISSUE RECORDED IS 5 530,+ SAID.
+T0 PROMOTE HEALTHY READING HABITS AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION, A READING PROGRAMME IS CURRENTLY HELD IN ALL THE LIBRARIES,* MR MAK SAID.
+LIBRARY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BOOKS AND ART EXHIBITIONS, STORY HOURS, LIBRARY VISITS, COMPETITIONS ON CREATIVE WRITING, SUBJECT TALKS, INTEREST CLUBS, FILM SHOWS AND HI-FI CONCERTS ARE ORGANISED REGULARLY IN THE LIBRARIES TO FURTHER THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST IN THE LIBRARY SERVICES.
+THE PROGRAMMES ARE USUALLY SUPPLEMENTED BY READING MATERIAL TO ENABLE THE PARTICIPANTS TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE LIBRARY STOCK,* HE SAID.
-------C----------
/10........
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935
10
STAFF OFFICER CALLS IT A DAY AFTER 34 YEARS X X X X X
WHAT DOES ONE MISS MOST ON THE LAST DAY OF A COLOURFUL 34-YEAR CAREER WITH THE GOVERNMENT DEALING MOSTLY IN FOOD INSPECTION, MARKET MANAGEMENT AND HAWKER CONTROL?
MR PONG KIN-HONG, WHO RETIRED AS STAFF OFFICER (ABATTOIRS, HAWKERS AND MARKETS) FROM THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 4 HAD THIS TO SAY : +WHAT STOOD OUT REALLY AS I LOOKED BACK WAS THE PRIMITIVE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES UNDER WHICH WE HEALTH INSPECTORS HAD TO WORK IN SOME 15-30 YEARS AGO.
+IN THOSE DAYS, THE HEALTH INSPECTORS LITERALLY HAD TO GO DOWN ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES TO INSPECT THE CARCASSES STREWN ALL OVER THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE GROUNDS WHICH WERE COMPLETELY EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THE CONDITIONS IN THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES WERE FAR FROM HYGIENIC AND SLAUGHTERING WAS NORMALLY DONE ON THE FLOOR. YOU REALLY HAD TO BE IN TIPTOP SHAPE TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION -OFTEN UNDER THE BROILING SUN AND INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
♦REFRIGERATION, THE ASSEMBLY-LINE SET UP OF CARCASS INSPECTION AND THE ALMOST CLINICAL AND ORDERLY WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT ARE NOW PART OF THE STANDARD FOR PRESENT DAY ABATTOIRS WERE NOT EVEN DREAMED 0F,+ MR PONG SAID.
SO WHY THE SPECIAL FONDNESS FOR THE TOUGH OLD DAYS?
♦ IT WAS THE CAMARADERIE THAT WE SHARED IN TACKLING A DIFFICULT BUT MOST ESSENTIAL JOB UNDER VERY TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES. I PERSONALLY DERIVED MY GREATEST SATISFACTION FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS PROTECTED AS A RESULT OF MY THOROUGH INSPECTION. ONLY MEAT THAT ARE FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION WILL THEN BE RELEASED TO THE CONSUMER,+ SAID MR PONG, WHO TOOK A ONE-YEAR COURSE IN 1963-64 AT THE NATIONAL COLLEGE OF MEAT TECHNOLOGY ON A GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT A GENERALLY REPUGNANT WORKING ENVIRONMENT WAS NOT ALL MR PONG AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAD TO CONTEND WITH IN THE EARLY YEARS OF HIS CAREER AS AN URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEALTH INSPECTOR.
♦ WE ALSO HAD TO BE ALERT AGAINST TRIAD ELEMENTS WHO INFILTRATED THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES. A COLLEAGUE OF MINE, WHO TRIED TO STOP A TRIAD FROM REMOVING UNINSPECTED MEAT FROM THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WAS SLASHED WITH A BUTCHER KNIFE. THE ATTACK SEVERED A TENDON IN ONE OF HI 3 HANDS WITH THE RESULT THAT HE CAN NO LONGER GRASP WITH THE INJURED HAND,+ MR PONG SAID.
/MR PONG .......
SUNDAY, APRIL 1A, 1985
11
MR PONG HIMSELF ENTERED GOVERNMENT PRISONS DEPARTMENT AS A PRISONS OFFICER HE NAS STILL AN 18-YEAR-OLD YOUTH.
SERVICE VI A THE FORMER CLASS II IN 1951 WHEN
+ON HINDSIGHT,+ MR PONG REMINISCED, +1 MUST SAY THAT THE DI SCI P' INE INSTILLED IN ME AS A PRISONS OFFICER ALSO SERVED ME RATHER WELL IN MY CAREER AS A HEALTH INSPECTOR.+
♦ BUT I DIDN'T FANCY SERVING A LIFE TERM IN THE PRISON,+ SAI D MR PONG.
HIS KEEN INTELLECT AND CAPACITY FOR HARD WORK SOON FOUND HIM WEARING THE BADGE OF A PROBATIONARY HEALTH INSPECTOR IN 1957 AFTER +THE TOUGHEST EXAMINATION IN MY LIFE.+
♦ THE SYLLABUS COVERED SUCH A WIDE SCOPE OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND CANDIDATES FOR THE HEALTH INSPECTOR GRADE EXAMINATION WERE VERY MUCH ON THEIR OWN IN THEIR PREPARATION FOR IT. THEY LEARNT WHAT THEY CAN DURING THEIR ONE-YEAR COURSE BY ATTENDING SCATTERED LECTURES GIVEN BY OUTSIDE INSTRUCTORS. THERE WAS NO USD TRAINING SCHOOL THEN AND THE PASSING RATE WAS LESS THAN 50 PER CENT,+ MR PONG SAID.
HIS TRAINING AND DEDICATION TO DUTY SOON HAD HIM MOVING STEADILY UP THE RANKS AND HE BECAME, AT VARIOUS TIMES, THE SENIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, THE SENIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR FOR FOODS, THE DEPUTY MANAGER FOR THE CHEUNG SHA WAN ABATTOIR THE CHIEF HEALTH INSPECTOR FOR CLEANSING, AND URBAN SERVICES’OFFICER AND FINALLY STAFF OFFICER IN CHARGE OF ABATTOIRS, HAWKERS AND MARKETS.
IN HIS LAST POST, HOLDING THE RANK OF SUPERINTENDENT, MR PONG WAS INVOLVED MAINLY IN THE PLANNING OF MARKETS AND OTHER URBAN SERVICES PROUECTS, ASIDE FROM ADVISING THE DIRECTORATE OF WHAT HAS NOW BECOME THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
REFLECTING ON HIS LAST UOB, MR PONG SAID : THOUGH NO FAULT OF THE DEPARTMENT AND LIKE MANY OTHER UOBS, I FIND MY WORK RATHER FRUSTRATING AT TIMES BECAUSE OF THE MANY CONSTRAINTS. FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE OPTIMUM SERVICE POINT OF VIEW, I WOULD RECOMMEND A MARKET COMPLEX TO BE DESIGNED IN A PARTICULAR MANNER. BUT DUE TO LAND AND FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS, IT’S SELDOM THAT I SEE THE GREATER PART OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS CARRIED OUT.+
THE MODEST MR PONG DECLINED TO OFFER ANY ADVICE FOR HIS SUCCESSOR BUT VOLUNTEERED THESE OBSERVATIONS : +T0 BE ABLE TO FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY, YOU MUST HAVE MUTUAL TRUST WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES, INCLUDING YOUR SUBORDINATES. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT THE PROMOTION PROSPECT IN THE HEALTH INSPECTOR RANK COMPARED SOMEWHAT UNFAVOURABLY WITH OFFICERS OF SIMILAR RANK IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A HEALTH INSPECTOR TO REMAIN IN THE SAME RANK FOR 10-15 YEARS. I HOPE THIS SITUATION CAN BE RECTIFIED SOON TO BOOST MORALE AND ATTRACT MORE WELL QUALIFIED NEW RECRUITS INTO THE RANKS.+
------0-------
/12 .....
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1985
12
REQUIREMENTS ON TEXTILE CONSIGNMENT CHECKS
******
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT wI TH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (MONDAY), APPLICANTS FOR TEXTILE EXPORT LICENCES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS ON TEXTILE CONSIGNMENT CHECKS TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY OF MATERIAL PARTICULARS DECLARED ON EXPORT LICENCES.
IN THE EVENT THAT CONSIGNMENT CHECKS MAY BE CONDUCTED BY OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IN RELATION TO THE GOODS STIPULATED ON THE LICENCES OR THE APPLICATIONS FOR LICENCES, THE DECLARED EXPORTERS OR MANUFACTURERS MUST MAKE THE GOODS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.
THEY SHOULD ALSO PRODUCE THE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL AND SHIPPING DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THE GOODS HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE PROPERLY EXPORTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE TEXTILES EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM AS STIPULATED IN THE QUOTA ALLOCATION LETTERS AND THE NOTICES TO EXPORTERS ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
IF THE GOODS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT A FIRST CONSIGNMENT CHECK, THE COMPANY MUST, WHEN REQUIRED, PROVIDE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOODS TO BE INSPECTED BEFORE SHIPMENT. IF NECESSARY, THE COMPANY SHOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOODS TO BE CHECKED AT THE POINT OF EXIT.
TO FACILITATE CUSTOMS CONSIGNMENT CHECKING AT THE POINT OF EXIT, THE COMPANY SHOULD PROVIDE SHIPPING INFORMATION WHICH WILL SUFFICIENTLY IDENTIFY THE LOCATION AND OR THE MOVEMENT OF THE GOODS.
SHOULD A COMPANY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE CONSIGNMENT CHECK REQUIREMENTS, THE DEPARTMENT MAY SUSPEND AND OR REVOKE THE RELEVANT LICENCE OR REFUSE TO ISSUE THE RELEVANT LICENCE. OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION MAY ALSO BE TAKEN AGAINST THE COMPANY.
-----o------
/15........
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935
13
AWARD SCHEME OFFERED TO MARK YOUTH YEAR
*****
A +BEST OPPORT INITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME* AWARD IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR 1985.
YOUTH GROUPS PLANNING ANY INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR GRANTS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S ♦OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME* (O.Y.S.).
THE MAXIMUM SUBSIDY FOR AN APPROVED PROJECT HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $4 000 TO $6 000.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECTS, EACH DISTRICT WILL SELECT ITS OUTSTANDING PROJECT TO COMPETE FOR THE HONG KONG BEST O.Y.S. AWARD IN DECEMBER.
APPLICATION FORMS AND EXPLANATORY LEAFLETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S SOCIAL WORK OFFICERS (YOUTH AND COMMUNITY).
APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS AND DETAILED PROJECT PROPOSALS SHOULD REACH THEM BEFORE MAY 15.
EACH PARTICIPATING GROUP SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN MEMBERS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 25 AND IS SPONSORED BY A SCHOOL, YOUTH AGENCY OR BUSINESS ORGANISATION.
GROUPS WITHOUT ANY SPONSORS MAY ALSO APPLY IF THEY ARE APPROVED BY THE SWD OFFICERS.
PROJECT PROPOSALS OF THIS ROUND WILL BE ASSESSED IN THE LIGHT OF THE THEMES OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR - +PARTICI PAT I ON, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE*.
THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA ARE: THE EXTENT OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, THE EXTENT OF COMMUNITY BENEFITS, FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT, AND OPTIMUM USE OF RESOURCES AND INNOVATION.
- - o------------
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1935
14
WORK STARTS ON HK’S LARGEST SQUASH CENTRE
XXX
CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS STARTED ON THE LARGEST AND MOST MODERN SQUASH CENTRE IN HONG KONG.
SITUATED ON A 2 310 SQUARE-METRE SITE AT COTTON TREE DRIVE, CENTRAL, THE HONG KONG SQUASH CENTRE WILL PROVIDE UP-TO-DATE FACILITIES FOR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS.
THE THREE-STOREY CENTRE, WHICH COSTS $10 MILLION, WILL HAVE A THREE-SIDED GLASS EXHIBITION COURT, WITH A SEATING CAPACITY FOR 400 SPECTATORS AND 17 SQUASH COURTS.
OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE TWO CHANGING ROOMS, TWO STOREROOMS, A LOUNGE BAR, A PRO-SHOP AND OFFICES FOR THE HONG KONG SQUASH RACKETS ASSOCIATION.
THE SITE WILL ALSO BE LANDSCAPED.
THE PROJECT DESIGNED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE COMPLETED IN JUNE 1986.
-------0---------
TENDERS CALLED FOR EXTENSION TO COLUMBARIUM XXX
THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR CONSTRUCTING AN EXTENSION TO THE COLUMBARIUM OF THE CAPE COLLINSON CREMATORIUM AT CHAI WAN.
THE EXTENSION WILL BE A SIX-STOREY STRUCTURE PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 13 211 NICHES. THESE WILL INCLUDE +FAMILY NICHES+ AT A RATIO OF ONE FAMILY NICHE TO FOUR STANDARD NICHES.
FACILITIES, SUCH AS INCENSE-BURNER, TOILET FACILITIES AND LANDSCAPED SITTING-OUT AREA WILL BE PROVIDED.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN JUNE THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 1986.
-------o----------
/15........
SUNDAY, APRIL 14, 1985
15
TUEN MUN MARKET STALLS FOR LEASE X X * *
SEVENTY-SIX VACANT STALLS IN SIX MARKETS AND COOKED FOOD MARKETS IN TUEN MUN WlLL BE PUT UP FOR LEASE BY PUBLIC AUCTION ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19).
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL IN TAI HING ESTATE, TUEN MUN, AT 10 AM.
THIRTY-EIGHT STALLS ARE LOCATED IN KWONG CHOI MARKET, 16 IN TSING YEUNG COOKED FOOD MARKET, NINE IN SAN HUI MARKET, SEVEN IN YAN 01 MARKET, FIVE IN HUNG CHEUNG COOKED FOOD MARKET AND THE REMAINING ONE IN KIN WING COOKED FOOD MARKET. THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL OF THE STALLS RANGES FROM S300 TO $4 688.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START BUSINESS ON MAY 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTENDING TO BID FOR THE STALLS ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS WHEN ATTENDING THE AUCTION.
ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON TELEPHONE 0-820800 EXT. 231.
-----0------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
* * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SHAM SHU I PO FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 17) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
WING LUNG STREET BETWEEN CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND FUK WING STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND TO ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
THERE WILL BE NO LEFT TURN FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND ONTO TONKIN STREET NORTHBOUND; AND NO RIGHT TURN FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND ONTO TONKIN STREET SOUTHBOUND.
MOTORISTS ON CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND HEADING FOR TONKIN STREET NORTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO TRAVEL VIA WING LUNG STREET AND FUK WING STREET.
-------o----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FINANCE SECTOR BACKS HOMES SCHEME ............................ 1
+MEXICO COMMUNIQUES RELEASED ................................. 1
NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES FOR DECEMBER 1984 ....................... 2
LEI CHENG UK REDEVELOPMENT ENTERS SECOND PHASE ............... 6
7 OOO TREES PLANTED UNDER NEW SCHEME ......................... 7
RECORD ENTRIES FOR URBAN COUNCIL FLOWER SHOW ................. 8
WAN CHAI BOARD MEETS TOMORROW .............................. 8
SAFETY CONTEST WINNERS GET CASH PRIZES ....................... 9
TENDER AWARDED FOR HAPPY VALLEY SITE ......................... 9
FIRE HAZARD CHECKS............................................ 10
TRAFFIC LIGHTS INSTALLED HERE ................................ 10
WATER STORAGE FIGURES ........................................ 10
WAN CHAI WATER WORK .......................................... 11
TRAFFIC CHANGE FOR MAINS WORK ................................. 11
MOND Y, APRIL 15, 1935
1
FINANCE SECTOR BACKS HOMES SCHEME * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECTOR HAS ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATED SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME (HOS) AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME (PSPS).
A RECENTLY COMPLETED EXERCISE INVITING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO COMMIT FUNDS FOR FINANCING MORTGAGES FOR HOS AND PSPS FLATS TO EE SOLD IN 1985 WAS MOST SUCCESSFUL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH SAID TODAY.
THE ESTIMATED MORTGAGE REQUIREMENT FOR THE 1985 FLATS IS hEARLY OOO MILLION, WHICH IS TWO-AND-A-HALF TIMES MORE THAN THE REQUIREMENT IN 1984. BUT THE COMMITMENT OF FUNDS BY PARTICIPATING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS GREATLY EXCEEDED THIS AMOUNT, HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, 54 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TOOK PART IN THE EXERCISE THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 47 IN 1984.
SUCH ENCOURAGING RESPONSE WAS ALSO AN INDICATION OF THE GENERAL INCREASE IN THE INTEREST AND CONFIDENCE IN THE PROPERTY MARKET, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS OF HOS AND PSPS FLATS REQUIRING LOANS TO MEET THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THEIR FLATS CAN APPROACH ANY OF THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE JOINED THE MORTGAGE FINANCING ARRANGEMENT.
A LIST OF THE 54 PARTICIPATING FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR 1985 IS AVAILABLE FOR REFERENCE AT THE SALES OFFICE, HOME OWNERSHIP CENTRE, 01 MAN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 1ST FLOOR, 01 MAN ESTATE, KOWLOON.
- - 0 - -
+MEXICO COMMUNIQUE* RELEASED ******
A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (MONDAY) RELEASED COPIES OF THE +MEXICO COMMUNIQUE* ISSUED BY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AT THE END OF A MEETING ON TEXTILES PROBLEMS HELD IN MEXICO CITY.
A HONG KONG DELEGATION LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, TOOK PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL MEETING, WHICH WAi» ALSO ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF ARGENTINA, BANGLADESH, BRAZIL, CHINA, COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EGYPT, INDIA, INDONESIA, KOREA, MACAU, MALAYSIA, PAKISTAN, PERU, SRI LANKA, THAILAND, TORKEY, URUGUAY AND YUGOSLAVIA, AND HOSTED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT.
+THE MEETING WAS CRUCIAL AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN FORMULATING, BEHIND THE SCENES, A COMMON POSITION ON WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT EXPIRES IN MID-1986,+ COMMENTED MR MACLEOD.
/+AT THIS
MONukx, PHIL 15, 1985
2 -
♦AT THIS STAGE ONLY A PRELIMINARY POSITION IS NECESSARY, AND THE COMMUNIQUE IS NECESSARILY IN GENERAL TERMS. BUT THIS WILL NEED TO BE DEVELOPED IN GENEVA, AS DISCUSSIONS IN THE GATT WORKING PARTY ON TEXTILES AND CLOTHING ARE NOW REACHING A CRITICAL STAGE, AND THE NEGOTIATIONS FORMALLY BEGIN AT A GATT TEXTILES COMMITTEE MEETING TENTATIVELY SET FOR JULY 23.
+A MORE DETAILED LINE WILL THEN BE DRAWN UP AT THE NEXT COORDINATION MEETING TO BE HELD IN SEOUL, KOREA IN SEPTEMBER 1985,+ MR MACLEOD SAID.
-------0---------
NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES FOR DECEMBER 1984 * * *
THE OVERALL NOMINAL WAGE INDEX FOR DECEMBER 1984, AT 121.1, INCREASED BY 8.2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE DECEMBER 1983 INDEX AND BY 0.6 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SEPTEMBER 1984 INDEX, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A COMPARISON OF THE DECEMBER 1984 AND DECEMBER 1983 INDEXES SHOWS THAT THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 8.2 PER CENT, FOR THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL, IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 6.7 PER CENT, FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 10.7 PER CENT, FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 9.5 PER CENT AND FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 5.7 PER CENT.
A COMPARISON OF THE DECEMBER 1984 AND SEPTEMBER 1984 INDEXES SHOWS THAT THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 0.4 PER CENT, FOR THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL, IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 1.3 PER CENT AND FOR BOTH THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR AND THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 0.6 PER CENT WHILE THAT FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR SHOWED NO CHANGE.
THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1983 TO DECEMBER 1984 FOR SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 1. DETAILED BREAKDOWNS FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 2.
THE OVERALL REAL WAGE INDEX, AT 97.9 IN DECEMBER 1984, WAS 3.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1983 AND 0.7 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN SEPTEMBER 1984.
BETWEEN DECEMBER 1983 AND DECEMBER 1984, THE REAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 3.5 PER CENT, FOR THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL, IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 1.9 PER CENT, FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 5.7 PER CENT, FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 4.6 PER CENT AND FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 1.1 PER CENT.
/COMPARING DECJMBER
MONDAY, aPRIL 15, 1985
- 3 -
COMPARING DECEMBER 1984 WITH SEPTEMBER 1984, THE REAL WAGE INDEX FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 0.6 PER CENT, FOR THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL, IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR BY 1.4 PER CENT, FOR THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR BY 0.2 PER CENT, FOR THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR BY 0.7 PER CENT AND FOR THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR BY 0.9 PER CENT.
THE REAL WAGE INDEXES FOR THE PERIOD DECEMBER 1983 TO DECEMBER 1984 FOR SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 3.
THESE NOMINAL AND REAL WAGE INDEXES ARE DERIVED FROM THE SURVEY OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CONDUCTED EACH QUARTER BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT COVERING BOTH MANUAL AND NON-MANUAL WORKERS (EXCLUDING WORKERS AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL LEVELS) IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL, IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR, THE TRANSPORT SERVICES SECTOR, THE BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR AND THE PERSONAL SERVICES SECTOR.
SUCH INDEXES MEASURE CHANGES IN WAGE RATES BY HOLDING THE STRUCTURAL PATTERN OF THE LABOUR FORCE WITH RESPECT TO INDUSTRY, OCCUPATION, SEX AND MODE OF PAYMENT THE SAME AS THAT OF MARCH 1982, WHICH IS THE BASE PERIOD OF THE WAGE INDEXES.
WHILE THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX MEASURES CHANGES IN WAGE RATES IN MONEY TERMS, THE REAL WAGE INDEX, WHICH IS OBTAINED BY DEFLATING THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A), MEASURE CHANGES IN THE PURCHASING POWER OF WAGES (ALTHOUGH THE SAME DEFLATOR IS USED FOR EACH INDUSTRY TO DERIVE THE REAL WAGE INDEX FROM ITS NOMINAL COUNTERPART, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOVEMENTS OF THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX AND THE REAL WAGE INDEX BETWEEN ANY TWO TIME PERIODS MAY VARY SLIGHTLY FROM INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY DUE TO ROUNDING).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND ATTENTION TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED WHICH INTERVALS.
STATISTICS DEPARTMENT DREW
THE WAGE INDEXES AND THE INDEXES ARE ALSO PUBLISHED AT QUARTERLY
HE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE WAGE RATES PROVIDE A MEASURE OF THE UNIT PRICE OF LABOUR, PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED IS A MEASURE CF PER CAPITA EARNINGS.
WAGE RATES REPRESENT THE AMOUNT OF REMUNERATION FOR NORMAL HOURS OF WORK, AND ARE DEFINED TO INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AND SALARIED, COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCE, MEAL BENEFITS, COMMISSION AND TIPS, GOOD ATTENDANCE BONUS AND NIGHT SHIFT ALLOWANCE.
IN ADDITION, YEAR-END BONUS AND OTHER GUARANTEED AND REGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES THAT ARE PAID LESS FREQUENTLY THAN MONTHLY, ARE CONVERTED TO AN EQUIVALENT MONTHLY RATE WHEN COMPILING THE WAGE RATE INDEXES.
/total payroll.........
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
4
TOTAL PAYROLL, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS THE AMOUNT OF DIRECT CASH PAYMENTS THAT EMPLOYEES RECEIVE FROM EMPLOYERS. APART FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED CASH RECEIPTS, IT ALSO INCLUDES OVERTIME PAY AND OTHER NON-GUARANTEED AND IRREGULAR BONUSES AND ALLOWANCES.
HENCE, STATISTICS ON PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED TEND TO BE SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN THE NUMBER OF HOURS ACTUALLY WORKED, THE TIMING OF THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES AND BACK-PAY, AND THE COMPOSITION OF THE LABOUR FORCE.
AS A RESULT, MOVEMENTS IN WAGE RATES DO NOT NECESSARILY CONFORM WITH THOSE IN PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED.
THE SURVEY FINDINGS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE REPORT OF WAGES, SALARIES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS STATISTICS VOLUME I, DECEMBER 1984 WHICH WILL BE ON SALE SHORTLY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.
THE VOLUME II ISSUE OF THE REPORT CONTAINING DETAILED OCCUPATIONAL STATISTICS, SUCH AS WAGE RATES, NUMBER OF NORMAL HOURS OF WORK AND NUMBER OF STANDARD WORKING DAYS IS EXPECTED TO EE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN EARLY MAY 1985.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE WAGE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE WAGES AND LABOUR COSTS STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NOS. 5-455774 OR 5-416062.
TABLE 1 1 NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES BY SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS
INDEXES (MARCH 1982 - 100)
SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS
DEC 1983 MAR 1984 JUN 1984 SEPT 1984 DEC 1984
MANUFACTURING 111.6 116.7 118.9 120.3 120.8
WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 109.7 113.6 113.8 115.6 117.1
TRANSPORT SERVICES 119.8 125.3 129.7 132.6 132.6
BUSINESS SERVICES 110.6 116.5 120.3 120.4 121.1
PERSONAL SERVICES 110.5 113.4 116.1 116.1 116.8
ALL SECTORS ABOVE 111.9 116.8 118.8 120.4 121.1
/table 2 .........
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
- 5 -
TABLE 2 : NOMINAL WAGE INDEXES FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR
INDEXES (MARCH 1982 - 1OO)
INDUSTRY DEC 1983 MAR 1984 JUN 1984 SEPT 1984 DEC 1984
GARMENTS 139.5 113.0 114.7 115.4 116.5
GLOVES 109.6 117.6 124.7 130.2 131.1
HANDBAGS 107.4 112.9 114.6 115.6 116.3
COTTON SPINNING-WEAVING 111.3 118.9 120.0 120.3 120.5
KNITTING 114.5 120.1 123.4 123.7 124.0
BLEACHING AND DYEING 111.7 117.1 119.8 121.2 121.8
PRINTING 112.3 115.7 122.0 123.4 123.5
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 111.9 118.5 121.3 123.3 122.9
bETAL PRODUCTS 113.4 118.9 120.1 121.1 123.3
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES 115.2 126.1 127.8 129.4 128.2
ELECTRONICS 113.2 119.9 120.9 123.9 124.1
WATCHES AND CLOCKS 113.2 121.2 123.5 124.6 124.6
MANUFACTURING 111.6 116.7 118.9 120.3 120.8
/TABLE 3 : .......
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
- 6 -
TABLE 3 : REAL WAGE INDEXES BY SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS
INDEXES (MARCH 1982 - 1QO)
SELECTED MAJOR ECONOMIC SECTORS
DEC 1983 MAR 1984 JUN 1984 SEPT 1984 DEC 1984
MANUFACTURING 94.4 96.6 96.8 97.1 97.7
WHOLESALE/RETAIL, IMPORT/EXPORT TRADE AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 92.8 94.0 92.6 93.3 94.6
TRANSPORT SERVICES 101.4 103.8 105.6 107.0 107.2
BUSINESS SERVICES 93.6 96.5 98.0 97.2 97.9
PERSONAL SERVICES 93.5 93.9 94.5 93.7 94.5
ALL SECTORS ABOVE 94.7 96.7 96.7 97.2 97.9
-----0------
LEI CHENG UK REDEVELOPMENT ENTERS SECOND PHASE X * * X * X
ONE OF HONG KONG’S EARLIEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, LEI CHENG UK ESTATE, IS ENTERING ITS SECOND PHASE OF REDEVELOPMENT AIMED AT RELIEVING OVERCROWDING AND UPGRADING LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE TENANTS.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS NOW INVITING TENDERS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF FIVE MORE MARK I RESETTLEMENT BLOCKS IN THE ESTATE TO MAKE WAY FOR HIGH-RISE BLOCKS PROVIDING MODERN, SELF-CONTAINED FLATS.
+DEMOLITION WORK WILL BEGIN IN JULY AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE,* SAID A HOUSING SPOKESMAN TODAY.
HE SAID THAT ON THE SITE WOULD RISE FOUR 23/25-STOREY LINEAR BLOCKS HOUSING 9 000 PEOPLE BY 1988.
/♦THREE BLOCKS .......
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
+THREE BLOCKS AND A SHOPPING CENTRE WERE ALREADY COMPLETED UNDER THE FIRST PHASE OF REDEVELOPMENT FOR THE ESTATE LAST DECEMBER ON THE SITE OF FOUR OLD BLOCKS.
+THESE NEW BLOCKS WITH 2 254 FLATS ARE AT PRESENT TAKING IN TENANTS FROM THE ESTATE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE SECOND PHASE OF REDEVELOPMENT.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAD EMBARKED ON AN ACCELERATED PROGRAMME UNDER WHICH ALL MARK l/lI ESTATES WOULD BE REDEVELOPED BY THE EARLY 1990’S.
+AS A RESULT, THE REMAINING 10 OLD BLOCKS AT LEI CHENG UK ESTATE ARE PLANNED TO BE DEMOLISHED WITHIN A SHORTER TIME SPAN OF FOUR YEARS.
+WHEN THE ESTATE IS FULLY REDEVELOPED, ITS POPULATION WILL BE THINNED OUT FROM 32 000 PEOPLE TO 23 000 PEOPLE.+
- 0 -
7 000 TREES PLANTED UNDER NEW SCHEME * * * *
NEARLY 7 000 TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED UNDER THE 1985 COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, TO MAKE HONG KONG A NICER AND GREENER PLACE.
YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) ALONE, WHICH WAS THE LAST OF SIX TREEPLANTING DAYS SET FOR THE SCHEME, OVER 2 000 TREES WERE PLANTED BY ORGANISED GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS AT PAK TAM CHUNG, THE BRIDE’S POOL, QUARRY BAY, POK FU LAM, NAM SHAN AND THE TWISK, THE SIX COUNTRY PARKS DESIGNATED FOR THE ACTIVITY.
MR K.C. IU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) SAID THE RESULTS WERE +MOST ENCOURAGING CONSIDERING THE UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS*.
HE SAID: +DESPITE THE DULL AND WET WEATHER WHICH COVERED ALMOST THE ENTIRE TREE PLANTING PERIOD, PARTICIPANTS HAD INCREASED BY ABOUT 1 000 TO NEARLY 6 500 COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR’S FIGURES.
+THE NUMBER OF TREES PLANTED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC UNDER THE SCHEME TOTALLED 6 896.+
AMONG THOSE TAKING PART THIS YEAR WERE STUDENTS, SCOUTS, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS AS WELL AS SOME 750 PARTICIPANTS OF THE +CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME*.
- - 0 - -
Me: AY, . KL 15, 1985
- 8 -
RECORD ENTRIES FOR URBAN COUNCIL FLOWER SHOW * * * * * *
THE URBAN COUNCIL FLOWER SHOW 1985 WHICH IS DUE TO OPEN ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19) PROMISES TO BE THE YEAR’S MOST INTERESTING AND EDUCATIONAL EVENT FOR PLANT LOVERS, AS WELL AS A BIG ATTRACTION FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE.
THE 18TH TO BE HELD, THE SHOW HAS ATTRACTED A RECORD NUMBER OF 1 423 COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS FROM 501 INDIVIDUALS. IT WILL BE HELD AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN AND THE EXHIBITION HALL OF THE CITY HALL UNTIL SUNDAY (APRIL 21).
THERE WILL BE 13 COMPETITIVE SECTIONS PROVIDING PLANT LOVERS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILLS IN THE ART OF CULTIVATION.
THEY INCLUDE CUT FLOWERS, SCENTED CUT FLOWERS, ORCHIDS, AFRICAN VIOLETS, POT PLANTS, BONSAI TYPE PLANTS, FLORAL ARRANGEMENT, FLORAL ART BY CHILDREN, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT GARDENS COMPETITION AND SCHOOL GARDENS COMPETITION.
TO AROUSE INTEREST AMONG PARTICIPANTS, THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT SECTION WILL BE SPLIT INTO WESTERN AND ORIENTAL STYLES.
FURTHERMORE, A +MINIATURE BONSAI+ CLASS IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BONSAI TYPE PLANTS SECTION.
APART FROM THE COMPETITIVE SECTIONS, THERE WILL BE 24 COMMERCIAL STALLS SELLING A WIDE RANGE OF FLOWERS, PLANTS AND HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
-------0----------
WAN CHAI BOARD MEETS TOMORROW X X * * *
THE NEW WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE HOLDING ITS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
PRIOR TO DEALING WITH THE AGENDA, MEMBERS WILL ELECT A BOARD CHAIRMAN.
THEY WILL THEN DEAL WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD STANDING ORDERS, FORM VARIOUS COMMITTEES, SET OUT THE SCHEDULE FOR MEETINGS, AND CONSIDER THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES OF THE PREVIOUS TERM.
-------0----------
/9 ........
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
9
SAFETY CONTEST WINNERS GET CASH PRIZES
* * * *
A TOTAL OF $29 000 IN CASH PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO WINNERS CF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
THE COMPETITION, CO-ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE SING TAO NEWSPAPER LIMITED, WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION.
THE TOP PRIZE WINNER, MR CHING YUEN-FAI WILL RECEIVE A CASH COUPON OF $10 000. THE RUNNERS-UP, MR NG YUEN-WAI, WILL RECEIVE A $5 000 COUPON AND THE NEXT PRIZE WINNER, MISS FOK YIM-CHAU WILL GET A $3 000 COUPON.
IN ADDITION, CASH COUPONS OF $500 AND $200 WILL BE AWARDED TO 40 OTHER WINNERS.
THE PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR DARWIN CHEN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, AT A CEREMONY AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL MAIN CONCOURSE, AT 11 AM ON MAY 1. A FIVE-DAY EXHIBITION OF THE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE HELD AFTER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
MORE THAN 1 000 ENTRIES WERE SUBMITTED, AND THE WINNERS WERE CHOSEN LAST WEEK.
-------o---------
TENDER AWARDED FOR HAPPY VALLEY SITE ****
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY AWARDED A TENDER FOR A 2 516-SQUARE-NETRE SITE NEAR SING WOO ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, TO HAYNES ESTATES LIMITED, A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF CHEUNG KONG (HOLDINGS) LIMITED.
THE GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT (HONG KONG), MR T.J. MILLS SAID THE SITE, SITUATED BEHIND THE TWO PETROL FILLING STATIONS ON SING WOO ROAD, IS FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES WITH GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION BEING PROVIDED ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND A PUBLIC CAR PARK ABOVE FOR NOT LESS THAN 200 VEHICLES.
HE SAID CONSIDERABLE INTEREST WAS SHOWN BY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AND THE COMPANY’S BID FOR THE SITE WAS THE HIGHEST OF 11 TENDERS RECEIVED.
THE PURCHASER HAD TO PAY $1 MILLION ON ACCEPTANCE OF THE TENDER AND THE BALANCE OF THE PREMIUM WITHIN ONE MONTH.
UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF SALE, THE BUYER WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE THE WHOLE OF THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
MR MILLS SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE GOOD RESPONSE RECEIVED FOR THE HAPPY VALLEY SITE, CONSIDERABLE INTEREST COULD BE EXPECTED FROM PROPERTY DEVELOPERS AT THURSDAY’S AUCTION FOR THE QUEENSWAY SITE.
------o-------
/10.......
MONDAY, APnIL 15, 1935
10
F IRE HAZARD CHECKS
* * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT W ILL CARRY OUT A FIRE HAZARD INSPECTION ON INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 17).
THE INSPECTION IS A JOINT OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG FIRE COMMAND AND THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE JOINT INSPECTION WHICH WILL START AT 9.45 AM. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE NORTH POINT FIRE STATION AT HEALTHY STREET EAST. AN INFORMATION
OFFICER WILL BE ON HAND TO
ASSIST.
TRAFFIC LIGHTS INSTALLED HERE * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 18), TRAFFIC AT THE JUNCTION OF CHEUNG WING ROAD AND KWOK SHU I ROAD WILL BE CONTROLLED BY TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS.
AT THE SAME TIME, TRAFFIC ON KWOK SHU I ROAD BETWEEN CHEUNG WING ROAD AND TAI YUEN STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND, AND TRAFFIC ON KWOK SHU I ROAD BETWEEN TAI YUEN STREET AND LEI MUK ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO WAYS.
----o------
WATER STORAGE FIGURES
* * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 60.1 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 352.267 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 408.393 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 69.7 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
-------o----------
/11 ........
MONDAY, APRIL 15, 1985
WAN CHAI WATER WORK * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN WAN CHAI WILL EE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 18) FOR LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY MONMOUTH PATH, QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, QUEENSWAY, HENNESSY ROAD AND ANTON STREET INCLUDING RODNEY BLOCK.
- 0 - -
TRAFFIC CHANGE FOR MAINS WORK * * *
TRAFFIC ON YUK WAH STREET BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH YUK WAH CRESCENT AND TSZ WAN SHAN ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO ONE-WAY WESTBOUND FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 16).
THIS IS TO ALLOW MAINS LAYING WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ALTERNATIVE OATH PROPOSED.................................... 1
FURTHER EASING OF RENT CONTROL PROPOSED ..................... 1
OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE.................. 4
EPCOM STUDIES DRAFT RULES FOR WATER QUALITY ................. 5
BALANCED REPRESENTATION ON DISTRICT BOARDS STRESSED.......... 6
HK, GUANGDONG CUSTOMS MATTERS REVIEWED....................... 8
WINDING-UP ORDER SOUGHT ..................................... 8
PROBE INTO COMPANY ORDERED................................... 9
HAZARDOUS NEON SIGNS TO GO .................................. 9
DISTRICT BOARDS ELECT CHAIRMEN .............................. 9
FISHERFOLK PRAISED FOR EFFORTS .............................. 10
PUBLIC SESSION RESUMES IN TSUEN WAN ......................... 10
PICNIC PRIZE FOR SCHEME WINNERS ............................. 11
WORK STARTS ON SCREENING PLANT .............................. 11
SPECIAL PUPILS' ART WORKS SHOWN ............................. 12
RESTRICTED ZONES ............................................ 12
STREET REDUCED TO TWO-LANE OPERATION ........................ 12
RESTRICTED ZONES IN THEN MUN
13
TUESDz , APRIL 16, 1985
1 -
ALTERNATIVE OATH PROPOSED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF A BILL TO AMEND THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 11) IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE OATH FOR NEW MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON TAKING UP THEIR SEATS.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSTITUTING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ANYONE WHO HAS LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS CAN BE A CANDIDATE FOR ELECTION TO THE COUNCIL WHETHER HE OR SHE IS A BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES CITIZEN (BDTC) OR NOT. NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION DOES NOT HAVE THAT STATUS.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE AS WIDE A FIELD OF CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION AS POSSIBLE, TWO OATHS WILL IN FUTURE BE AVAILABLE FOR USE, THE PRESENT ONE AND THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH MAY BE PREFERRED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT BDTC’S AND WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN AN OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE QUEEN.
- - - - 0 ----
FURTHER EASING OF RENT CONTROL PROPOSED
X * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO FURTHER RELAX RENT CONTROL - BUT THE MAJORITY OF DOMESTIC TENANTS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY SECURITY OF TENURE AND CONTROL AGAINST LARGE RENT INCREASES.
THESE MEASURES INCLUDE:
X THE EXTENSION BY TWO YEARS OF THE LIFE OF PART II OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE FROM DECEMBER 19, 1985 TO DECEMBER 18, 1987 J
* THE EXCLUSION, WITH EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 19, 1985, FROM PART II CONTROLS OF +LUXURY+ PREMISES WITH A RATEABLE VALUE OF OR ABOVE $30 000 (AS AT JUNE 10, 1983);
M THE RAISING, WITH EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 19, 1985, OF THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE COMPONENT IN THE RENT INCREASE MECHANISM IN PART II FROM 45 PER CENT TO 55 PER CENT OF PREVAILING MARKET RENT, TO BE REACHED BY ALL CONTROLLED RENTS; AND
# THE RAISING FROM 21 TO 27 TIMES THE STANDARD RENT FOR THE PERMITTED RENT OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES.
IN ANNOUNCING THE MEASURES TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THEY WERE DRAWN UP FOLLOWING ANOTHER REVIEW OF THE WORKING OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE, AN ASSESSMENT OF MARKET CONDITIONS IN 1984 AND HAVING REGARD TO THE INTERESTS OF BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.
/THEY WERE
VKIL 16, 1985
2
THEY WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S PREVIOUSLY STATED INTENTION THAT AS SOON AS CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, EVERY EFFORT CONSISTENT WITH THE NEED TO AVOID ADVERSE SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES SHOULD BE MADE TO ACCELERATE THE PHASING OUT OF RENT CONTROL, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO STRESSED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PROTECTED IEmANTS WOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE PROTECTION OF SECURITY OF TEM'FE AND THE CONTROL OF RENT INCREASES.
THE PROPOSED MEASURES ARE CONTAINED IN THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 TO BE GAZETTED ON APRIL 26. THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 15 WHILE THE RESUMED SECOND READING WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL JUNE 12, GIVING AMPLE TIME FOR PUBLIC VIEWS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. THE DATE FOR THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER.
EXTENSION OF PART I I
PART II OF THE ORDINANCE IS DUE TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 18, 1935.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE EXTENSION OF THE LIFE OF -AFT II BY TWO YEARS WILL CONTINUE THE DUAL PROTECTION OF RENT CONTROL AND SECURITY OF TENURE TO ABOUT 107 000 TENANCIES OF ■HCLY-LET DOMESTIC UNITS AFFECTING ABOUT 220 000 HOUSEHOLDS OR SOME 850 000 PERSONS.
DESPITE A SERIES OF ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RENT INCREASE SYSTEM H THE OBJECTIVE OF NARROWING THE GAP BETWEEN CONTROLLED RENTS AkD PREVAILING MARKET RENTS AND A CURRENT STABLE MARKET, THE )ISPARITY BETWEEN CONTROLLED AND PREVAILING MARKET RENTS CONTINUES, HE NOTED.
FURTHER EXCLUSION OF LUXURY PREMISES
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT EXCLUSION OF LUXURY PREMISES FROM RENT CONTROL UNDER PART II WAS DONE IN PHASES BEGINNING IN DECEMBER, 1981 TO EXCLUSE PREMISES WHICH HAD A RATEABLE VALUE OF Cr ABOVE $80 000. THIS EXCLUSION POINT WAS FURTHER LOWERED TO .Y- ' 000 IN 1982 AND $50 000 IN 1983. LAST YEAR IT WAS LOWERED TO 335 000.
TO CONTINUE THIS PROCESS, IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT FROM DECEMBER 19 THIS YEAR, PREMISES WI TH A RATEABLE VALUE OF OR ABOVE 330 000 AS AT JUNE 10, 1983 ( I.E. THE OLD RATEABLE VALUE BEFORE THE 1984 REVALUATION) SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM PART I I OF THE ORDINANCE. HOWEVER, TENANCIES AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSAL -ILL BE PROTECTED UNDER PART IV WHICH AFFORDS SECURITY OF TENURE AT THE PREVAILING MARKET RENT.
/iS PRESENT, .......
TUI «u, ;dlL 16, 1985
AT PRESENT. SOME 107 000 WHOLLY-LET DOMESTIC UNITS ARt - ' ----- * OF THESE, NEARLY 1 400 WILL BE
' THEM ARE CORPORATE
SUBJECT TO PART I I CONTROLS.
AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSAL AND TWO-THIRDS OF
TENANCIES.
+THEIR RENTS ARE ALREADY CLOSE TO THE PREVAILING MARKET RENT (PMR),+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +AND RENT CONTROL IS OF LITTLE SI GN IFICANCE TO THEM.+
RAISING OF MINIMUM PERCENTAGE COMPONENT
THE BILL PROPOSES TO RAISE, WITH EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 19 THIS YEAR, THE MINIMUM PERCENTAGE COMPONENT IN THE RENT INCREASE MECHANISM IN PART II FROM 45 PER CENT TO 55 PER CENT CF PMR, TO BE REACHED BY ALL CONTROLLED RENTS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AS PART OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDED STRATEGY OF PROGRESSIVE DECONTROL IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, THE PROPOSAL IS THAT THE COMPONENT BE INCREASED IN ORDER TO BRING EXCEPTIONALLY LOW RENTS UP TO THE GENERAL LFVELS OF CONTROLLED RENTS SO THAT RENT CONTROL CAN BE PHASED OUT WITHIN A REASONABLE SPAN OF TIME.
THIS INCREASE WOULD AFFECT THOSE TENANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PAYING VERY LOW CONTROLLED RENTS (BELOW 43 PER CENT OF PMR) AND HAVE IN FACT BEEN PROTECTED FOR A LONG TIME. EVEN THEN, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PAY SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN NEW TENANTS FOR COMPARABLE PREMISES.
INCREASE IN PERMITTED RENT OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES
ANOTHER PROVISION IN THE BILL IS THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE PERMITTED RENTS OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES.
THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT RENTS OF PRE-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES ARE CONTROLLED BY REFERENCE TO THOSE PAYABLE AS AT DECEMBER 25, 1941 TERMED THE +STANDARD RENT+. WHEN MULTIPLIED BY A FACTOR THIS GIVES THE PERMITTED RENT, PROVIDED IT DOES NOT EXCEED THE PREVAILING MARKET RENT. THE BILL SEEKS TO RAISE THE FACTOR FROM LAST YEAR’S FIGURE OF 21 TO 27.
EXCLUDING RURAL VILLAGE HOUSES, THERE ARE SOME 2 500 PRE-WAR DOMESTIC UNITS EFFECTIVELY UNDER CONTROL AS AT JANUARY 1, 1985. RAISING THE FACTOR FROM 21 TO 27 WOULD RESULT IN AN AVERAGE INCREASE OF ABOUT 29 PER CENT, OR $234 PER MONTH, ON CURRENT PERMITTED RENTS, BRINGING SUCH RENTS TO ABOUT 55 PER CENT OF PMR.
IF APPROVED, THIS PROPOSAL WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM JULY 1, 1985.
/OTHER iJAfMBMSi'PS..........
7',. . /Ai « Ito, 1985
4 -
OTHER AMENDMENTS
IN ADDITION TO SOME MINOR TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS, THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES OTHER AMENDMENTS INCLUDING SEVERAL PROVISIONS FOR FEES TO BE PAYABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION FOR PROCESSING CERTAIN APPLICATIONS’ FURTHERMORE, THAT THE FEES BE PAYABLE WHEN MAKING APPLICATION AND THAT THEY WILL NOT BE REFUNDABLE EXCEPT IN SPECIAL AND JUSTIFIABLE CASES.
THE BILL ALSO MAKES PROVISIONS TO CLARIFY THE JURISDICTIONAL POwERS OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, THE DISTRICT COURT AND THE HIGH COURT IN CERTAIN LANDLORD AND TENANT MATTERS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THESE PROPOSALS CAN SEEK HELP FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 ---------
OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE * * * *
'.INE OFFICIALS WILL BE SPEAKING WHEN DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BIIL 1985 RESUMES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), AND FOUR OTHER BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE TOMORROW WILL BE THE SECRETARIES FOR:
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON- HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS- HOUSING, THE HON DAVID FORD- TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO- ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS- SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON- AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, AS WELL AS THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE.
THE FOUR NEW BILLS TO BE INTRODUCED ARE:
X THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985
* THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985
* THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) BILL 1985
* THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985
/THE BILLS ......
T Jjj.
vl., io, 1935
- 5 -
THE BILLS WILL BE READ A SECOND TIME ON THURSDAY (APRIL 18), PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT. ALSO ON THURSDAY. DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, PRIOR TO THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND FINAL READING.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THREE STATEMENTS - ONE BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, ON THE REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1985-86= ONE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 1984, AND ONE BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON S.L. CHEN, ON THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ANNUAL REPORT 1983-84.
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EPCOM STUDIES DRAFT RULES FOR WATER QUALITY
* * * *
THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM), TODAY EXAMINED A SET OF DRAFT REGULATIONS WHICH ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF WATER QUALITY PROTECTION MEASURES UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE PASSED IN 1980.
THE ORDINANCE ITSELF IS AN ENABLING ORDINANCE AND IT PROVIDES THAT REGULATIONS (FOR DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION) MAY BE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AFTER CONSULTATION WITH EPCOM.
THE MAIN LEGISLATION EMBODIES THREE PRINCIPLES IN ITS APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF WATER POLLUTION:
* IN THE SHORT TERM, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CONTAIN THE PRESENT SITUATION AND TO EXEMPT EXISTING POLLUTING EMISSIONS FROM CONTROLS WITHOUT REQUIRING ABATEMENT, EXCEPT WHERE ADVERSE EFFECTS TO THE HEALTH OF THE PUBLIC OR TO THE DRAINAGE OR SEWERAGE SYSTEM ARE INVOLVED?
* IN THE MEDIUM TERM, IT IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER DETERIORATION BY INTRODUCING CONTROLS ON NEW EMISSIONS, HAVING REGARD TO THE STATE OF THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT AND ITS CAPACITY TO ABSORB OR DISPERSE THE NEW EMISSIONS; AND
* IN THE LONGER TERM, IT IS DESIRABLE TO SEEK IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF THE WATERS OF HONG KONG THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS OF INDUSTRIAL RENEWAL AND REDEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSED CONTROLS HAVE BEEN DRAWN UP ON THE BASIS THAT FLEXIBILITY - BOTH IN APPLICATION AND IN IMPLEMENTATION - IS ESSENTIAL IN HONG KONG’S CIRCUMSTANCES: LEGISLATION PRODUCED SHOULD NOT MERELY COPY CONTROLS IN FORCE ELSEWHERE.
/although the .......
TUi
6 -
'.L 16, 1985
ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSALS ARE FOR TERRITORY-WIDE APPLICATION, THEY WILL ONLY HAVE EFFECT IN DECLARED WATER CONTROL ZONES. FOR THE MOMENT ONLY ONE ZONE HAS BEEN DECLARED - IN TOLO HARBOUR AND CHANNEL -AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SAID THAT THE EXPERIENCE GAINED IN IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTROLS IN TOLO WOULD BE DRAWN UPON WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE ORDINANCE IN OTHER WATER CONTROL ZONES.
ALL EXISTING DISCHARGES OR DEPOSITS IN A WATER CONTROL ZONE WOU'D HAVE TO BE DECLARED TO THE AUTHORITY BEFORE A DAY TO BE APPOINTED THESE EXISTING DISCHARGES WOULD THEN BE EXEMPT FROM THE LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD APPLY TO NEW DISCHARGES.
CONTROLS ON THE STANDARD AND QUALITY OF DISCHARGES WOULD HAVE REGARD TO THE PUBLISHED WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES FOR ANY GIVEN ZONE. THUS, DIFFERENT DISCHARGES COULD ATTRACT DIFFERENT CONTROLS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE OVERALL POLLUTION LOAD IN THE ZONE.
EXISTING DISCHARGES WOULD CONTINUE TO BENEFIT FROM EXEMPTION SO LONG AS THEY DID NOT CHANGE EITHER IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY BY MORE THAN THIRTY PER CENT OVER THEIR ORIGINALLY DECLARED LEVEL AND DO NOT REPRESENT A HEALTH HAZARD.
AT THEIR MEETING, EPCOM ALSO CONSIDERED AND ADVISED ON VARIOUS PRACTICAL MEASURES PROPOSED FOR REDUCING LEVELS OF NOISE NUISANCE IN SCHOOLS. THESE MEASURES FORM PART OF A WIDER REPORT TO BE CONSIDERED LATER THIS MONTH BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.
- 0 --------
BALANCED REPRESENTATION ON DISTRICT BOARDS STRESSED
*****
THE SYSTEM OF APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS AIMS AT ENSURING THAT DB MEMBERS CAN FULLY REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL STRATA SO AS TO ACHIEVE A BALANCED REPRESENTATION IN THE BOARDS.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, ALBERT LAM, SAID THIS TODAY AT A JOINT LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST AND LIONS CLUB OF THE PEAK.
IN PACT, MR LAM STRESSED, BOTH APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS SHARED THE SAME DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
+THEIR PERFORMANCES ARE SUBJECT TO THE CONCERN, APPRECIATION CR CRITICISMS OF THE VOTERS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC,* HE SAID.
/+ES ORDER........
•) .
TV A .urdlL 16, 1985
- 7 - s.
♦IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE DURPOSE OF STRIKING A PROPER BALANCE, THE APPOINTEES’ AGE, OCCUPATION, SEX, CONSTITUENCY, PAST EXPERIENCES AND PERFORMANCE IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO CERTAIN DISTRICTS HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE.
♦SUCH AN APPOINTMENT SYSTEM ENSURES THE STABILITY AND CONTINUITY OF THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS SO THAT THEY CAN INHERIT THE PAST AND USHER IN THE FUTURE AND MAKE A BIG STRIDE FORWARD IN A STABLE MANNER,+ HE SAID.
MR LAM SAID THAT THE PAST THREE YEARS SAW MOST OF THE DB MEMBERS DARING TO SPEAK OUT AND TO PUT FORTH NEW IDEAS.
ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NEW DBS IS TO FORM AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE TO ELECT 10 MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THIS LINK BETWEEN THE BOARDS AND THE COUNCIL WILL, ON ONE HAND, ENHANCE THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE GRASSROOTS IN LEGCO AND, ON THE OTHER, SET UP A POLITICAL SYSTEM IN WHICH THE ' AUTHORITY IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG, FULLY AUTHORITATIVE » AND DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.
MR LAM ALSO SPOKE ON THE BACKGROUND OF DB ELECTIONS, VOTER TURNOUT RATE, AN ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTED DB MEMBERS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW BOARDS.
♦GENERALLY SPEAKING, THERE HAVE BEEN MARKED IMPROVEMENTS , CF THE NEW DB MEMBERS, ELECTED AND APPOINTED ALIKE, IN BOTH , QUALITY AND QUANTITY,+ HE SAID.
♦AT THE SAME TIME, THE BOARDS ARE PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.+
MR LAM NOTED THAT LAST MONTH’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS HAD ATTRACTED 501 PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO STAND AS CANDIDATES, AND THE VOTER TURNOUT OF MORE THAN 476 000 WAS SATISFACTORY.
SIX EXPATRIATES STOOD FOR THE ELECTIONS, AND THEIR PARTICIPATION REFLECTED THEIR SENSE OF BELONGING TO HONG KONG AND THEIR DESIRE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, MR LAM SAID.
♦IT CAN THUS BE SEEN THAT ON THE PREMISE OF IMPROVING THE COMMUNITY, THE DISTRICT BOARD SYSTEM HAS BROKEN THE DEMARCATION LINE OF CLASSES AND RACES, AND HAS ATTRACTED THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE PART IN POLITICS,+ HE ADDED.
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/8........
HK, GUANGDONG CUSTOMS MATTERS REVIEWED * * * *
EXISTING LIAISON ARRANGEMENTS ON CUSTOMS MATTERS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG WERE REVIEWED AT A MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY) BETWEEN HONG KONG CUSTOMS OFFICIALS AND A SEVEN-MEMBER DELEGATION OF SENIOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS FROM GUANGDONG.
HEADED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE GUANGDONG BRANCH OF THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF CUSTOMS, MR QIAN HAI LIN, THE GUANGDONG DELEGATES HAD ARRIVED IN HONG KONG YESTERDAY FOR A FOUR-DAY VISIT.
TODAY’S MEETING WAS ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR HARNAM GREWAL; THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER. MR JAMES PRISKj THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS, MR WALTER NEIL, MR P.L. WONG AND MR K.S. TONG, AND OTHER SENIOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY’S MEETING WAS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF REVIEW MEETINGS HELD ANNUALLY SINCE 1993.
♦ THE BASIC AIM IS TO REVIEW EXISTING LIAISON ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT THE EXCHANGE OF INTELLIGENCE, CROSS-BORDER CUSTOMS CONTROLS -AND ANTI-SMUGGLI NG MEASURES MAY BE FURTHER IMPROVED,+ HE SAID.
DURING THEIR STAY IN HONG KONG, THE GUANGDONG DELEGATES WILL -FURTHER FAMILIARISE THEMSELVES WITH THE WORK OF THE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, AND WILL ALSO BE VISITING THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
- 0 -
WINDING-UP ORDER SOUGHT X X X X
THE COMMISSIONER OF DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANIES ANNOUNCED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY APPLIED TO THE HIGH COURT FOR A WINDING-UP ORDER AGAINST DOMINICAN FINANCE LIMITED, A DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANY REGISTERED IN 1979 AND OF WHICH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ARE MESSRS YIP CHUN-LING, SIMON= CHOI ON-ON, WILLI AM = AND CHAN KWOK-KEUNG, EDDIE.
THIS ACTION FOLLOWED THE RECEIPT OF THE REPORT OF MR D.L. PAWSON OF PEAT, MARWICK, MITCHELL AND CO., APPOINTED AS AN INSPECTOR INTO THE AFFAIRS OF DOMINICAN FINANCE LIMITED UNDER SECTION 38 OF THE DEPOSIT TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE ON APRIL 4, 1935.
this appointment was made following complaints to the COMMISSIONER ABOUT THE NON-PAYMENT BY THE COMPANY OF MATURED DEPOSITS. FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED ON JANUARY 29, 1935.
THE HIGH COURT WILL HEAR THE PETITION ON MAY 20, 1985. IN THE MEANTIME THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR. ENQUIRIES ARE PROCEEDING INTO VARIOUS RELATED MATTERS.
JESDAY, APRIL , 1985
PROBE INTO COMPANY ORDERED * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HE HAS APPOINTED INSPECTORS UNDER THE TERMS OF SECTION 143(1)(C) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF PLESSEY INVESTMENT LTD. AND REPORT TO HIM THEREON.
THE INSPECTORS APPOINTED ARE MR WILLIAM WAUNG, BARR 1STER-AT-LAW AND MR PAUL FREDERICK MARTEN SHEWELL, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT OF PESSRS. COOPERS AND LYBRAND, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, BOTH OF WHOM ARE ALSO UNDER APPOINTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF PERAK PIONEER LIMITED.
- - 0 - -
HAZARDOUS NEON SIGNS TO GO * * *
SIXTEEN NEON SIGNBOARDS VIOLATING FIRE SERVICES REGULATIONS INSIDE A BUILDING IN YAU MA TEI WILL BE TORN DOWN TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE LUEN TAK BUILDING AT 40-44 JORDAN ROAD, ONE OF EIGHT BUILDINGS SELECTED BY THE ACTION GROUP ON MULTI-STOREY BUILDING PROBLEM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT.
THE ACTION GROUP COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING LANDS, HOUSING, URBAN SERVICES, FIRE ■SERVICES, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, POLICE AND LABOUR.
THE EXERCISE, TO BE CARRIED OUT BY A PRIVATE CONTRACTOR, IS THE JOINT EFFORT OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE BUILDING'S OWNERS CORPORATION.
- - 0 - -
DISTRICT BOARDS ELECT CHAIRMEN
******
MR NG CHAN LAM WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY).
AT THE SAME MEETING, MR WAI HON LEUNG WAS ELECTED THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
MEANWHILE, MRS PEGGY LAM WAS ELECTED AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WAN CHA I DISTRICT BOARD.
TUESDAt , APRIL 16, 1935
10
FISHERFOLK PRAISED FOR EFFORTS X X i
THE nONG KONG FISHING INDUSTRY HAD GREATLY INCREASED ITS EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LAST TwO DECADES, DR J.M. RIDDELL' SWAN, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, SAID THIS EVENING.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 11TH TERM OFFICE-BEARERS OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON FLOATING FISHERMEN’S WELFARE PROMOTION ASSOCIATION.
+THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS DUE, IN NO SMALL MEASURE, TO THE HARD WORK AND EXPERTISE OF THE LOCAL FISHERMEN, HELPED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE IMPROVED FISHING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH EFFICIENT ADVISORY SERVICES AND DEVELOPMENT LOANS AT LOW RATES OF INTEREST,* HE SAID.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN PRAISED THE GOOD WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF THE FISHERFOLK AND IN SERVING AS A LINK BETWEEN THE FISHING INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND MAR I Nt DEPARTMENTS.
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PUBLIC SESSION RESUMES IN TSUEN WAN
*****
THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD HAS THE PUBLIC SCHEME* FROM FRIDAY, APRIL
DECIDED TO RESUME ITS +MEET 19.
THE SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED THREE YEARS AGO AS A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UNDER THE SCHEME, THERE WILL BE ONE SESSION A WEEK, TO BE HELD EVERY FRIDAY AT 2.33 PM IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM OF THc DISTRICT BOARD ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO MEET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD CONTACT THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT AT TELEPHONE 0-445509 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN URGED RESIDENTS HAVING COMPLAINTS OR SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF DISTRICT MATTERS TO RAISE THEM AT THE MEETINGS. LAST YEAR, THE BOARD DEALT WITH 316 CASES.
ij-.jb. , AP-IL lb, 1985
PICNIC PRIZE FOR SCHEME WINNERS X X A il
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY WINNERS OF THE +1984-35 CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME* .vILL SE ENTITLED TO A FREE PICNIC AT CHEUNG SHEUNG IN SAI KUNG ON APRIL 23.
THE WINNERS WERE DRAWN FROM AMONG 732 PERSONS WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED STAGE I AND I I OF THE SCHEME, AT A LUCKY DRAW HELD AT THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES PROMOTIONS SUB-DIVISION TODAY.
STAGE I OF THE SCHEME INVOLVED LITTER-PICKING IN 12 DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS BETWEEN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, WHILE STAGE 11, WHICH ENDED LAST SUNDAY, INVOLVED PLANTING A TREE IN ANOTHER SIX DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS.
THE WINNERS WILL BE INFORMED OF THE DETAILS BY POST.
SPEAKING AT THE LUCKY DRAW, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME WORKING GROUP, MR HOWARD YOUNG, SAID THAT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE WET WEATHER DURING THE PAST FEW WEEKS, HE WAS QUITE PLEASED WITH THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO TOOK PARTICIPATE IN THE scheme.
+FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT CHOSEN IN THE LUCKY DRAW, WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND HOPE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PART IN THE SCHEME IN FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
- - 0
WORK STARTS ON SCREENING PLANT * X X X
WORK HAS STARTED ON THE SHAM SHU I PO SCREENING PLANT, TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY IN THE NORTH-WESTERN SECTION OF VI CTORI A HARBOUR.
A $13.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE JOB WAS RECENTLY AWARDED BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE SCREENING PLANT, LOCATED IN YEN CHOW STREET, IS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE NORTH WEST KOWLOON SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL PROJECT.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 19 MONTHS.
/12
APRIL 16, 1935
1C
SPECIAL PUPiLj' .'ORKS SHOWN n >4 #
more than I ooo items of art, BY SPECIAL SCHOOL PUPILS .. i lL BE Oil SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRE,
CRAFT AND NEEDLEWORK PRODUCES DISPLAY AT THE PERTH STREET
KOWLOON FROM SATURDAY (APRIl 20).
FIFTY SPECIAL SCHOOLS ARE TAKING PART IN THE SEVEN-DAY EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 4.30 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND 9 AM TO 11.30 AM ON SATURDAYS.
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RESTRICTED ZONES
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19), THE SECTION OF UN CHAU STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH PRAT AS STREET TO ABOUT 25 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS.
FROM THE SAME DAY AND TIME, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING SHUN ON ROAD NEAR SAU MAU PING.
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STREET REDUCED TO TwO-LANE OPERATION
XXX
FROM THURSDAY (APRIL 18), TRAFFIC ON THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY CF WUHU STREET BETWEEN WALKER ROAD AND DOCK STREET WILL BE REDUCE^ FROM THREE LANES TO TWO LANES FOR ABOUT FOUR NIGHTS FROM 8 PM TO 5.30 AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
THIS IS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
DURING THIS PERIOD, MOTORISTS GOING TO MA TAU WAI ROAD NORTHBOUND VIA wUHU STREET ARE ADVISED TO USE STATION LANE.
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FUcSDAY, mPRIL 16, x.' •>
RESTRICTED ZONES IN TUEN MUN * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIl 19), T^E FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF MING 01 STREET IN TUEN MUN WILL BE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED ZONES BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 AM AND 10 AM AND 4 PM AND 7 PM DAILY:
* THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE SECTION BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE W'U I ROAD AND ABOUT 20 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE SECTION BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD AND ABOUT 40 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE, MOTORISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
FROM THE SAME DAY, TUEN LEE STREET IN TUEN MUN WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING;
SIR JOHN CAUTIOUS AGAINST UNDUE OPTIMISM................... 1
PROSPECT OF BALANCED BUDGET MUCH CLOSER — FS .............. 2
BUDGETARY FORECASTS COULD BE MISLEADING ................... 4
PUBLIC SPENDING IS 16 PER CENT OF GDP ..................... 5
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM EXPLAINED..................... 6
MORE MERIT IN INDIRECT TAX SPREAD ......................... 7
NEED FOR CONCESSION CUT OBVIOUS........................... 10
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN UNOFFICIALS AND CIVIL SERVICE IMPORTANT ............................................... 11
OVERSEAS OFFICES ARE GOVT' S EYES AND EARS ............... 20
INDUSTRIAL ZONE IDEA SEEN AS 'KNEE-JERK REACTION' ........ 24
GOVT KEEPING EYE ON RETAILERS' SERVICE.................... 26
REPORT ON HOUSING SUBSIDY READY SOON ..................... 28
SPENDING ON EDUCATION BEING EXAMINED ..................... 31
NEED SEEN FOR CONTROL POINT PLANNING...................... 33
HOUSING PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY STUDIED ...................... 34
GOVERNOR GOING TO LONDON ................................... 38
EXCO APPROVES INCREASES IN TRANSPORT FEES .................. 38
1984 AIRBORNE MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS RELEASED ........ 41
FUNDS SOUGHT FOR AIDS TEST IN BLOOD ........................ 44
MEET THE MEDIA ............................................. 45
BOARD MEETS TO ELECT CHAIRMAN .............................. 46
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TOMORROW ..................... 46
MOVE TO ENFORCE ORDERS ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ............... 47
BOOST FOR YOUTH YEAR ACTIVITIES ............................ 48
RARE FLOWER PLANTS ON DISPLAY .............................. 48
WORKS TO IMPROVE ISLANDS LANDSCAPE.......................... 49
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHAU KEI WAN ............. 49
ROAD CLOSED TO FACILITATE PROCESSION ....................... 50
URBCO FLOWER SHOW SST TO BLOSSOM............................ 51
, i 17, 1985
1
SIR JOHN CAUTIOUS AGAINST UNDUE OPTIMISM M X * X
THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE PRUDENT AND CAREFUL IN ALL ITS FINANCIAL, ECONOMIC AND BUDGETARY POLICIES AS HONG KONG WAS STILL VERY EXPOSED TO EXTERNAL FORCES OVER WHICH IT HAD NO CONTROL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
WINDING UP THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, SIR JOHN CAUTIONED AGAINST UNDUE OPTIMISM OR COMFORTING BELIEF THAT ALL HIS PROJECTIONS WERE OVER CONSERVATIVE.
+1 BELIEVE IT IS NOW EVIDENT TO MOST PEOPLE WHAT ARE THE GOVERNMENT’S AIMS, HOW WE HAVE SET OUT TO ACHIEVE THEM AND WHAT IS OUR RATE OF SUCCESS,* HE SAID.
REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED DURING THE DEBATE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AGREED THAT FRESH INDIRECT TAXATION OF INDULGENCES MIGHT PROVE INCREASINGLY CONTENTIOUS AND DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT.
+THE LOGICAL END OF THIS PARTICULAR ROAD IS A GENERAL SALES TAX OR VAT, BOTH OF WHICH I SHOULD PREFER TO AVOID. IT MUST BE ADMITTED, HOWEVER, THAT OTHER FLOURISHING ECONOMIES EMBRACE THEM WITHOUT OBVIOUS DAMAGE TO THEIR STRUCTURES, SO I SUPPOSE THAT WE SHOULD AT LEAST REMAIN OPEN-MINDED.
♦AGAIN I EMPHASISE MY HOPE THAT MORE REAL INCREASES CAN BE AVOIDED. BUT THE KEY FACTOR IS THE 179 PER CENT OF GDP REPRESENTED BY CUR TRADE. WE ARE VULNERABLE ALWAYS TO EXTERNAL SHOCKS,+ HE SAID.
ON VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS FOR POSSIBLE NEW TAX MEASURES, SIR JOHN SAID HE D D NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF A FLAT IMPORT TAX.
♦OUR FREE PORT STATUS HAS SERVED US WELL AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT LIGHTLY CAST IT ASIDE. IF NEEDS MUST, HOWEVER, THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS.+
ON SUGGESTIONS TO CHARGE FOR CHINA PASSENGER TRANSIT FACILITIES, SIR JOHN SAID HIS CONCERN WAS SENSITIVE TIMING OF IMPLEMENTATION.
HE ADDED THAT HE HAD CAREFULLY CONSIDERED A TAX ON ADVERTISING BUT HAD REJECTED THE IDEA FOR THIS YEAR FOR THREE MAIN REASONS.
♦FIRSTLY, IT WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY INFLICT FINANCIAL DAMAGE ON PRESS AND TELEVISION AND COULD THEN BE TAKEN AS A DELIBERATE AND UNTIMELY ATTACK ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
♦SECONDLY, WHILE I DO NOT DUCK A FIGHT, THE SHRILL CRIES FROM THE COSMETICS AND SOFT DRINKS LOBBIES WOULD SEEM BUT A FAINT PIPING ,N THE DISTANCE COMPARED WITH THE TRUMPETING WHICH THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY WOULD PRODUCE.
♦THIRDLY, IT WAS NOT NECESSARY OR RATHER SEEMED TO HAVE LESS MERIT THAN MY OTHER PROPOSALS,* HE SAID.
/THE FINANCIAL .......
WEDNESDAY, . IL 17, 1985
2
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE WAS AGAINST ANY APPRECIABLE CHARGES TO THE TAXATION OF BUSINESS FRINGE BENEFITS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER AND WOULD NOT BE VERY PRODUCTIVE OF REVENUE; THEY WOULD BE MOST UNPOPULAR, PARTICULARLY WITH THOSE CONSIDERING NEW INVESTMENT FROM OVERSEAS INVOLVING POSTINGS; THEY WOULD FALL HEAVIEST ON THE 28 OOO WHO ALONE PAID TAX AT THE TOP RATc CF 17 PER CENT? AND THEY WOULD THUS BE A FORM OF INCREASED SALARIES TAX.
♦SHOULD THERE BE SIGNS OF ABUSE, HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE READY TO RECONSIDER ITS POSITION,* HE SAID.
ON PRIVATISATION OF SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE WAS NOT OPPOSED TO THE IDEA PER SE.
<MEMBERS WILL HAVE NOTED THE ADMINISTRATION’S APPROACH TO •’HE FINANCING OF THE TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, THE EASTERN HARBOUR JROSSING, AND THE HONG KONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT C0,+ HE SAID.
•■ANYTHING NEW THAT CAN PROPERLY BE DONE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SHOULD BE.
+IT MUST, HOWEVER, BE REMEMBERED THAT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE ATTRACTIONS THAT PRIVATISATION MAY SEEM TO OFFER IN SOME EX IS IT I.mG .AREAS AGAINST BOTH THE MORALE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE CONSIDERABLE COSTS OF AND MANAGEMENT TIME INVOLVED IN DISESTABLISHMENT.
+THE STABILISATION OF THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS liviRODUCED A MEW FACTOR. IT MUST REQUIRE REDEPLOYMENT, WHICH PRIVATISATION COULD FURTHER WITHOUT AFFECTING EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS.
■A DEGREE OF CONTRACTING OUT OF SERVICES, ESPECIALLY NEW SERVICES, PRESENTS LESS OBVIOUS DIFFICULTIES AND MUST INDEED ALWAYS BE CONSIDERED,* HE SAID.
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PROSPECT OF BALANCED BUDGET MUCH CLOSER — FS *****
THE PROSPECT OF A BALANCED BUDGET NEXT YEAR WAS MUCH CLOSER W.TH THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1984-85 SHOWING IMPROVED YIELDS FROM PROFITS TAX, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
CONCLUDING THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, SIR JOHN SAID THIS IMPROVEMENT GAVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER AN ADDITIONAL $500 MILLION TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND.
/+THIS WILL ........
-AY. .AIL 17, 1985
- 3 -
+THIS WILL LEAVE THE FUND WITH IMPROVED BALANCES AT THE END OF 1984-85 PROVIDING A FURTHER USEFUL CUSHION TO CARRY INTO 1985-86, AND ENABLING ME TO REDUCE TRANSFERS IN FUTURE YEARS.
+THE EFFECT IS TO REDUCE SLIGHTLY THE EXPECTED DEFICIT ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR 1984-85 (EXCLUDING THE BOND ISSUE) FROM $1 757 MILLION INDICATED IN MY BUDGET SPEECH TO SI 695 MILLION - SAY $1.7 BILLION,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
TURNING TO REVISED ECONOMIC PROSPECTS FOR 1985, SIR JOHN SAID THERE HAD BEEN NOTEWORTHY DEVELOPMENTS IN EXCHANGE RATES AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
+BECAUSE OF OUR LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM, IF THE RECENT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE U.S. DOLLAR WERE SUSTAINED IT SHOULD MEAN THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS WILL BE ABLE TO REGAIN SOME OF THE PRICE COMPETITIVENESS THEY HAVE LOST OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO,+ HE SA'D.
HE POINTED OUT THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WERE LOWER THAN WAS EXPLICIT IN HIS FORECAST.
+DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CHINA ON THE OTHER HAND HAVE BEEN CONSIDERABLY HIGHER,+ HE SAID.
+ INCREASING TRADING AND OTHER ECONOMIC LINKS WITH CHINA ARE THUS PROVIDING OUR ECONOMY WITH AN IMPORTANT NEW SOURCE OF GROWTH.+
+AS REGARDS DOMESTIC DEMAND, MY FORECAST FOR PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE MAY TURN OUT TO BE CONSERVATIVE IF CONSUMER CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO GROW.+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO INFLATION, SIR JOHN SAID THE PRESENT RATE OF AROUND FOUR PER CENT MADE HIS FORECAST OF 5.5 PER CENT ON AVERAGE FOR 1985 SEEM PESSIMISTIC.
+IT ALLOWS, HOWEVER, FOR SOME DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AGAINST OTHER MAJOR CURRENCIES DURING THE YEAR AND FOR A MILD INFLATIONARY IMPACT OF THE TAX CHANGES IN MY BUDGET.
+DESPITE THE UNFAVOURABLE CONSEQUENCES FOR INFLATION, SOME DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WOULD BE USEFUL IN RESTORING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR EXPORTS,+ HE SAID.
IN CONCLUSION, SIR JOHN SAID WHILE HE ACCEPTED ON BALANCE THAT THERE MIGHT NOW BE A HIGHER RISK OF THE ACTUAL GROWTH OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN 1985 NOT REACHING HIS FORECAST OF 11 PER CENT, IT WAS FAR TOO EARLY TO COMTEMPLATE REVISING EITHER THAT FORECAST OR THAT FOR THE GDP OF SEVEN PER CENT.
♦ THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR ANY REVISIONS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY WILL BE MY MID-YEAR REVIEW IN SEPTEMBER,+ HE SAID.
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/A .....
WEDNESDAY, APRIl 17,
1985
4
BUDGETARY FORECASTS COULD BE MISLEADING
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID HE WOULD NOT MAKE LONG TERM BUDGETARY FORECASTS BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT THESE FORECASTS +IN EXPOSED AND VOLATILE HONG KONG COULD BE SERIOUSLY MISLEADING*.
SIR JOHN WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE TODAY WHEN HE SAID IT WAS AS YET UNCLEAR WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER NEXT YEAR FURTHER REAL INCREASES IN TAXATION AS OPPOSED TC MAINTENANCE OF YIELD, OR WHETHER INCREASED REVENUE IN REAL TERMS WOULD FLOW SUFFICIENTLY FROM INCREASED PROSPERITY.
*IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO ASSUME MY PREFERENCE. AN END TO THE RESTRUCTURING PROCESS WOULD BE A MARVELLOUS TONIC. BUT WE HUS' WAIT AND SEE.
4-W'P LIVE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD WHICH SAVAGELY PENALISES ?'GMATISM. THIS IS ONE REASON WHY, UNLIKE MISS LYDIA DUNN AND MISS MARIA TAM, I BELIEVE THAT LONG TERM BUDGETARY FORECASTS IN EXPOSED AND VOLATILE HONG KONG COULD BE SERIOUSLY MISLEADING. WILL NOT MAKE THEM,* HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT +ALL TAXATION HAS BEEN UNPOPULAR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME* AND ECHOING MISS DUNN’S VIEW THAT +A DEGREE CF INEQUI'Y IS INEVITABLE*, SIR JOHN NOTED THAT IN HONG KONG IT WAS ACCEPTED THAT THE PROPER PURPOSE OF RAISING GOVERNMENT REVENUE WAS NORMALLY TO MEET ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.
+G.VEN THAT IN OUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES BUDGETS MUST t’RUDENTLY BE BALANCED OVER A CYCLE OF YEARS, THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE r HONG KONG MUST BE HEARD WITH REGARD TO ACCEPTABLE APPROACHES TO REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
+BUT NOTHING COMES FREE. HIM NOT ME IS NO CRITERION. IF WE ARP 70 AVOID HIGH DIRECT TAXATION, IT WILL ALWAYS BE ESSENTIAL TO HClD DOWN VIGOROUSLY THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE.
+DESPITE MISS DUNN’S CONCERN, IT HAS INDEED BEEN CONTAINED Significantly below gdp growth in recent years.
+BUT IN A PROSPERING HONG KONG PROPER GROWTH THERE MUST ALSO BF, PROVIDED ONLY THAT IT IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO GDP GROWTH; AND CLEARLY IT MUST BE PAID FOR SOMEHOW,* HE SAID.
+THE SOMEHOW INVOLVES APPROPRIATE TAXES. I HAVE DONE MY BEST, BUT I CANNOT SUIT EVERY VESTED INTEREST,* HE SAID.
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VvEDNESDAAi .IL 17, 1985
5
PUBLIC SPENDING IS 16 PER CENT OF GDP *****
HONG KONG’S PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP, AT 16 PER CENT, WOULD BE BY FAR THE LOWEST IN THE COMPARABLE WORLD, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY.
+THE NEXT LOWEST IS JAPAN AT 34.5 PER CENT,* SIR JOHN SAID IN CONCLUDING THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
+AS A BROAD BRUSH COMMENT, I DO NOT MYSELF BELIEVE THAT OURS CAN REASONABLY GO MUCH LOWER WHILE OUR ECONOMY AND THE CREATION GF WEALTH FLOURISH, THUS GIVING RISE TO GROWING AND ENTIRELY PROPER ASPIRATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISION OF BETTER CENTRAL SERVICES.
+PRIVATE AFFLUENCE AND PUBLIC SQUALOR SHOULD NOT CO-EXIST. TIME AND AN INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE,* SIR JOHN SAID.
THUS HE COULD NOT AGREE WITH SUGGESTIONS FOR BASING THE BUDGET ON REVENUE, SIR JOHN SAID.
EXCEPT IN EMERGENCY, SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL CUTS IN CURRENT LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE, FOR EXAMPLE ON HOUSING, SOCIAL WElFARE, EDUCATION OR HEALTH WOULD APPEAR UNFAIR AND INDEED UNNECESSARY, HE SAID.
+RESERVES OF TAXABILITY ARGUABLY DO EXIST. I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IT WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE TO HOLD OUR TAXES AT THEIR LOw CURRENT LEVEL. THIS IS A KEY TO GROWTH. BUT THERE HAS ALSO TO BE A SENSE OF BALANCE AND JUSTICE.
+WHILE OUR OBVIOUS AND GROWING PROSPERITY CONTINUES I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MANY WOULD SUPPORT CUTTING MAJOR GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES FURTHER RATHER THAN (IF NECESSARY) MODERATELY INCREASING THE TAX BURDENS OF THOSE WHO CAN BEAR THEM BEST OR WHO ARE REASONABLY GIVEN A CHOICE OF INDIRECT TAXATION.
+TO PROCEED OTHERWISE WOULD ARGUABLY NOT BE FAIR TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. NO ONE, HOWEVER, SHOULD CONCLUDE THAT I BELIEVE THAT NEW REAL TAXATION IS INEVITABLE. I DO NOT. IT DEPENDS ON FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES, THOUGH YIELDS MUST BE MAINTAINED IN REAL TERMS. NOR SHOULD wE DISCARD THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME REDUCTION IN TAXATION. IT MAY SEEM UNLIKELY NOW BUT IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE,* SIR JOHN SAID.
SIR JOHN AGREED WITH THE VIEW ON THE NEED TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
/+AS THE ..
.rJDNbbDAY, APRIL 17, 198?
- 6 -
+AS THE GOVERNMENT’S MOVES TO THIS END SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF THE LAND BOOM HAVE SO FAR BEEN SUCCESSFUL, I DID EXPECT ENCOURAGEMENT THIS YEAR. I GOT IT, BUT WITH MORE GROUSING,* HE SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEEMINGLY HAVE RESTRAINED PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE BY OF THE ORDER OF $8.5 BILLION THIS YEAR IN THE PAINFUL COURSE OF THE MAJOR RESTRUCTURE WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AND WHICH HE HOPED MIGHT WITH GOOD FORTUNE BE CONCLUDED NEXT YEAR IN THE SHAPE OF A BALANCED BUDGET.
+THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS FROM 19.1 PER CENT IN 1982-83 TO 18.6 IN 1983-84. IN 1034-85 IT WILL BE A REVISED 16.2 PER CENT AND I STICK TO MY ESTIMATE OF 16 PER CENT FOR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR,* HE SAID.
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GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM EXPLAINED * * * *
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S SYSTEM OF +CASH+ -- THAT IS TO SAY, +RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS* — ACCOUNTING WAS THE SAME AS THAT OF MOST, IF NOT ALL, OTHER GOVERNMENTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BRFMRIDGE POINTED OUT TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM OF VARIOUS ITEMS, WHICH HE SAID APPARENTLY STEMMED FROM A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
THE SYSTEM REQUIRED THAT ALL PAYMENTS BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE, WHICH HAD BEEN UNANIMOUSLY CONSENTED TO BY THIS COUNCIL AND BROUGHT INTO FORCE ON APRIL 1, 1983, HE SAID.
+IT IS A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTING DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO SERVE THE PURPOSE OF CONTROL BY THE LEGISLATURE. THE ACCRUALS SYSTEM USED IN THE ACCOUNTS OF A NORMAL COMMERCIAL OPERATION WOULD NOT l€ET THIS PURPOSE,* SIR JOHN SAID.
THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES CONSEQUENTLY SHOWED THE CASH ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF THE GOVERNMENT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TOTAL ASSETS AND TOTAL LIABILITIES WAS SHOWN AS THE GENERAL REVENUE BALANCE ACCOUNT, ON THAT STATEMENT. THAT BALANCE, WHICH WAS THE SUM OF ACCUMULATED CASH SURPLUSES LESS CASH DEFICITS, WAS AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION BY THE COUNCIL FOR EXPENDITURE ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
Arais EXPLAINS .........
WE:/...- DA
n. 1985
+THIS EXPLAINS THE TREATMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EQUITY INVESTMENT IN THE MTRC, WHICH IS NOT IN A FORM WHICH CAN BE EASILY CONVERTED IN'O CASH. EVEN IF IT WERE, IT SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED AS AN ASSET iN THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES BECAUSE IT IS INTENDED AS A PERMANENT INVESTMENT AND, THEREFORE, IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION BY THIS COUNCIL,* HE SAID.
+TO CONCLUDE BY WAY OF CONSOLIDATION ’CASH’ WHICH HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED BY THIS COUNCIL TO OTHER FUNDS BUT NOT YET EXPENDED, AND THE RETAINED EARNINGS OF THESE FUNDS, WOULD CLEARLY DEFLECT FROM THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES,* SIR JOHN SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID IT WAS ACCEPTED THAT THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND WAS TREATED SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY IN THIS RESPECT FROM OTHER FUNDS.
+THIS IS BECAUSE FOR FUND MANAGEMENT PURPOSES IT PROVED DESIRABLE FOR ALL TRANSACTIONS RELATING TO THIS FUND TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE MAIN TREASURY BANK ACCOUNT.
+ IT IS, HOWEVER, ACCOUNTED FOR AND IDENTIFIED QUITE SEPARATELY ON THE STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AND IS CLEARLY EXCLUDED FROM THE BALANCE AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION,* HE SAID.
SIR JOHN SAID A SEPARATE ACCOUNT WAS, HOWEVER, STILL KEPT FOR THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, AS WAS THE CASE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND, HOME OWNERSHIP FUND AND STUDENT LOAN FUND.
+THESE ARE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES AS IS THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES.
+THIS REPORT ALSO PROVIDES AMONG OTHER THINGS A STATEMENT OF OUTSTANDING LOANS MADE FROM REVENUE, A STATEMENT OF ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK LOANS TO THIS GOVERNMENT AND A STATEMENT OF PUBLIC DEBT - HE .AID.
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MORE MERIT IN INDIRECT TAX SPREAD * * * * *
A SPREAD OF TAXATION ON AN INDIRECT BASIS, APPLIED WHERE POSS IE' - TO INDULGENCES NOT NECESSITIES, HAS MORE MERIT THAN UNTOWARD CONCENTRATION ON FURTHER DIRECT TAXATION.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOH . EREMRIDGE wH^N REPLYING TO POINTS ON INDIRECT TAX PROPOSALS IN THE LEGISLATIVE CO.NCI L TODAY.
/■POINTING GUT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
8
POINTING OUT THAT THE EXPECTED YIELD IN 1985-86 FROM THE REINTRODUCED DUTIES ON COSMETICS AND SOFT DRINKS *AS $310 MILLION, SIR JOHN SAID IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SECURE THE SAME OVERALL BUDGETARY RESULTS BY INCREASES IN DIRECT TAX BUT THESE WOULD BE ♦QUITE UNINTELLIGENT* IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
+N0 ONE LIKES THESE NEW DUTIES. I DO NOT. THERE IS, HOWEVER, NC UNOBJECTIONABLE WAY OF RAISING REVENUE. AND IT MUST BE RAISED IF WE ARE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, SIR JOHN SAID HIS JUDGEMENT ABOUT THE MERITS IN 1985-86 OF A MODERATE INCREASE IN INDIRECT TAXATION SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN BROADLY ACCEPTED THOUGH IMPLEMENTATION WAS ANOTHER MATTER.
♦GIVEN FULL EMPLOYMENT AND RISING REAL WAGES MOST MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL MAY FIND IT AS HARD AS I TO DO MORE Than SYMPATHISE WITH THE SOFT DRINK AND COSMETIC LOBBIES, WHO LOUDLY CLAIM UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION.
+ALL TAXES AND DUTIES ARE DISCRIMINATORY. LIKE OTHER GOVERNMENTS WE ALREADY DISCRIMINATE SELECTIVELY AGAINST ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, PETROL AND DIESEL OIL, CARS, CINEMA GOERS, SHARE TRANSFERS, HORSE BETTING - AND INDEED THE ECONOMICALLY SUCCESSFUL,* SIR JOHN SAID.
HE SAID EXAGGERATION ♦SELECTIVITY ESSENTIAL*.
HE DID NOT GIVE CREDENCE TO HEADLINE WINNING BUT ADMITTED THAT +HARD CASES ARE BOUND TO ARISE*, WAS DIFFICULT* AND +ACCURATE DEFINITIONS WERE
+BUT AGAIN CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF ONE PARTICULAR POPULAR BEVERAGE THAT ON GROUNDS OF NUTRITIONAL VALUE SOYA BEAN DRINK SHOULD BE GIVEN PREFERENTIAL TAX TREATMENT OVER ITS COMPETITORS COULD LEAD TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ONE POPULAR BRAND OF STOUT WHICH ADVERTISES THAT IS GOOD FOR YOU, SHOULD ALSO BE TAX FREE.
+NOR IS A TAX OF 15 CENTS ON A CARTON DRAMATIC OR LIKELY TO DEPRESS DEMAND FOR LONG. MOREOVER THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPETITIVE SOYA BASED DRINKS, FOR WHICH SIMILAR CLAIMS COULD BE MADE,* HE NOTED.
SIR JOHN WENT ON TO POINT OUT THAT THE SOFT DRINK MANUFACTURERS, WHILE PROTESTING LOUDLY, HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECOMMENDING THE ADD I TON OF 50 PER CENT TO THE TAX, OR 10 CENTS A CAN, THEMSELVES.
+T0 THE EXTENT THAT THIS DELAYS A RETURN OF DEMAND THEY HAVE ONLY THEMSELVES TO BLAME. AVAILABILITY OF PARALLEL IMPORTS wILL KEEP PRICES REASONABLE.- HE SAID, ADDING THAT BOTTLES OF SOFT DRINKS WERE CHEAPER THAN ALUMINIUM CANS BY MORE THAN THE NEW TAX AND THE OPTION WAS THERE.
/HOVING ON .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
MOVING ON TO COSMETIC DUTIES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY REITERATED THAT THE YIELD FROM THE DUTIES WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE UNDERLYING BUDGETARY STRATEGY AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES OFFERED MORE DISADVANTAGES.
HE SAID HE SYMPATHISED ALSO WITH THOSE WHO USED COSMETICS AND NOT UNREASONABLY DISLIKED THE PROSPECT OF PAYING A LITTLE MORE.
+BUT A SOLUTION IS IN THEIR OWN HANDS. MORE ECONOMICAL PRODUCTS GIVING BETTER VALUE FOR MONEY MAY BE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR MARKET SHARE.
+IT WILL ALSO BE SURPRISING IF TOTAL DEMAND DROPS FOR LONG. IF SO NEITHER RETAILERS NOR MANUFACTURERS NOR AGENTS WILL MUCH SUFFER.
♦I DO DRAW THE LINE, HOWEVER, AT BEING ACCUSED OF PROMOTING SKIN CANCER BY TAXING SUNTAN OILS, THE RETAILERS OF WHICH ALREADY APPLY A MARK-UP OF THE ORDER OF BETWEEN 50 PER CENT AND 80 PER CENT,* HE SAID.
STRESSING THAT FOR STRATEGIC REASONS HE WAS UNABLE TO AGREE TO MAJOR ALTERATIONS WHICH WOULD SERIOUSLY AFFECT THE REVENUE AND THAT TIGHT DEFINITIONS HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT, SIR JOHN SAID HOWEVER THAT AMENDMENTS AS TO DETAIL COULD BE FULLY CONSIDERED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND WOULD INCLUDE A PROPOSAL TO REMOVE ESSENTIAL OILS FROM THE LIST OF DUTIABLE COSMETICS.
ON THE CHARGE THAT THE DUTY ON COSMETICS WAS LIKELY SERIOUSLY TO DETER TOURISTS, SIR JOHN SAID IT FRANKLY LACKED ALL CREDIBILITY.
+THEY CAN BUY ALL THEY WANT DUTY FREE ON DEPARTURE AT KAI TAK. AS MOST COME FROM COUNTRIES WHERE COSMETICS ARE ALREADY HEAVILY TAXED, THEY WILL NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE POSITION HERE.
+NOR INDEED DO I ACCEPT THAT A MAJOR GOAL OF TOURISTS - THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE MEN - IS TO STOCK UP IN HONG KONG WITH DUTY FREE EYE SHADOW, FACE CREAM OR LIPSTICKS.
+l ALSO CONFIRM TO DR HO, M.Y.L. CHEUNG AND MR K.C. CHAN THAT THE EXPORT OF COSMETICS FROM HONG KONG CAN BE CONDUCTED EX-BOND AND THEREFORE ON A DUTY FREE BASIS,* HE SAID.
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/1O........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
10
NEED FOR CONCESSION CUT OBVIOUS
* * * *
CUTTING BACK ON THE DUTY FREE CONCESSION ON ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES MADE NO FRIENDS, BUT THE NEED WAS OBVIOUS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY.
HE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MEASURES HE HAD HAD TO ACCEPT THE PRAGMATIC ADVICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WHO HAD CLOSELY CONSULTED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION.
+AS 65 □□□ PEOPLE HAVE ENTERED AT LO WU IN ONE DAY EVEN A 23 SECONDS INDIVIDUAL DELAY WHILE EXAMINING PASSPORTS WOULD BE INTOLERABLE.
+1 WOULD ASK MEMBERS AND PARTICULARLY MRS SELINA CHOW TO SEE HOW THE NEW MEASURES WORK. THEN WHEN WE HAVE GOT A LITTLE EXPERIENCE WE CAN SEE WHETHER SENSIBLE CHANGES CAN BE MADE,* PE SAID.
SIR JOHN EMPHASISED THAT HE WAS ENTIRELY OPEN MINDED PROVIDED THAT THE REVENUE DID NOT SUFFER AND THAT DELAYS DID NOT RESULT.
+1 DO NOT BELIEVE IN CONTROL FOR CONTROL’S SAKE, BUT AS SUGGESTED BY MRS CHOW, MR Y.L. CHEUNG AND MRS PAULINE NG WE SHALL ALSO CONSIDER DUTY-FREE CONCESSIONS ON COSMETICS,* HE SAID.
ON THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX, SIR JOHN SAID THE INCREASE WAS JUST TO PRESERVE THE YIELD IN REAL TERMS.
+1 NOTED WITH CYNICAL DETACHMENT THE REPORTED VIEWS OF THE HOTELS ASSOCIATION. DESPITE THEIR OBJECTIONS IN 1983 WE RAISED THE HOTEL TAX FROM FOUR PER CENT TO FIVE PER CENT - ALL OF wHICH GOES TO SUPPORT ON THEIR BEHALF NOT GOVERNMENT REVENUE BUT THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION - AND INTRODUCED THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX.
+SUBSEQUENTLY (IF NOT CONSEQUENTLY) TOURISM HAS BOOMED.
+HOTEL ROOM, FOOD AND BEVERAGE RATES HAVE THEREAFTER BEEN INCREASED CUMULATIVELY BY ABOUT 15 PER CENT TO 20 PER CENT PER 'TEAR. IN SOME TOP HOTELS THE INCREASES HAVE BEEN HIGHER. THE TREND CONTINUES. THIS HITS THE TOURIST FAR MORE THAN THE BURDEN OF INCREASED TAXES AND DUTIES.*
WHILE CHARGING WHAT THE MARKET WOULD BEAR MIGHT MAKE SHORT TERM ECONOMIC SENSE, IT WAS FOR MANAGEMENTS TO DECIDE, SIR JOHN NOTED HOWEVER THAT IF IN THE LONG TERM IT PRICED HONG KONG OUT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT BE BLAMED.
/IN REPLY .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
11
IN REPLY TO MRS CHOW AND DR HO KAM-FAI’S COMPLAINT ABOUT
S ?^°I2RISTS’ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WISHED
Tt£Ie*LtHAD MADE AN ESPECIAL CONCESSION TO uIL’o J^I.T?E increases on petrol and vehicle licence
2pElSAeTRLAlSclolCANTLY L0WER THAN THE RATE 0F INFLATION OVER Int LAoT TWO YEARS.
IN
T RE SA'D ™<s *AS DESP*TE HIS BELIEF IN GENERAL THAT YIELDS TAXATION MUST BE MAINTAINED ------- “
IN REAL TERMS.
IN CF
+TAXES IN THESE AREAS ARE 1983. WHAT COULD SEEM MORE ANOTHER DEFICIT BUDGET?* HE
LOWER IN REAL TERMS THAN THEY WERE REASONABLE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND ASKED.
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CO-OPERATION BETWEEN UNOFFICIALS AND CIVIL SERVICE IMPORTANT X X X X
THE NEED FOR A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE WOULD BECOME NO LESS IMPORTANT AS HONG KONG ENTERED THE ERA OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
+WE SHOULD NURTURE THAT RELATIONSHIP CAREFULLY, EVEN THOUGH THE ERA OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT MAY WELL LEAD TO A TENDENCY TO MORE ADVERSARIAL - BUT HOPEFULLY NOT FACTIONAL POLITICS - AND MAY WELL DIMINISH THE EASY INFORMALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CONDUCT OF MUCH OF OUR BUSINESS,* SIR PHILIP SAID AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE.
+BUT THE CO-OPERATIVE NATURE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP BASED ON TRUST SEASONED WITH CREATIVE TENSION FROM TIME TO TIME AND EXPRESSED IN OPEN DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL AND IN FRANK DISCUSSIONS IN MANY OTHER FORUMS, MUST BE PRESERVED AND PRESERVED WHATEVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL SETTING OF THAT RELATIONSHIP IN THE FUTURE,* SI R PHILIP SAID.
SIR PHILIP ALSO REPLIED TO A NUMBER OF POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CONCERNING THE CIVIL SERVICE.
/FOLLOWING IS .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
12
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF SIR PHILIP’S SPEECH IN THE BUDGET DEBATE:
SI R,
BEFORE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY DELIVERS THE CUSTOMARY WINDING-UP SPEECH FOR THIS DEBATE THERE ARE SEVERAL CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS WHICH FALL TO ME AS CHIEF SECRETARY TO DEAL WITH.
SI ZE OF THE Cl VI L SERVI CE
INEVITABLY THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WAS MENTIONED DURING THE DEBATE: FIVE MEMBERS, NAMELY, MR S.L. CHEN, MR PETER C. WONG, MR WONG LAM, MRS PAULINE NG AND MR WONG PO-YAN COMMENTED FAVOURABLY ON THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO STABILISE THE SIZE OF THE*. Cl VIL SERVICE IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE STATISTICS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IN PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES. THE STATISTICS OF THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT PRESENTED IN APPENDICES IX AND X OF VOLUME 2 OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT THESE EFFORTS HAVE MET WITH A GOOD MEASURE OF SUCCESS: THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT INCREASED FROM 151 809 POSTS IN 1980 TO 173 663 POSTS IN 1982 OR BY 14.4 PER CENT OVER THOSE TWO YEARS. THE GROWTH RATE WAS THEN HELD TO 1.85 PER CENT IN 1983 AND TO 2.74 PER CENT IN 1984. IT IS INTENDED TO HOLD IT DOWN AGAIN TO 1.33 PER CENT IN 1985. OF THE 2 419 ADDITIONAL POSTS TO BE CREATED IN 1985, 1 473 POSTS ARE FOR ESSENTIAL NEW SERVICES IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.
MR WONG LAM, WHILE WELCOMING THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN OVER THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND SUGGESTED THAT PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ACCORDED TO THE POLICE FORCE AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER, SMALLER DEPARTMENTS. I CAN ASSURE HIM THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. A THOROUGH EXAMINATION WAS CONDUCTED OF EACH DEPARTMENT’S REQUEST TO DETERMINE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF NEW POSTS NECESSARY FOR NEW SERVICES AND FACILITIES. IN THE CASE OF THE POLICE FORCE. THIS EXAMINATION WAS CARRIED OUT IN DETAIL, AND AT A HIGH LEVEL, AND I AM SATISFIED THAT THE FORCE HAS BEEN GIVEN NO MORE THAN IS NECESSARY TO MEET ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS AND THAT NO OTHER DEPARTMENT HAS SUFFERED AS A RESULT.
FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS WHICH FIND THEY NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL SERVICES INTACT (AND THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY HAS MENTIONED ONE), ATTENTION WILL NOW HAVE TO BE CONCENTRATED ON INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, SOMEHOW DEFINED, ON MORE IMAGINATIVE DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF WITHIN DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS AND ON BOLD, IF CONTROVERSIAL, REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF ACROSS DEPARTMENTAL BOUNDARIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE MUST BE SCOPE, OR AT ANY RATE ARGUABLY SO, FOR THE ELIMINATION OF TASKS WHICH THE PASSAGE OF TIME AND DEVELOPING TECHNOLOGY RENDER LESS ESSENTIAL OR EVEN OBSOLETE.
/BUT THE ..........
WE’flESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 15 -
BUT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS NOT A VAST INCHOATE MASS: IT IS A DYNAMIC ORGANISATION COMPRISING MORE THAN 60 DEPARTMENTS AND FREE STANDING AGENCIES, ENGAGED IN AN IMMENSE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND MANNED BY A VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTAL GRADES AND COMMON SERVICE CADRES. SO I PICK UP A POINT MADE BY MR P.K. YEUNG: IN OUR DESIRE TO CONTAIN THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, WORK PRESSURES-WH’CH ARE SOMETIMES, INEVITABLY, UNEVENLY SPREAD - WORK PRESSURES AND MORALE, PARTICULARLY AT MIDDLE AND LOWER LEVELS, MUST NOT BE CASUALLY OVERLOOKED.
MR P.K. YEUNG ALSO SPOKE OF THE VALUABLE WORK OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN DRAWING ATTENTION TO WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY WHEREVER IT OCCURS. MAY I ASSURE MR YEUNG, AND I DON’T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO ASSURE HIM, MAY I ASSURE MR YEUNG THAT THE DIRECTOR’S CRITICISMS DO NOT FALL ON DEAF EARS. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE IN ANY EVENT MAKES CERTAIN THAT THEY DO NOT. INDEED, AS SYSTEMS 1ND PROCEDURES ARE PROGRESSIVELY IMPROVED, THERE HAVE BEEN FEWER INSTANCES OF UNCOLLECTED REVENUE AND WASTED EXPENDITURE. WHILE THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY, IT IS SIGNIFICANT HOW RELATIVELY IRREGULARITIES THERE ARE HAVING REGARD TO THE VERY LARGE VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS ENTERED INTO EACH YEAR.
MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN MADE THE POINT THAT THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL ■FLVICE OVER THE LAST DECADE HAS OUTSTRIPPED POPULATION GROWTH. -3". Ul D HOPE SO. I CAN SEE NO LOGICAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE GROWTH RATES OF THESE TWO AGGREGATES, THE CIVIL SERVICE AID POPULATION. I CAN SEE NO LOGICAL CONNECTION
■T' FEN THE GROWTH RAftS OF THESE TWO AGGREGATES EXCEPT IN THE MOST GPUERAl POLICY SETTING. A BETTER CORRELATION WOULD BE WITH THE GDP: IN THE 10 YEARS ENDING 1984, THE GDP IN REAL OR CONSTANT PRICE .TERMS INCREASED BY 2-1/3RD TIMES WHEREAS THE APPROVED PS7ABI li'X^ENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE INCREASED BY (ONLY) JUST OVER A HALF. AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, BUT I SHALL SAY IT AGAIN, THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE (AND, BY EXTENSION, OF THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE) IS ESSENTIALLY A FUNCTION OF PUBLIC POLICY. PUBLIC POLICY IS DETERMINED BY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SUBJECT TO THE FINANCIAL AUTHORITY OF THIS COUNCIL, PUBLIC POLICY IS NOT DETERMINED BY THE CIV', L SERVICE ACTING ON ITS OWN AUTHORITY. IN DETERMINING PUBLIC P0! ICY A WHOLE COMPLEX OF CONSIDERATIONS HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. AS THE POPULATION GROWS, MORE SERVICES AND FACII I T| ES. AND THUS MORE CIVIL SERVANTS TO PROVIDE, THEM ARE REQUIRED AT THE SAME TIME, THE PRESSURES BUILD UP TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THESE POPULATION-ORI ENTED SERVICES AND FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE, AND THESE INVARIABLY INVOLVE ADDI Tl ONAL MANPOWER. ADDITIONALLY, AS OUR SOCIETY BECOMES MORE COMPLEX AND SOPHISTICATED, A WHOLE RANGE OF OTHER SERVICES SND FACIL'TIES HAVE TO BE PROVIDED, INCLUDING REGULATORY SYSTEMS.
/FRINGE BENEFITS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL I?, 1985,
FRINGE BENEFITS
FRINGE BENEFITS TAM AND, I THINK, DR BENEFITS GENERALLY.
ALSO FEATURED IN SEVERAL SPEECHES. MISS MARIA IP SUGGESTED IT WAS TIME TO RE-EXAMINE FRINGE DIVERGENT VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED ON OVERSEAS
EDUCATION ALLOWANCES. MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG THOUGHT THE ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE EXTENDED AND MADE MORE FLEXIBLE TO COVER UNIVERSITY EDUCATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, DR IP QUESTIONED THE BASIC RATIONALE
FOR SUCH ALLOWANCES.
I ACCEPT THAT IT IS TIMELY TO LOOK AFRESH AT SEVERAL FRINGE BENEFITS ACCORDED HITHERTO, PARTICULARLY OVERSEAS EDUCATION W LOW ANUES. INDEED, WELL AHEAD OF DR IP, AN IN-HOUSE REVIEW OF CVERSF<AS EDUCATION ALLOWANCES AND SOME OTHER BENEFITS WAS RECENTLY PUT IN HAND WITH A VIEW TO SEEING WHETHER THERE IS SCOPE FOR WHAT ON" MIGHT DESCRIBE AS +MODERNI SI NG+ THE FRINGE BENEFITS AVAILABLE. iH- REVIEW WHEN CONCLUDED, WILL BE REFERRED TO THE STANDING COMMISSION ON Cl V L SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE -JR ADVICE BUT I SHOULD LIKE TO REMIND MEMBERS THAT, IF THE CP'll 3FRVICE IS TO REMAIN A VIABLE ORGANISATION, ITS CONDITIONS OF SERVICE MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY COMPETITIVE TO MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY rO ATTRAC. AND RETAIN HIGH CALIBRE STAFF AT ALL LEVELS. FRINGE BENEFITS ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE OVERALL REMUNERATION PACKAGE PARTICULARLY FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF CONTINUITY OF ;FRVICE'AND THE LONG TERM RETENTION OF STAFF AND EXPERIENCE. The GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD EMPLOYER AND, AS N EMPLOYE", TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
DR IP ALSO RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR GOVERNMENT, AND MORE FLEXIBLE - BY WHICH I THINK SHE MEANT MORE CONVENIENT FOR THOSE CONCERNED - I F AT LEAST PART OF fHE FRINGE BENEFITS ELEMENT IN THE OVERALL REMUNERATION PACKAGE WAS PA’D IN CASH INSTEAD. SOME WOULD ARGUE - BUT I PERSONALLY WOULD NOT - THAT THERE IS NO OBJECTION IN THEORY TO THIS IDEA. THERE IS NO DENYING THAT A CASH PAYMENT WOULD BE MORE FLEXIBLE FROM THE CIVIL SERVANT'S POINT OF VIEW, TOO FLEXIBLE PERHAPS, BUT IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER IT WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THE PRESENT TAKE-UP RATE OF FRINGE BENEFITS IS NCr BY ANY MEANS 100 PER CENT. IN ANY CASE, THE IDEA IS UNACCE°TADLE FOR IT AMOUNTS TO CHANGING THE BASIS OF ADMINISTERING FRINGE BFNEFIT3 FROM THE PRESENT ACCOUNTABLE AND STRICTLY CONTROLLED SYSTEM TO AN UNACCOUNTABLE ONE.
/PrJNCIONS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 15 -
PENSIONS
DR HARRY FANG SUGGESTED THAT, BY WAY OF PROVIDING CIVIL SERVANTS WITH EVIDENCE THAT THEIR PENSIONS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ISSUE ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF THEIR ACCUMULATED RIGHTS, SIMILAR TO THE STATEMENTS ISSUED TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE WIDOWS’ AND CHILDREN'S PENSIONS SCHEME.
I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT THE WIDOWS’ AND CHILDREN’S PENSIONS SCHEME IS A CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SCHEME, EACti CONTRIBUTOR IF ISSUED WITH A STATEMENT EVERY YEAR OF THE MOUNT OF PENSION BENEFITS SO FAR ACCRUED FROM BOTH HIS ACTUAL AMD THE GOVERNMENT'S NOTIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE EVENT OF DEATH.
UNLIKE THE WIDOWS’ AND CHILDREN’S PENSIONS SCHEME, HOWEVER, THE CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS SCHEME IS NON-CONTRI BUTORY. A SERVICE PENSION IS ONLY PAYABLE WHEN THE OFFICER RETIRES AND OF COURSE RETIRES UNDER APPROVED CIRCUMSTANCES. THE AMOUNT OF PENSION PAYABLE IS DEPENDENT ON THE OFFICER’S FINAL SALARY AND THE LENGTH OF HIS PENSIONABLE SERVICE ON RETIREMENT. IT IS NOT CiLCUI ATED ON THE BASIS OF ACCRUED BENEFITS AND, THEREFORE, NO STATEMENT OF ACCUMULATED PENSION RIGHTS CAN BE ISSUED. OFFICERS THEMSELVES ARE. OF COURSE, QUITE CAPABLE OF MAKING A PROJECTION OF WHAT Their PENSION will be on the basis of existing levels of REMUNERATION IF THEY RETIRE AT A CERTAIN TIME IN THE FUTURE. THE MATH'M Al I ' > FOR DOING THIS ARE SET OUT IN ANNEX XII TO CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS FOR THE BENEFITS OF THOSE WITH AN ALGEBRAIC TURN O’7 MIND. BUT NO PROJECTION CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT THE AMOUNT OF PENSION EVENTUALLY PAYABLE.
I SHOULD ADD THAT. WHILE STATEMENTS OF ACCUMULATED PENSION RIGHTS ARE NOT ISSUED, THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES. SECTION IV OF ANNEX I OF THAT LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT, THE JOINT SI NO-BRITISH DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT WILL PAY ALL CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES, INCLUDING THOSE ALREADY IN PAYMENT IN 1997. IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT ALL PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES PAYABLE TO RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS OR TO CIVIL SERVANTS' DEPENDANTS WILL BE ON TERMS NO LESS FAVOURABLE THAN BEFORE, AND THAT THEY WILL BE PAID IRRESPECTIVE OF THE BENEFICIARY’S NATIONALITY OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE.
/CONTRACT TSEM.S
VCTClDAY, .VPaTL 17, 1985
16 -
CONTRACT TERMS FOR CIVIL SERVANTS
DR HENRIETTA IP SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROMOTE THE USE OF GRATUITY-BEARING CONTRACT TERMS FOR CIVIL SERVICt EMPLOYMENT. I SHOULD SAY AT THE OUTSET THAT THE NORMAL TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT’IN THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE ARE PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE. IN COMMON WITH MOST OTHER CIVIL SERVICES, IN THE BRITISH TRADITION AT LEAST, THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE IS A CAREER SERVICE, BASED ON THE TWIN CONCEPTS OF CAPTIVITY AND SECURITY. IT IS SELF-EVIDENT, AT LEAST IN MY VIEW, THAT EMPLOYMENT ON PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS IS AN ESSENTIAL PRE-REQUISITE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE IMPARTIALITY AND FREEDOM FROM SECTIONAL PRESSURES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
BUT CONTRACT TERMS OF SERVICE ARE USED IN THREE SETS OF CIRCUMSTANCES. FIRST: AS A MATTER OF POLICY, OFFICERS RECRUITED OVERSEAS ARE APPOINTED ON CONTRACT TERMS ONLY ALTHOUGH, UNTIL RECENTLY. THERE WERE TWO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE: FOR THE A'■ i •' : trATIVE SERVICE AND THE INSPECTORATE OF THE POLICE. THERE ARE SOME 2 200 OVERSEAS OFFICERS PRESENTLY EMPLOYED ON GRATUITY-BEARING CONTRACT TERMS, SECOND: CONTRACT TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT TIME TO TIME USED TO ATTRACT LOCAL CANDIDATES TO GRADES .’HERE OIFFIC lTIES ARE ENCOUNTERED IN RECRUITING SUFFICIENT NUMBERS ON PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS, MAINLY IN CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL GRADES. "HERE ARE SOME 700 LOCAL OFFICERS PPESFNTLv EMPLOYED ON GRATUITY-BEARING CONTRACT TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT. ' •"•‘S (LOCAL AND OVERSEAS) WHO ARE RE-EMPLOYED AFTER -ACt-‘< ’ •' r ’’'RM AGE OF RET I REM ENT M AY BE EMPLOYED ON
GTLT - C CESSARILYON GRATUITY-BEARING CONTRACTS.
THERE ARE PRESENTLY SOME _ 20; OFFICERS SO EMPLOYED, INCLUDING ^50 POLICE RANK AND FILE WHO RETlRED BEFORE REACHING THE AGE OF 55 IN ACCORDANCE WITH LONG STANDING REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE POLICE FORCE.
BUT THESE ARE THE EXCEPTIONS AND, WHILE CON•HACT TERMS ARE VALUABLE IN ACHIEVING, AMONGST OTHER THINGS, A DEGREE OF CROSS FERTILISATION OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVA' SECTORS, THEY CANNOT BE THE MAIN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE. A CIVIL SERVICE BASED LARGELY ON COV’RACT TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, WITH OFFICERS FREE TO COME AND GO IF THE PLEASED, WOULD NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO MAINTAINING CONTINUITY AMD STABILITY. I CAN ALSO ASSURE MEMBERS, AND PARTICULARLY DR IP, THAT THE EMPLOYMENT OF STAFF ON PERMANENT AND PENSIONABLE TERMS DOES NOT FORCE THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP REDUNDANT OFFICERS ON THE ESTAB' I SHMENT. THERE ARE WELL-ESTABLISHED RULES WHEREBY CIVIL SERVANTS CAN BE RETIRED COMPULSORILY ON VARIOUS GROUNDS, INCLUDING REDUNDANCY, AND THESE ARE INVOKED FROM TIME TO TIME.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 19&5
- 17 -
EXTENSION OF SERVICE
MR CHAN YING-LUN QUESTIONED THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON EXTENSIONS OF SERVICE BEYOND THE STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE OF 55.
THE PRESENT POLICY WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE 1981, ALTHOUGH EXTENSIONS WERE NOT UNCOMMON BEFORE THEN. IN ESSENCE, THE POLICY -ERMITS OFFICERS WHO ARE FIT AND EFFICIENT, AND SUBJECT TO THE NEEDS OF 'HE SERVICE, TO SERVE ON BEYOND THE AGE OF 55 TO 57 OR 59 OR 60, EY FITHER EXTENDING THEIR SERVICE ON PENSIONABLE TERMS, OR RETIRING ’ '9M PENSIONABLE SERVICE AND BEING RE-EMPLOYED ON CONTRACT TERMS. .ST SO RE-EMPLOYED THEY MAY EITHER DRAW THE NORMAL CONTRACT Gr’AT'!TY OF 25 PER CENT OF SALARY. THEIR EARNED PENSION RIGHTS 3-:: FROZEN, OR THEY MAY DRAW THEIR PENSIONS. THIS POLICY IS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE RETENTION OF EXPERIENCED AND EFFICIENT OFFICERS. PERMISSION TO EXTEND AN OFFICER’S SERVICE IS NOT GRANTED AUTOMATICALLY; EACH CASc IS CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS BY THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT CONCERNED AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL service, taking into account the career prospects of officers JUNIOR TO THEN. THE ADVICE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS c, so SOUGHT IN RESPECT OF EXTENSIONS FOR OFFICERS IN MIDDLE AND SENIOR RANKS. WHILE DECISIONS ON EXTENSIONS OF SERVICE TAKE A..C0U1 f OF CAREER PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME INVOLVED, It: ANY NDIVIDUaL CASE, WHETHER AN OFFICER CAN OR CANNOT BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BY ANOTHER OFFICER IN A LOWER RANK IS NOT A PRECONDITION.
THE MERITS OF THIS POLICY ARE IN DISPUTE FROM TIME TO TIME, BbT I SHOULD LIKE TO REMIND OUR INSTANT CRITICS THAT, FIRST, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT THE SERVICE OF EXPERIENCED AND EFFICIENT OFFICERS BE RETAINED; SECONDLY, IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE OF 55 I S UNREALISTIC IN THIS DAY AND AGE; AND, THIRDLY, UNLESS OFFICERS WHO HAVE REACHED THE STATUTORY RETIREMENT AGE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GRATUITY-BEARING CONTRACT TERMS OR ARE PERMITTED TO DRAW THEIR PENSIONS IN ADDITION TO THEIR SALARIES, CONTINUED SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UNATTRACTIVE, GIVEN THAT THE OFFICERS CONCERNED CAN RETIRE WITH THEIR EARNED PENSIONS AND THEN TAKE UP PAID EMPLOYMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE CO 5’ TO PUBLIC FUNDS OF EMPLOYING AN OFFICER ON PENSION AFTER RETIREMENT IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS THE COST OF THE PENSION PAYABLE TO AN OFFICER WHO LEAVES THE SERVICE PLUS THE EMOLUMENTS OF HIS REPLACEMENT. SO THERE IS NO NET ADDITIONAL COST TO THE TREASURY.
/TRAINING
.. ... :s:. , -.p.tiL 17, 1985
TRAI Nl NG
MR CHAN YING-LUN ALSO SPOKE OF THE NEED TO GROOM UPCOMING OFFICERS TO SHOULDER HEAVIER RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE YEARS AHEAD. I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT CIVIL SERVANTS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO CODE WITH THE INCREASING DEMANDS IMPOSED ON THEM AS A RESULT OF THE GROWING DIVERSITY AND COMPLEXITY OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. SPECIFICALLY, IN RECENT YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED INCREASING EMPHASIS ON MANAGEMENT SKILLS, ESPECIALLY FOR OFFICERS WHO ARE EXPECTED TO FILL SENIOR DIRECTORATE POSTS IN THE FUTURE. MORE THAN 60 OFFICERS HAVE ATTENDED A 3-MONTH IN-HOUSE MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMME RUN BY THE SENIOR STAFF COURSE AND ANOTHER 100 WILL HAVE COMPLETED THE FIFTH COURSE BY JUNE 1936. AND HERE I WOULD LIKE TO PAY A TRIBUTE TO THE STAFF OF THE COURSE AND TO THE ADVISORY BOARD HEADED UP BY MR LEN SNEDDON AND MR F.K.
I RESPECTIVELY. IN ADDITION, A SERIES OF IN-HOUSE COURSES ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR SENIOR OFFICERS IS BEING DESIGNED AND THE FIRST ONE IS EXPECTED TO BE CONDUCTED LATER THIS YEAR.
FINALLY, MRS RITA FAN AND MR CARL TONG QUESTIONED THE NEED FOR OVERSEAS TRAINING FOR CIVIL SERVANTS. THE GOVERNMENT IS, OF COURSE, MINDFUL OF THE HIGHER COSTS INVOLVED IN OVERSEAS TRAINING WHEN COMPARED WITH LOCAL TRAINING. AS A MATTER OF POLICY, OVERSEAS TRAINING IS PROVIDED ONLY WHEN NO SUITABLE PROGRAMMES ARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY OR, IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE, WHEN THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT PLACES TO MEET THE DEMAND. OF THE $23.7 MILLION PROVIDED FOR OVERSEAS TRAINING IN THE 1985-86 DRAFT ESTIMATES, $8 MILLION (34 PER CENT) WILL BE USED TO FINANCE 171 SCHOLARSHIPS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME, MOSTLY IN THE IEGAL AND PARA-MEDICAL FIELDS WHERE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED PERSISTENT localisation difficulties due to insufficient or non-existent TRAINING FACILITIES LOCALLY. COURSES AT OVERSEAS INSTITUTIONS ARE INEVITABLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN COURSES PROVIDED BY LOCAL INSTITUTIONS NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERSEAS, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY OFTEN LAST MUCH LONGER: A DEGREE LEVEL SPEECH THERAPY COURSE, FOR INSTANCE, TAKES FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE.
THE REMAINING $15.7 MILLION (66 PER CENT) PROVIDED FOR OVERSEAS TRAINING IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES WILL BE USED MAINLY TO FINANCE PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF DEPARTMENTS, AND WHICH ARE SIMPLY NOT AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG. EXAMPLES OF THESE COURSES ARE AIRPORT FIRE-FIGHTING, BRIDGE ENGINEERING, VARIOUS FORK'S OF SPECIALIST MEDICAL TRAINING AND COMPUTER CRIME INVESTIGATION.
/AS IT ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 19 -
A3 IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SATISFY ALL THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE THROUGH IN-HOUSE COURSES OR PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE AT LOCAL INSTITUTIONS, WE SHALL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MAKE USE OF TRAINING FACILITIES OVERSEAS. HOWEVER, SIR, TO END ON A REASSURING NOTE, WE HAVE NOW REPLACE OVERSEAS COURSES IN CONCRETE TECHNOLOGY, GAS ENGINEERING AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE FORECASTING OF TROPICAL CYCLONES AND SEVERE RAINSTORM BY LOCALLY COMMISSIONED PROGRAMMES.
CONCLUSION
HAVING NOW RESPONDED TO THE VARIOUS POINTS RAISED IN THIS DEBATE BY MEMBERS RELATING TO THE CIVIL SERVICE, MAY I CONCLUDE, SIR, BY TOUCHING ON A MATTER OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO US ALL, BUT ONE WHICH WE TEND TO TAKE TOO MUCH FOR GRANTED. I REFER, -I R, TO THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE Cl VIL SERVICE.
'RADITlON ALLY, AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF EITHER THE CIVIL SERVICE OF UNOFFICIALS, THAT RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP, WITH BOTH SIDES TO THE INTER-FACE REALISING THAT, TO ACHIEVE OUR COMMON OBJECTIVE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT, EACH IS DEPENDENT ON THE OTHER.
AS WE ENTER THE ERA OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, AND WITH A GROWING PREPONDERANCE OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, NOT ONLY IN THIS COUNCIL, BUT ALSO IN THE URBAN AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AND ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE NEED FOR SUCH A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BECOME NO LESS IMPORTANT. WE SHOULD NURTURE THAT RELATIONSHIP CAREFULLY, EVEN THOUGH THE ERA OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT MAY WELL LEAD TO A TENDENCY TO MORE ADVERSARIAL - BUT HOPEFULLY NOT FACTIONAL POLITICS - AND MAY WELL DIMINISH THE EASY INFORMALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE CONDUCT OF MUCH OF OUR BUSINESS. BUT THE CO-OPERATIVE NATURE OF THAT RELATIONSHIP BASED ON TRUST, SEASONED WITH CREATIVE TENSION FROM TIME TO TIME AND EXPRESSED IN OPEN DEBATE IN THIS COUNCIL AND IN FRANK DISCUSSIONS IN MANY OTHER FORUMS, MUST BE PRESERVED AND PRESERVED WHATEVER THE CONSTITUTIONAL SETTING OF THAT RELATIONSHIP IN THE FUTURE.
j », I HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN SUPPORTING THE MOTION.
5
t
'.DA PR IL 17, 1935
- 20
OVERSEAS OFFICES ARE GOVT’S EYES AND EARS
******
THE OVERSEAS OFFICES ARE THE GOVERNMENT’S EYES AND EARS OVERSEAS FOR ALl RELEVANT PURPOSES, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦THE FUNCTIONS OF OUR OVERSEAS OFFICES NOW INCLUDE RESPONSIBILITY FOR KEEPING HONG KONG INFORMED OF ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO HONG KONG, FOR ENSURING THAT HONG KONG’S CASE ON A VARIETY OF MATTERS IS GIVEN A FAIR HEARING FOR MAKING AND MAINTAINING CONTACT WITH PERSONS WHO MAY HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON MATTERS AFFECTING HONG KONG, FOR ARRANGING EXCHANGE VISITS, FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG, FOR PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HONG KONG’S IMAGE OVERSEAS, AND FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS GENERALLY,+ MR TSAO SAID.
REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG CONCERNING THE OVERSEAS OFFICES, MR TSAO SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL NEED FOR OVERSEAS REPRESENTATION STEMMED FROM TRADE MATTERS. BUT IN RECENT YEARS IT HAD BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPRESENTATION ON A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF ISSUES.
THE OVERSEAS OFFICES HAD CEASED TO BE PURELY TRADE OFFICES WHEN THE OLD TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WAS DEFEDERALISED IN 1982, HE SAID.
IN ANNOUNCING THE CHANGE, MR TSAO SAID, THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAD INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSEAS OFFICES IN ''ASHINGTON, BRUSSELS AND GENEVA WOULD BE ASSUMED BY THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AS AN INITIAL STEP IN TRANSLATING THEM FROM DEPARTMENTAL SUB-OFFICES OVERSEAS INTO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES COMPARABLE IN STATUS, IF NOT IN RANGE OF FUNCTIONS, WITH THE LONDON OFFICE, WHOSE PARENT DEPARTMENT WAS THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
MR TSAO SAID THE CORRECTNESS OF THIS DECISION HAD BEEN UNDERLINED IN THE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
+THiS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADE ISSUES HAS DIMINISHED5* FAR FROM IT, BUT THE NEED FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE A VISIBLE OVERSEAS PRESENCE HAS TAKEN ON A NEW DIMENSION,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO SAID THE BALANCE OF WORK BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICES VARIED FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION.
Z+THUS Thh........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
21 -
♦THUS THE GENEVA OFFICE IS PRIMARILY, BUT BY NO MEANS EXCLUSIVELY, CONCERNED WITH THE MULTI-LATERAL ASPECTS OF COMMERCIAL RELATIONS, IN PARTICULAR, MATTERS FALLING WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE. BUT IT ALSO DEALS WITH VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEMS AND HAS A SUBSTANTIAL ROLE TO PLAY IN KEEPING THE LARGE AND AVIDLY INTERESTED DIPLOMATIC COMMUNITY THERE ABREAST OF EVENTS SURROUNDING HONG KONG’S FUTURE.
♦THE NEW YORK OFFICE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS MAINLY CONCERNED WITH PROMOTING AND PROTECTING HONG KONG’S IMAGE IN THE UNITED STATES, LEAVING OVERSIGHT OF TRADE MATTERS LARGELY, BUT NOT ENTIRELY, TO THE SUBORDINATE WASHINGTON OFFICE,* HE SAID.
WITH THIS GREATLY EXPANDED ROLE IT WOULD HAVE MADE NO SENSE TO PLACE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OFFICES UNDER THE NARROWER AUSPICES CF THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, LET ALONE KEEP THESE OFFICES AS SUB-OFFICES OF THE NEW TRADE DEPARTMENT, MR TSAO SAID.
+MANY PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AT DIFFERENT TIMES, WILL CALL UPON THE SERVICES OF THE OVERSEAS OFFICES AND IN THEIR TURN WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE OFFICES FOR ASSISTANCE. APART FROM THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY (AND THE TRADE DEPARTMENT), THE SECRETARIES FOR SECURITY, FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AND FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THEIR ASSOCIATED DEPARTMENTS ARE TO A LESSER OR GREATER EXTENT CLIENTS OF OUR OVERSEAS OFFICES, AS AM I MYSELF UNDER THE INFORMATION HALF OF MY PORTFOLIO,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO STRESSED THAT THE OVERSEAS OFFICES WERE COMMON SERVICE FACILITIES UPON WHICH ALL SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS MIGHT CALL, AS AND WHEN THE NEED AROSE.
+IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT THE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING THESE OUTPOSTS RESTS WITH ONE, RELATIVELY NEUTRAL PORTFOLIO. IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION WITH HIS SEVERAL, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES BEST FITS THIS BILL AND NO CHANGE IN THESE CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT ARRANGEMENTS IS CONTEMPLATED,* MR TSAO
SAID.
TURNING TO MR CHEONG’S POINT THAT NOT ENOUGH MANPOWER WAS DEPLOYED IN THESE OFFICES TO DO ALL THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, MR TSAO SAID MR CHEONG MIGHT WELL BE RIGHT AND THERE WOULD ALWAYS EE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT AS RESOURCES FOLLOWED +IN PURSUIT OF OUR ASPIRATIONS.*
HOWEVER, MR TSAO SAID HE DID NOT WISH IT TO BE THOUGHT — OR EVEN SUSPECTED — THAT THE OVERSEAS OFFICES WERE INEFFECTIVE.
/+MUCH OF .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
22 -
♦MUCH OF THE WORK WHICH THEY DO IN LIAISON, IN LOBBYING AND IN BUILDING UP INFORMED OPINION IN THEIR HOST COUNTRIES IS NOT READILY QUANTIFIABLE AND WE CANNOT ALWAYS EXPECT THAT EVEN OUR BEST EFFORTS WILL MEET WITH SUCCESS.
+THE FACT THAT WE ENCOUNTERED AN INTRANSIGENT AND UNREASONABLE ADMINISTRATION IN THE U.S.A. IN DISCUSSIONS OVER ITS COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN RULES ON KNITWEAR IN NO WAY REFLECTS BADLY ON THE CALIBRE CF THE COMMISSIONER IN NEW YORK OR HIS ABLE STAFF IN WASHINGTON,* HE SAID.
INDEED, MR TSAO SAID, THEY HAD ONLY RECENTLY +SCORED A VERY NOTEWORTHY SUCCESS IN SECURING HONG KONG’S CONTINUED INCLUSION UNDER THE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES, A FEAT ACKNOWLEDGED AS REMARKABLE EVEN BY THOSE LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON WORKING FOR INTERESTS OPPOSED TO HONG KONG.
AND THERE WERE OTHER SUCCESSES, PERHAPS LESS OBVIOUS BUT NONETHELESS IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY IN THE TRADE FIELD BUT ALSO IN THE FIELDS OF REFUGEES, OF INVESTMENT, OF EDUCATION, AND OF THE QUIET DIPLOMACY OF CORRECTING MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HONG KONG AND ITS FUTURE IN ALL THOSE PARTS OF THE WORLD, WHERE wE HAD ESTABLISHED OFFICES, MR TSAO SAID.
REFERRING TO MR CHEONG’S POINT CONCERNING THE NEED, IN EUROPE PARTICULARLY, TO INFLUENCE +NATIONAL OPINION* BECAUSE CF THE EFFECT THAT THIS COLLECTIVELY MIGHT HAVE ON EEC +COMMUNITY POLICY*, MR TSAO SAID: +l AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE AHEAD OF HIM.
+MINISTER (BRUSSELS) AND HIS STAFF MAKE REGULAR VISITS TO THE CAPITALS OF EUROPE AND ARE CORDIALLY RECEIVED AS HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVES AS THE VERY DETAILED REPORTS WE RECEIVED FROM THEM CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE.
+NONETHELESS, I AM GRATEFUL TO MR CHEONG FOR THIS TIMELY REMINDER THAT MINISTER (BRUSSELS) IS FORMALLY ACCREDITED ONLY VIA THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN BRUSSELS AND THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF GAINING ACCREDITATION IN OTHER MEMBER STATES OF THE EEC SHOULD BE PURSUED.*
MR TSAO SAID THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASING NEED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, AS OTHER COUNTRIES ADJUSTED TO THE POST-AGREEMENT HONG KONG, TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG’S CASE WAS DETERMINEDLY REPRESENTED AND FAIRLY HEARD IN A VARIETY OF INTERNATIONAL FORUMS.
WHATEVER DECISIONS WERE TAKEN REGARDING HONG KONG, WHETHER WITHIN THE EEC, THE GATT, THE UNITED STATES, OR ELSEWHERE THEY MUST NOT BE TAKEN WITHOUT HONG KONG’S VOICE FIRST BEING HEARD.
/+IT MAY .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17. 1985
- 23 -
+IT MAY BE THAT MORE RESOURCES WILL HAVE TO BE DEPLOYED; IT MAY BE THAT GREATER FLEXIBILITY IS NEEDED IN THE WAY EXISTING RESOURCES ARE DEPLOYED, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT FLEXIBILITY CAN ACHIEVE; IT MAY BE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS OF TACKLING OLD PROBLEMS,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALIVE TO ALL THESE POSSIBILITIES.
REFERRING TO THE HON RITA FAN’S SUGGESTION THAT STAFF OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY BE DEPLOYED FROM A CENTRAL POOL RATHER THAN BE PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SEVERAL SEPARATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, MR TSAO SAID THIS ARRANGEMENT HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY INTRODUCED FOR THE INFORMATION OFFICER GRADE.
+THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ROOM FOR IMPROVING THE MANNER IN WHICH WE DEPLOY OUR RESOURCES AND THE PARALLEL SHE HAS DRAWN SUGGESTS THAT A REVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE TWO GRADES WOULD BE WORTHWHILE,* HE SAID.
THE POINT WAS TIMELY AND SUCH A REVIEW WOULD BE CARRIED OUT, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR TSAO SAID, THERE WAS ONE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE INFORMATION OFFICER GRADE ON THE ONE HAND AND BOTH THE DATA PROCESSING AND CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER GRADES ON THE OTHER.
♦INFORMATION OFFICERS DEAL WITH PUBLIC RELATIONS, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT VOLATILE BUSINESS, AND IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT THEY CAN BE DEPLOYED AND RAPIDLY RE-DEPLOYED AS NECESSARY TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND OCCASIONAL CRISIS SITUATIONS, WITH THE MINIMUM OF FUSS.
CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS AND DATA PROCESSING STAFF ON THE OTHER HAND TEND TO SPECIALISE IN CERTAIN FIELDS, AND THEIR MOBILITY TENDS TO BE RATHER LIMITED,* MR TSAO SAID.
- - 0 - -
/24
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
2L
INDUSTRIAL ZONE IDEA SEEN AS 'KNEE-JERK REACTION'
* * * *
THE CALL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BORDER ZONE FOR KNITTING FACTORIES USING LABOUR COMMUTING DAILY FROM GUANGDONG PROVINCE WAS A KNEE-JERK REACTION TO A DESPERATE PLIGHT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO SAID TODAY AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE.
+BUT ON SOBER REFLECTION THIS SORT OF ARRANGEMENT COULD NOT JUST HAPPEN OVER-NIGHT, INFRASTRUCTURAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT WOULD BE NEEDED. SO ANY STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR KNITWEAR INDUSTRY THROUGH THE EXPEDIENT OF A BORDER ZONE WOULD TAKE NO LESS TIME THAN ADJUSTMENT BY OTHER MEANS,+ MR HO SAID.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE PROPOSALS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT CF AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE AT THE BORDER AND FOR THE SETTING UP OF A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY FOR SUCH A ZONE.
MR HO SAID THAT +THE CONCEPT OF A FACTORY ZONE AT THE BORDER MANNED BY DAILY COMMUTING LABOUR FROM THE GUANGDONG SIDE, BY IMPLICATION MEANT THAT SUCH LABOUR WOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+SOME MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THE LABOUR RETURNED TO CHINA EACH DAY, AND DID NOT TRY AND SETTLE ILLEGALLY HERE, WOULD HAVE TO BE DEVISED. THE WHOLE OPERATION WOULD IMPOSE AN UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN ON THE POLICE AND IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES,* HE SAID.
MR HO NOTED THAT HONG KONG WAS ENGAGED IN A MASSIVE PROGRAMME CF DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS, ALL WITH BALANCED FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACCOMMODATION, FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS FOR CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS.
+THIS ALONE MUST MEAN THAT WE SHOULD NOT GO OFF AT A TANGENT AND SEEK TO ESTABLISH A FACTOR IES-ONLY ZONE ON THE BORDER.*
MOREOVER, THE BASIC REASON FOR A BORDER ZONE WAS THE ASSERTION THAT HONG KONG WAS SHORT OF LABOUR, HE ADDED.
+FI NALLY, WE MUST NOT DO ANYTHING WHICH COULD LEAD OUR TRADING PARTNERS TO CALL INTO QUESTION THE ORIGIN OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS, CR HONG KONG’S STATUS, NOT WITHSTANDING THE TRANSFORMATION CRITERIA WE STRICTLY ADHERE TO, - WHICH THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL RETAIN AFTER 30 JUNE 1997 - AS A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY.*
ON THE CALL FOR SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, MR HO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENABLE INDUSTRY TO FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY WITH MINIMUM INTERFERENCE.
/+IN This .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 25 -
+ IN THIS CONNECTION, THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (IDB) HAS FORMULATED A PHASED PROGRAMME FOR CONDUCTING REGULAR TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND MARKETING STUDIES ON THE MAJOR SECTORS OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, NAMELY ELECTRONICS, PLASTICS, METAL AND LIGHT ENGINEERING AND GARMENTS/TEXTILES.
MR HO SAID THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION WAS WELL RECOGNISED BY IDB.
+ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD, PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 1985-86 ESTIMATES TO EXPAND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE HKPC FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRE’S TWO COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN SYSTEMS FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS DESIGN AND PATTERN GRADING, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MARKET MAKING SYSTEM.
+THE CENTRE HAS ALSO PREPARED, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR AUGMENTING ITS CAPABILITIES ON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND METAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COVERING A THREE-YEAR PERIOD.*
WITH REGARD TO REFERENCE TO THE DELAY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT CF A PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN UNIT (PIDU), MR HO SAID THAT AT ITS MEETING ON MARCH 25 THIS YEAR THE IDB ENDORSED A DEFINITIVE SCHEME WHICH WAS CURRENTLY ON THE AGENDA OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE CF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE VOTING OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS.
MR HO GAVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT IN RESPECT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PIDU AND MAINTAINED THAT NONE CF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN CUT.
ON THE QUESTION CONCERNING HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION EFFORT AND WHETHER THIS WORK COULD NOT BE MORE EFFECTIVELY CARRIED OUT BY THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) THAN BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT DIRECT, MR HO SAID, + THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION CONSIDERED THAT DIRECT GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT OVERSEAS WAS NOT ONLY DESIRABLE BUT NECESSARY.*
THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE TDC IS TO PROMOTE, ASSIST AND DEVELOP HONG KONG’S OVERSEAS TRADE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO EXPORTS, WHILE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION INVOLVES THE TARGETING OF SPECIFIC COMPANIES AND DIRECT EFFORTS TO INTEREST THEM IN HONG KONG.
+EFFECTIVE EFFORTS IN THIS LATTER FIELD NEED A SOUND DATA BASE, WELL-DEVELOPED BACK-UP FACILITIES AND TECHNICALLY COMPETENT SPECIALIST STAFF WITH INDUSTRIAL BACKGROUND SO THAT THEY COULD DISCUSS WITH INDUSTRIALISTS IN THEIR OWN TERMS.
+THUS IF TDC WERE TO TAKE ON THIS SPECIALISED FUNCTION AS WELL, IT WOULD NEED SEPARATE SPECIALIST STAFF. THE TDC, AS PRESENTLY STAFFED, CANNOT TAKE ON THIS EXTRA TASK AND MAINTAIN, MUCH LESS IMPROVE, PERFORMANCE,* MR HO SAID.
/POINTING CUT ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 26 -
POINTING OUT THAT THERE WAS CONTINUING CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND THE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG, MR HO SAID THE DEPARTMENT WORKS PARTICULARLY CLOSELY WITH THE TDC, BOTH IN HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS.
MR HO SHARED THE CONCERN EXPRESSED OVER THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AMERICAN PROTECTIONIST SENTIMENT AND THE RECENT CONTROVERSY OVER THE U.S. RULES OF ORIGIN.
NOTING THAT HONG KONG WAS OPEN WITHOUT TARIFF OR
QUOTA TO U.S. GOODS AND SERVICES AND THAT WE HAD ABIDED BY OUR COMMITMENTS UNDER THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT, MR HO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO CASE FOR THE U.S. TO IMPOSE EVEN TIGHTEN RESTRAINTS ON HONG KONG.
HE HOPED THAT THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A LOBBYIST BY THE TDC TO REPRESENT HONG KONG’S INTERESTS IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD GO SOME WAY TO MEETING THE NEED FOR GREATER EFFORTS TOWARDS INFLUENCING OPINION AND PROMOTING HONG KONG’S CASE IN OUR PRINCIPAL MARKETS.
HOWEVER, MR HO DISAGREED WITH A PROPOSAL FOR A HALF PER CENT CHARGE ON THE VALUE OF ALL IMPORTS, OTHER THAN FOOD STUFFS, AS THIS SUGGESTION WOULD BE REGARDED AS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO OUR EFFORTS IN THE EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS FIELD.
-►LIKEWISE MISS TAM’S PRIORITY FOR IMPORTED MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT MADE BY OVERSEAS MANUFACTURERS WITH LOCAL INVESTMENT COULD OFFEND AGAINST THE GATT CODE ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT TO WHICH HONG KONG IS A PARTY,+ HE SAID.
-----o------
GOVT KEEPING EYE ON RETAILERS’ SERVICE * * * * *
SOME CRIMINAL SANCTIONS WOULD BE CALLED FOR IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO LEGISLATE TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF CONSUMERS BY SOME RETAILERS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID LEGISLATION HAD TO BE CONSIDERED BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY BOTH TOURISTS AND LOCAL RESIDENTS ABOUT THE UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE FROM A NUMBER OF RETAILERS +DEALING PRINCIPALLY IN RADIO EQUIPMENT, CAMERAS AND SO 0N.+
BUT HE WAS FIRMLY OF THE VIEW THAT IF POSSIBLE IT WAS FAR BETTER TO RELY ON PERSUASION AND PUBLICITY RATHER THAN LEGISLATION, IE SAID.
/ + LN HON j •••••••
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 27 -
♦IN HONG KONG WE BELIEVE THAT BUSINESS IS BEST CONDUCTED BY BUSINESSMEN WITH A MINIMUM OF BUREAUCRATIC INTERFERENCE. THIS COMMERCIAL FREEDOM HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
♦ BUT FREEDOM DEPENDS TO A GREAT EXTENT ON THE ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN ETHICAL STANDARDS,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, WOULD CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SITUATION CAREFULLY.
♦ I HOPE THAT THOSE FEW RETAILERS WHO NOW ABUSE THE COMMERCIAL FREEDOM AFFORDED TO THEM WILL HEED WHAT I HAVE SAID,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
WHAT WAS UNFORTUNATE, HE SAID, WAS THAT IF INTERVENTION WAS NEEDED, THE BURDEN OF COMPLIANCE COULD FALL ON MANY INNOCENT AND REPUTABLE DEALERS AS WELL AS ON THE GUILTY MINORITY.
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE ALREADY PROVIDED FOR PENALTIES UP TO $500 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR FIVE YEARS IN RELATION TO THE OFFENCE OF SUPPLYING ANY GOODS TO WHICH A FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION IS APPLIED.
DEALING WITH THE QUESTION OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, HE SAID A UNIFORM AND COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM FOR NEW SCHEMES OF CONTROL OVER ALL PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC UTILITIES MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE AS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE VARIOUS PUBLIC UTILITIES WERE DIFFERENT.
WHILE SOME UTILITIES WERE NOT SUBJECT TO FORMAL PROFIT CONTROL SCHEMES, THERE WAS ADEQUATE REGULATION THROUGH OTHER METHODS, HE SAID.
EVEN WHERE THERE WAS NO FORMAL SCHEME OF CONTROL, THE GOVERNMENT COULD REGULATE CHARGES THROUGH A PROVISION REQUIRING THAT CHARGES OR FEES IMPOSED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITY IN QUESTION BE APPROVED BY THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, OR BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR JACOBS FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT THE REASON WHY THERE WERE NO STANDARD RULES FOR DETERMINING WHICH AUTHORITY SHOULD DETERMINE OR APPROVE CHARGES WAS SIMPLY THAT THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL OR REGULATORY MECHANISMS WERE NEGOTIATED IN DIFFERING CIRCUMSTANCES.
THUS, MR JACOBS SAID, ARRANGEMENTS WHICH MIGHT SUIT ONE UTILITY DID NOT NECESSARILY SUIT ANOTHER.
♦ WHAT WE TRY TO ENSURE IS THAT THE SCHEMES AND THE CONTROL MECHANISMS INCLUDING THE APPROVING AUTHORITY ARE APPROPRIATE TO THE PARTICULAR INDUSTRY OR UTILITY INVOLVED.
♦ THE PROVISIONS OF THE SCHEMES, AND THE LEVELS OF PERMITTED RETURN, ARE INTENDED TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENT OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE VARIOUS COMPANIES,+ HE SAID.
/ON THE .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 19&5
28 -
ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE MONITORING PROCESS, NR JACOBS SAID THE CONSULTANTS’ REPORT MADE IT CLEAR THAT THE MONITORING ORGANISATION CONSISTED NOT ONLY OF THE FINANCIAL JjH MONITORING UNIT BUT ALSO THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CERTAIN DIVISIONS OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH.
♦ WHILE THE FINANCIAL MONITORING UNIT COMPRISES THE FIVE OFFICERS, THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AS DO MEMBERS OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH.
♦ AS TO OTHER PUBLIC UTILITIES A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES SUCH AS THE POST OFFICE AND TRANSPORT ARE ALSO INVOLVED.
♦ THE POINT MADE BY THE1 CONSULTANTS IS THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE FORMALISED TO A GREATER DEGREE AND THAT THE CO-ORDINATION SHOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE. A MODEST INCREASE IN STAFF MAY BE NEEDED,* NR JACOBS SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS ALSO A UMELCO PUBLIC UTILITIES PANEL WHICH CONCERNED ITSELF WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES.
REFERRING TO PRICE INCREASES SOUGHT BY PUBLIC UTILITIES, M? JACOBS SAID THAT PUBLIC UTILITIES HAD TO ADJUST THEIR PRICES TO RECOVER THE COST OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED.
BUT OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD SOME INCREASES HAD BEEN SO MODEST THAT THERE HAD IN FACT BEEN A DECREASE IN REAL TERMS IN THE PRICES CHARGED BY CERTAIN PUBLIC UTILITIES.
OTHER INCREASES, MR JACOBS SAID, WHILE THEY MIGHT BE LARGE IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, WERE VERY SMALL IN NOMINAL TERMS BECAUSE THc. BASE WAS COMPARATIVELY LOW.
-----o------
REPORT ON HOUSING SUBSIDY READY SOON ,
* * * * ,
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON HOUSING SUBSIDY TO PUBLIC HOUSING1' TENANTS WILL REPORT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, AND A GREEN PAPER WILL BE ISSUED FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION BEFORE FIRM PROPOSALS ARE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS SAID TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON ’/ DAVID FORD, DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID WITHOUT WISHING TO PRE-EMPT THE REPORT THAT THE BEST SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR RENTAL TENANTS, WHO COULD wELu AFFORD TO UPGRADE THEIR HOUSING, TO MOVE TO HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS SO THAT THE RENTAL FLATS THEY GAVE UP COULD BE OFFERED TO THOSE WAITING PATIENTLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
/CHAIRED BY .......
WEDNESDAY, \PRIL 17, 1985
29 -
CHAIRED BY THE HON F.K. HU, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO STUDY THE QUESTION IN DEPTH AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOLLOWING WIDE-RANGING PUBLIC CONSULTATION LAST YEAR WHEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REVIEWED ITS ALLOCATION POLICY.
MR FORD STRESSED THE POSSIBILITY THAT ANY ACTION TAKEN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF BETTER-CFF TENANTS COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS, INVOLVING THAT SECTOR OF COMMUNITY WHICH HAD FOR MANY
• DECADES PROVIDED THE POWER-HOUSE OF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.
♦NOTHING WE DO NOW THEREFORE SHOULD PUT AT RISK THE SENSE OF SECURITY AND WELL-BEING WHICH RESULTS FROM THE CERTAINTY OF HAVING A ROOF OVER ONE’S HEAD AND A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO LIVE,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR FORD SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE IT WAS EQUITABLE THAT WELL-OFF HOUSING TENANTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO ENJOY, AS THEY HAD FOR SO LONG, THE HEAVILY SUBSIDISED RENTS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
+THFY PAY A VERY SMALL PROPORTION OF THEIR INCOME USUALLY NOT MORE THAN 10 PER CENT FOR THEIR FLATS AND I BELIEVE IT IS A GENERALLY ACCEPTED VIEW OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE THAT THEY COULD BE REASONABLY EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE A FAIRER SHARE OF INCOME TOWARDS THEIR OWN HOUSING.*
TO ENCOURAGE TENANTS TO MOVE TO HOS FLATS, HE SAID SOME CHANGES IN POLICIES HAD BEEN MADE, WHICH HAD HAD SOME SUCCESS WITH OVER 21 000 RENTAL FLATS HAVING BEEN VACATED AS A RESULT SO FAR.
HOWEVER, HE WARNED THAT THE RESERVOIR OF TENANTS PREPARED TO DO SO WAS LIMITED BECAUSE THE INCREASED FINANCIAL COMMITMENT INVOLVES COULD STILL PRESENT A PROBLEM.
*1 DO NOT BELIEVE THEREFORE THAT CARROTS SHOULD BE OFF THE MENU FOREVER ALTHOUGH I ACCEPT JUDICIOUS USE OF THE STICK BY WAY OF HIGHER RENT FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THEM MAY PROVE NECESSARY.
♦FOR THIS REASON ALTHOUGH I LISTENED WITH GREAT INTEREST TO MR WONG LAM’S SPEECH, I AM RELUCTANT TO PURSUE IN THE SHORT TERM HIS SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD INCLUDE AN ELEMENT OF LAND VALUE IN THE PRICE OF HOS FLATS.
+1 BELIEVE WE SHOULD AIM AT FURTHER INCREASING THE NUMBER OF TENANTS WHO ARE PREPARED TO PURCHASE HOS, SO THAT THE HIGH LEVEL OF PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING COULD BE REDUCED IN THE LONG TERM.*
HE STRONGLY SUPPORTED A POINT BY MR F.K. HU THAT THE HOUSING , AUTHORITY SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TOWARDS TriE COST OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMME.
/h-THC HOUSING
,'EDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- JO -
♦THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ALREADY CONTRIBUTES 37 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE AND THAT WILL RISE TO 65 PER CENT BY 1988-89. BUT WE ACCEPT THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDANCE ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND ARE CONTINUING TO EXPLORE SCHEMES AND POLICIES TO THAT END.*
MR FORD SAID A MAJOR STEP HAD BEEN TAKEN WHICH WOULD FURTHER INCREASE THE CONTROL OF SQUATTER POPULATION.
+FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE UNDERTAKING A SURVEY OF SQUATTER INHABITANTS RATHER THAN SQUATTER HUTS.
+THE RESULTS OF THAT SURVEY, WHICH IS ABOUT HALF-WAY THROUGH, WILL ENABLE US TO QUANTIFY OUR COMMITMENT TO RE-HOUSING THE SQUATTER POPULATION ONCE AND FOR ALL. PEOPLE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT SURVEY WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOUSING.+
REFERRING TO COST OF SQUATTER CONTROL AND WHETHER THERE WERE CHEAPER METHODS OF ACHIEVING THE SAME RESULT, MR FORD SAID THE PROBLEM OF CONTROL LAY IN THE FACT THAT THE NATURE OF SQUATTER RESETTLEMENTS WAS SUCH THAT MODERN METHODS OF SURVEILLANCE EITHER DID NOT WORK OR WERE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE PRESENT METHODS.
+WE HAVE LOOKED SERIOUSLY INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF USING HELICOPTERS, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OR WATCHERS WITH TELESCOPE ON HIGH HILLTOPS. BUT NONE OF THESE CAN DETECT AN EXTENSION BUILT BENEATH AN EXISTING ROOF STRUCTURE OR A CAREFULLY CAMOUFLAGED CHANGE OF MATERIAL.
+WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING THE USE OF FEWER PATROLMEN EQUIPPED WITH PERSONAL RADIOS ABLE TO CALL ON A CENTRALLY-HELD RESERVE WHEN THEY NEED HELP. BUT I WOULD STRESS THAT DAILY PATROLo WOULD STILL BE ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN OUR EFFECTIVENESS.*
MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THE CURRENT HIGH-LEVEL OF CLEARANCE WAS ALREADY ALLOWING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL ECONOMIES.
+FOLLOWING A VALUE-FOR-MONEY STUDY IN 1983, THE DEPLOYMENT CF SQUATTER CONTROL TEAMS HAS BEEN STREAMLINED WITH THE STAFF RFDUCED FROM 3 000 TO 2 400 WITH AN ANNUAL SAVING OF $6 MILLION IN REAL TERM.
+N0 LESS THAN 65 000 SQUATTERS WILL BE CLEARED ANNUALLY UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT AND NON-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. THIS IN TURN SHOULD ALLOW FOR A FURTHER REDUCTION OF SQUATTER CONTROL STAFF, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT FURTHER SAVINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED YEAR BY YEAR.*
NOW WITH SQUATTING UNDER CONTROL, A COMPREHENSIVE SQUATTER CLEARANCE PROGRAMME AND A CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME CAPABLE OF REHOUSING URBAN SQUATTERS WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING OTHER HOUSING COMMITMENTS, MR FORD SAID: +1 BELIEVE WE NOW HAVE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OF SQUATTERS WHICH HAS CONCERNED US FOR SO LONG.*
------0-------
/5i .....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 51
SPENDING ON EDUCATION BEING EXAMINED X * X * X X
THE GOVERNMENT WAS EXAMINING WHETHER THE BALANCE OF THE INVESTMENT IN EDUCATION WAS THE MOST APPROPRIATE AND PRODUCING THE OPTIMUM RESULT FOR THE RESOURCES DEVOTED TO IT, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT EDUCATION ACCOUNTED FOR THE BIGGEST SINGLE SLICE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.
+THE ENORMOUS SUM OF $7.81 BILLION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR EDUCATION IN 1985-86: 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE.
+NOTHING COULD MORE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING, EXTENDING AND IMPROVING THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF HONG KONG, INCLUDING TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
HE SAID NO DOUBT THE CRY WOULD BE HEARD THAT STILL MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE. BUT A WORD OF CAUTION WAS APPROPRIATE HERE.
+FACED WITH EXISTING EXPENDITURE OF THE MAGNITUDE I HAVE REFERRED TO, IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT ANY NEW ADVANCES OF ANY SIZE MAY HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A REVIEW OF THE PRESENT METHODS OF FINANCING EDUCATION,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
ON THE ABILITY OF HONG KONG STUDENTS TO OBTAIN HIGHER EDUCATION OVERSEAS PARTICULARLY IN U.K. NOW THAT THE FULL FEES WERE BEING CHARGED, MR HENDERSON SAID CLEARLY A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE EASED OVER THE YEARS AS THE PROGRAMME OF EXPANDING TERTIARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG PROGRESSED.
MEANWHILE, MR HENDERSON SAID, A JOINT FUNDING SCHEME HAD BEEN CREATED BY THE U.K. AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS PURSUING OR INTENDING TO PURSUE A HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE U.K.
THE SCHEME WAS NOT AIMED AT PROVIDING HONG KONG STUDENTS WITH FREE HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE U.K. NOR WAS IT DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVELY HONG KONG STUDENTS TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES IN THE U.K.
RATHER, HE SAID, ITS MAIN OBJECTIVE WAS TO PROVIDE NEEDY HONG KONG STUDENTS PURSUING A FIRST DEGREE OR POLYTECHNIC HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA COURSE WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO MEET THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE U.K. HOME AND OVERSEAS RATES OF TUITION FEE, THE LATTER HAVING BEEN °ITCHE-AT THE FULL COST LEVEL BY HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT FROM 1980.
+EEING A MODEST SIZE AND OF FINITE MEANS, THE oTHEME IS NEANS-TESTED,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
/HE 3AID .......
WEDNE^bAi
(IL 17, 1985
HE SAID HOWEVER THE SCHEME, WHICH WAS SET UP IN TIME FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1983*84 AND WAS NOW IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION, HAD THROWN UP SOME PROBLEMS, AND IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE SITUATION BE REVIEWED WITH THE SECRETARIAT OF UPGC WHO MANAGED THE SCHEME.
MR HENDERSON ALSO SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S MANAGEMENT TRAINING UNIT HAD SINCE 1981, BEEN PROVIDING TRAINING FOR THE HEADS OF ALL PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS, WITH PRIORITY BEING GIVEN TO NEW AND INEXPERIENCED HEADS.
ON PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE A BACHELOR OF EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAMME TO HELP IMPROVE THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL AND ACADEMIC STATUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, MR HENDERSON SAID THE PANEL CF VISITORS AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD BOTH ENDORSED THIS PROGRAMME AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WAS LOOKING INTO THE STAFFING AND GRADING IMPLICATIONS OF THIS PROPOSAL WITH A VIEW TO ENABLING THE UNIVERSITY TO INTRODUCE THIS DEGREE PROGRAMME.
HOWEVER, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR SUCH A PROGRAMME AND THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE TIMING OF ITS INTRODUCTION, EE SAID.
REFERRING TO CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ABOUT THE HIGH COSTS OF THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME RUNNING TO SOME $260 MILLION FOR THE 1984-85 ACADEMIC YEAR AND THE WIDE SCOPE OF ITS COVERAGE, MR HENDERSON SAID HE AND THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT HAD AGREED THAT A FURTHER REVIEW OF THE SCHEME SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT THIS YEAR.
ON MANPOWER FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND THE NEED TO PROVIDE STAFF WITH TRAINING ON THE PREVENTION CF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY TOXIC SUBSTANCES, MR HENDERSON ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE PLANNED EXPANSION OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WOULD BE CONTINUED AS SOON AS CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT.
♦THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER TRAINING TO KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND THE USE OF NEW CHEMICALS IN INDUSTRY IS APPRECIATED. ALL INSPECTORS RECEIVE BASIC TRAINING IN RECOGNISING CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND SOME HAVE RECEIVED MORE ADVANCED TRAINING OVERSEAS.
♦ A WORKING PARTY HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO STUDY HOW TO IMPROVE CONTROL OF THE USE AND HANDLING OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN INDUSTRY. SPECIALIST HELP AND ADVICE IS ALSO OBTAINED FROM THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION AND THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST.
♦MEANWHILE, REGULATIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE ARE PRESENTLY BEING DRAFTED TO PROTECT WORKERS SAFETY BY REQUIRING THE PROPER STORAGE AND HANDLING CF ASBESTOS IN INDUSTRY AND BY PROHIBITING THE MANUF’ACTURE AND USE OF CERTAIN CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES. THESE REGULATIONS SHOULJ BE MADE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
53
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
NEED SEEN FOR CONTROL POINT PLANNING * * *
WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PASSENGERS TRAVELLING THROUGH IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS INCREASING IN THE LAST TWO YEARS FROM 25.7 MILLION TO 29.8 MILLION TO 36 MILLION, THE GOVERNMENT WAS ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED FOR LONG TERM PLANNING, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+EXAMPLES OF BUILDING WORK COMPLETED OR IN PROGRESS ARE THE EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY TERMINAL AT LO WU AND WORK NOW PROCEEDING ON A NEW BUILDING TO BE READY IN MARCH 1987; THE SHA TAU KOK TERMINAL OPENED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR; A NEW PERMANENT TERMINAL IN MAN KAM TO TO BE COMPLETED IN 1986; A NEW PERMANENT TERMINAL TO BE COMPLETED FOR THE MACAU FERRY THIS YEAR;
A NEW PERMANENT TERMINAL FOR THE CHINA FERRY SERVICES AT TAI KOK TSUI TO BE READY AT THE END OF 1987; A NEW CONTROL POINT AT LOK MA CHAU TO BE COMPLETED IN 1987; AND THE FACILITIES AT THE AIRPORT TO BE EXTENDED BY 1987,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
IN ADDITION, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, PLANNING WAS GOING AHEAD TO EXPAND THE PERMANENT FACILITIES AT LO WU, ONCE THEY WERE COMPLETED, TO DEAL WITH EXPECTED INCREASES IN TRAFFIC, TO IMPROVE THE FACILITIES AT HUNG HOM, AND TO INTRODUCE COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR ALL CONTROL POINTS.
HOWEVER, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THERE WAS LITTLE HOPE FOR IMMEDIATE TEMPORARY RELIEF.
+THE TRUTH IS THAT IN THE SHORT TERM THE SITUATION GENERALLY IS GOING TO GET, IF ANYTHING, WORSE. THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IS ALREADY VERY STRETCHED. TO DEAL WITH THE TEN MILLION, AND I REPEAT TEN MILLION, ADDITIONAL TRAVELLERS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO CREATE ONLY 78 ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR CONTROL POINTS.
+FOR THE PRESENT FINANCIAL YEAR, BECAUSE THE CIVIL SERVICE IS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO EXPAND, NO PROVISION FOR ANY ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES. IN OTHER WORDS, FOR THE FURTHER INCREASE IN TRAVELLERS THIS YEAR (AND THE INCREASE COULD BE OF THE ORDER CF FIVE OR SIX MILLION) THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE TO MANAGE WITH THE STAFF IT HAS GOT,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
REFERRING TO THE TWO CONTROL POINTS AT TAI KOK TSUI AND MAN KAM TO SPECIFICALLY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE CONSEQUENCE FOR TAI KOK TSUI WOULD BE THAT BECAUSE OF LACK OF EXTRA STAFF (AND PROBLEMS OVER LUGGAGE HANDLING FACILITIES) IT WAS LIKELY TO PROVE IMPRACTICABLE IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR TO TRANSFER ANY OF THE TRAFFIC FROM TAI KOK TSUI TO THE NEW MACAU FERRY TERMINAL TO WHICH IT HAD BEEN HOPED TO MOVE ABOUT 50 PER CENT.
/It. THii............
WEDNESDAY, HIL 17, 198?
- ?4 -
IN THE CASE OF MAN KAM TO, HE SAID, MOST OF THE NEw FACILITIES DUE TO BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR, WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE MANNED, WHILE THE TRAFFIC WOULD CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
+AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE TEMPORARY FACILITIES THERE INCLUDE FOUR KIOSKS FOR CHECKING VEHICLES AND 14 COUNTERS FOR CHECKING PASSENGERS. OF THESE, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT HAS NOW ONLY ENOUGH STAFF IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TO MAN TWO KIOSKS AND FOUR COUNTERS MOST OF THE TIME? ALTHOUGH FOR SHORT PERIODS IF THE TRAFFIC REALLY BUILDS UP THE DEPARTMENT CAN MANAGE A MAXIMUM OF THREE KIOSKS AND SIX COUNTERS.
♦THE NEW FACILITIES TO BE READY IN DECEMBER WILL INCLUDE 12 KIOSKS AND 28 COUNTERS. AS I SAY MOST OF THEM WILL HAVE TO REMAIN EMPTY — AND WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STAFF THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF EXTENDING THE HOURS IN WHICH THE TERMINAL IS OPEN, EITHER,* HE SAID.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, +1 DOUBT IF WE CAN PURSUE MRS RITA FAN’S IDEA OF INTRODUCING CHARGES AT MAN KAM TO AND LO WU NOW.
+OUR INTENTION HAS BEEN NOT TO CONSIDER MOVING IN THIS D:?.'ECTION UNTIL THE NEW FACILITIES AT BOTH MAN KAM TO AND LO WU ARE READY.
+BUT WE WILL NOW GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING WITH A SMALLER CHARGE EARLIER AS THE SERVICES AT THE VARIOUS CONTROL POINTS IMPROVE,* HE SAID.
--------o ---------
HOUSING PROBLEMS OF ELDERLY STUDIED * * *
AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN SET UP TO LOOK INTO THE HOUSING PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO LIVE IN BOARDING HOUSES IN SUB-STANDARD PRIVATE TENEMENT BLOCKS IN THE OLDER URBAN DISTRICTS - THE SO-CALLED +CAGED-MAN*, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID, +1 AGREE THAT THE MOST SATISFACTORY LONG TERM SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM IS THE REHOUSING OF THESE UNFORTUNATE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING OR IN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY, BUT CLEARLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS AIM IMMEDIATELY AND I THINK WE SHOULD SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE IN THE INTERIM TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS IN THESE BOARDING HOUSES.*
/HE SAIL
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 35 -
HE SAID THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAD BEEN MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING TO MEET THE SHORTFALLS IN THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY, AND FOR ENSURING THAT A PROPER INTEGRATION OF FACILITIES WAS ACHIEVED.
AND SHE HAD BEEN ASKED TO REVIEW THE PLANNING STANDARDS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE LIGHT OF CURRENT DEMAND.
THE PRIMARY AIM, MR CHAMBERS SAID, WAS TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT WOULD ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO RETAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT AND TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
THE PRIME NEED WAS OF COURSE FINANCIAL AND ONE OF THE MAIN TASKS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM WAS TO ENSURE THAT SUCH PEOPLE HAD SUFFICIENT INCOME TO MAINTAIN A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT 63 PER CENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WERE OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE. A FURTHER 211 000 PEOPLE RECEIVED THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, REPRESENTING 84 PER CENT OF ALL THOSE AGED 70 OR OVER.
AT PRESENT 11.3 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION ARE AGED OVER 60 AND THIS PROPORTION WAS EXPECTED TO GROW TO 13.4 PER CENT BY 1994.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.
PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 60 WHOSE INCOME WAS BELOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY LIMIT, WHO WERE IN NEED OF HOUSING, AND WERE CAPABLE CF LOOKING AFTER THEMSELVES, WERE ELIGIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATION UNDER THE GOLD COIN HOUSING SCHEME OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
ABOUT 600 PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN HOUSED IN 103 SHARED FLATo IN SHA TIN AND WAN CHAI AND THE SCHEME MIGHT BE EXPANDED WHEN OTHER SUITABLE PREMISES COULD BE LOCATED, HE POINTED OUT.
A FURTHER CATEGORY OF ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY CONSISTED OF THE HOSTELS OPERATED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, HE SAID.
FOR THOSE LESS ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES THERE *ERE HOMES FOR THE AGED.
/THERE WERE .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
THERE WERE ALSO PLACES IN CARE-AND-ATTENTI ON HOMES FOR THOSE REQUIRING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF NURSING CARE, AND INFIRMARY PLACES FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED A GREATER DEGREE OF NURSING AND MEDICAL ATTENTION.
ON AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR CHAMBERS SAID THIS SHOULD ENABLE THE CHANGING NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE TO BE MET IN A SINGLE LOCATION.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD PROVIDE AND OPERATE HOSTELS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WHOSE PRIMARY NEED WAS FOR ADEQUATE ACCOMMODATION WAS BEING EXPLORED.
IF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WERE ABLE TO ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MEETING THIS PARTICULAR NEED, THE WELFARE AGENCIES WOULD BE ABLE TO REDNER OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELLING, PERSONAL CARE AND SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.
HE BELIEVED THAT THESE MEASURES WOULD ENABLE THE ACCOMMODATION NEEDS OF HONG KONG’S EXPANDING POPULATION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE TO BE MET IN WAYS THAT WERE BEST SUITED TO EACH INDIVIDUAL’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
ON PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES IN THE ORGANISATION AND FINANCING CF GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, MR CHAMBERS SAID THESE WERE PARTICULARLY TIMELY SINCE, A FIRM OF CONSULTANTS HAD RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED TO REVIEW THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE DELIVERY CF MEDICAL SERVICES.
HE SAID THAT BOTH PROPOSALS FOR THE MANAGEMENT
CF HOSPITALS AND CLINICS BY AUTONOMOUS BOARDS OF GOVERNORS WITH BLOCK GRANTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF FINANCING THROUGH A FORM OF MEDICAL INSURANCE, WOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY THE CONSULTANTS.
ON THE SUGGESTION THAT GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS SHOULD IN FUTURE BE OPERATED BY THE COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT CERTAIN PROBLEMS WOULD ARISE IF PRIVATE DOCTORS WERE TO TAKE OVER COMPLETELY THE OPERATION OF GOVERNMENT OUTPATIENT CLINICS.
I
HE SAID THAT THE CURATIVE ROLE OF THESE CLINICS WAS ONLY ONE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS, AS THEIR ROLE IN THE SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF LOCAL EPIDEMIC AND ENDEMIC DISEASES WAS AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT.
/♦THESE FUNCTIONS .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL V,’, 1985
- 57 -
+THESE FUNCTIONS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S MEASURES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, AND IN MY VIEW AND THAT OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ABSOLVE ITSELF COMPLETELY FROM THESE RESPONSIBIL ITIES,+ HE EXPLAINED.
WITH REGARD TO STANDARD COST ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUBSIDISING THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY NON-PROFIT MAKING BODIES, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT THE STANDARD COST SYSTEM HAD BEEN INTRODUCED FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, BUT SOME DIFFICULTIES HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED.
HE SAID THAT WHEN STANDARD COST WAS INTRODUCED IT WAS DECIDED TO BASE THE STAFF ELEMENT OF THE GRANTS ON THE MID-POINTS OF SALARY SCALES, BUT THIS HAD RESULTED IN OVER-LARGE SUBVENTIONS BEING PAID TO A NUMBER OF AGENCIES.
A WAY WAS BEING SOUGHT TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM, BUT HE FEARED THAT IT MIGHT HAVE TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF FLEXIBILITY, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSAL THAT AGENCIES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RAISE THEIR OWN FUNDS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE THAN THE AGREE! STANDARD, MR CHAMBERS SAID THIS WAS POSSIBLE UNDER THE PRESENT SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION SYSTEM.
HE SAID THAT THE UNFORTUNATE +SEE-SAW+ EFFECT, WHICH HAD RESULTED IN MONEY RAISED BY THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES BEING DEDUCTED FROM THEIR SUBVENTIONS WAS ABOLISHED SOME YEARS AGO.
BUT HE MAINTAINED THAT THE WHOLE QUESTION OF SUBVENTION ARRANGEMENTS WAS CLEARLY A SUBJECT WHICH NEEDED FURTHER STUDY.
--------0----------
WEDNESu ,f, APRIL 17, 1935
- 38 -
GOVERNOR GOING TO LONDON *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL MAKE A SHORT VISIT TO LONDON EARLY NEXT WEEK (APRIL 22, 23 AND 24).
HIS PRIMARY PURPOSE WILL BE TO GIVE HMG A REPORT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG, IN PARTICULAR THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THE SEPTEMBER ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW OTHER CURRENT ISSUES. DURING HIS VISIT HE HOPES ALSO TO MEET A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
------o-------
EXCO APPROVES INCREASES IN TRANSPORT FEES
*****
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED INCREASES IN THE FEES FOR VEHICLE EXAMINATIONS AND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSPORT FEES AND CHARGES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY. THE INCREASES WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM APRIL 19.
REGULAR EXAMINATIONS TO CHECK THE ROADWORTHINESS OF VEHICLES ARE CARRIED OUT TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND TO CUT DOWN TRAFFIC CONGESTION CAUSED BY VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS. AT PRESENT, ALL PASSENGER SERVICE VEHICLES (BUSES, LIGHT BUSES AND TAXIS), ALL GOODS VEHICLES OVER 9 YEARS OLD AND ALL PRIVATE CARS OVER 12 YEARS OLD HAVE TO BE EXAMINED ANNUALLY AT A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE BEFORE THEY CAN BE RE-LICENSED.
THE REVENUE FROM VEHICLE EXAMINATION FEES IS DESIGNED TO RECOVER THE FULL COSTS OF THE SERVICE. A RECENT REVIEW INDICATED THAT THE EXISTING FEES, WHICH WERE SET IN JULY 1982, ARE INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THESE COSTS.
THE FEE FOR EACH TYPE OF VEHICLE WILL BE INCREASED BY 35 PER CENT AND THE EFFECT OF THIS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
TYPE OF VEHICLE
(1) MOTORCYCLE
(2) PRIVATE CAR
(3) TAXI OR TRAILER
PRESENT FEE $ NEw FEE $
25 35
120 160
120 160
/(A' GOODS ........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 59 -
U) GOODS VEHICLE (WITH A PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT OF 5.5 TONNES OR BELOW) 150 200
(5) GOODS VEHICLE (WITH A 220 300
PERMITTED GROSS VEHICLE
WEIGHT OF OVER 5.5 TONNES)
(6) LIGHT BUS 150 200
(7) SINGLE-DECKED BUS 190 260
(8) DOUBLE-DECKED BUS 220 300
THE NEW, HIGHER FEES WILL NOT NEED TO BE PAID BY VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE BOOKED EXAMINATIONS BEFORE APRIL 19 AND PAID THE FEE IN ADVANCE.
A FOUR-MONTH VEHICLE LICENCE COSTS 35 PER CENT OF THE APPROPRIATE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE PLUS AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE OF $15. THE ADDITIONAL $15 IS DESIGNED TO DISCOURAGE THE PURCHASE OF FOUR-MONTH LICENCES BECAUSE THEY INCREASE OVERALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. THIS FEE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $15 TO $30 TO COVER INCREASES IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS SINCE 1967 WHEN IT WAS LAST REVISED.
THE FEES FOR VARIOUS MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES AND PERMITS WILL ALSO BE RAISED EITHER TO COVER INCREASES IN COSTS SINCE THEY WERE LAST REVISED OR TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH SIMILAR FEES. THE FEES AFFECT ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF MOTORISTS. THE DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:-
TYPE OF FEE EXISTING FEE NEW FEE
(1) REGISTRATION FEE 20 30
(2) TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION MARK FEE 500 560
(3) TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP FEE 15 50
(4) DUPLICATE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT OR VEHICLE LICENCE FEE 50 60
REMARKS
/($) DUPLICATE.........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
40 -
(5) DUPLICATE TRADE LICENCE OR DUPLICATE PERMIT FEE 10 60 TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH (4) ABOVE
(6) INTERNATIONAL FISCAL PERMIT 15 50 TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THE FEE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT
(7) INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE 15 50 - DITTO -
(8) CERTIFICATE OF MAXIMUM LOAD AND MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE WEIGHT 15 50 - DITTO -
(9) EXCEES PASSENGERS PERMIT 100 120 ■*
(10) MOVEMENT PERMIT 100 120
(11) LONG LOAD PERMIT 25 30
(12) WIDE LOAD PERMIT 25 30
(13) FEE FOR TESTING DRIVING INSTRUCTORS 150 330 TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH THE FEE FOR TESTING LEARNER DRIVERS
(14) FEE FOR DUPLICATE DRIVING LICENCE, LEARNERS LICENCE OR INSTRUCTORS LICENCE 50 75 TO BRING IT INTO LINE WITH FEE FOR A DUPLICATE HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED THE INTRODUCTION OF
A FEE FOR CLOSED ROAD PERMITS FOR THE USE OF ROADS ON LANTAU. THESc. PERMITS WERE PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FREE-OF-CHARGE BUT IN FUTURE A 12-MONTH PERMIT WILL COST $120 OR PROPORTIONATELY LESS FOR A PERMIT WITH A SHORTER VALIDITY PERIOD. THE FEE HAS BEEN SET TO COVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
-----o------
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1935
41
1984 AIRBORNE MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS RELEASED
******
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE BY AIR IN 1984 WAS VALUED AT $104 181 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 27 PER CENT OVER 1983, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE VALUED AT $39 023 MILLION (UP 27%), AIRBORNE IMPORTS AT $47 198 MILLION (UP 27%) AND AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS AT $17 961 MILLION (UP 30%).
IN 1984, 28 PER CENT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 21 PER CENT OF IMPORTS AND 22 PER CENT OF RE-EXPORTS, ALL BY VALUE, WERE CARRIED BY AIR. IN TERMS OF WEIGHT, AIRBORNE IMPORTS AMOUNTED TO 162 457 TONNE OR 0.4 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL IMPORT TONNAGE, WHILE TOTAL AIRBORNE EXPORTS AMOUNTED TO 254 689 TONNE OR 1.6 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL EXPORT TONNAGE.
THE CHANGES IN AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR MARKET ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 1.
BY COMMODITY, INCREASES IN AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED MAINLY IN CLOTHING (BY $3 682 MILLION OR 35%), OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $2 853 MILLION OR 74%), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY $778 MILLION OR 29%)» AND JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF PRECIOUS OR SEMI-PRECIOUS MATERIALS (BY $606 MILLION OR 47%).
DECREASES IN VALUE WERE RECORDED IN AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $231 MILLION OR 19%)I METALLIFEROUS ORES AND ^ETAL SCRAP (BY $138 MILLION OR 16%)? AND LEATHER, LEATHER MANUFACTURES AND DRESSED FURSKINS (BY $6 MILLION OR 39%).
FURTHER ANALYSIS OF COMMODITIES BY COUNTRY REVEALED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF CLOTHING TO THE U.S. (BY $2 388 MILLION OR 40%) AND JAPAN (BY $691 MILLION OR 72%), CF OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT TO THE U.S. (BY $1 386 MILLION OR 48%) AND THE U.K. (BY $807 MILLION OR 373%), AND OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS TO THE U.S. (BY $185 MILLION OR 16%) AND TAIWAN (BY $110 MILLION OR 48%).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS CF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT TO THE U.S. (BY $250 MILLION OR 29%) AND METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP TO THE U.K. (BY $311 MILLION OR 45%).
THE CHANGES IN AIRBORNE IMPORTS BY MAJOR SUPPLIER ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 2.
/INCREASES WERE .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
42
INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN AIRBORNE IMPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY >3 411 MILLION OR 33%), OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $2 374 MILLION OR 93%), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $706 MILLION OR 67%), LEATHER, LEATHER MANUFACTURES, AND DRESSED FURSKINS (BY $569 MILLION OR 63%) AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES (BY $455 MILLION OR 13%).
IN CONTRAST, DECREASES WERE NOTED IN IMPORTS BY AIR OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD AND AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES (BY $237 MILLION OR 32%) AND CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS (BY $54 MILLION OR 9%).
GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN AIRBORNE IMPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS FROM JAPAN (BY $1 262 MILLION OR 41%) AND THE U.S. (BY $989 MILLION OR 33%), AS WELL AS IN OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT FROM THE U.S. (BY $1 266 MILLION OR 77%) AND JAPAN (BY $305 MILLION OR 73%).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN AIRBORNE IMPORTS OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD AND AIR-CUSHION VEHICLES FROM THE U.S. (BY $201 MILLION OR 35%), FROM FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (BY $29 MILLION OR 45%) AND FROM JAPAN (BY $21 MILLION OR 98%).
AS REGARDS AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN VALUE WERE REGISTERED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS (BY $2 135 MILLION OR 62%) AND BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY $371 MILLION OR 298%).
HOWEVER, AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS OF METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP DECREASED (BY $62 MILLION OR 60%).
THE U.S. WAS THE LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS, WITH A VALUE OF $3 630 MILLION (AN INCREASE OF $1 270 MILLION OR 54%). NOTABLE INCREASES WERE ALSO REGISTERED IN ftIRBOR..-RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN (BY $950 MILLION OR 54%), CHINA (BY $636 MILLION OR 78%), JAPAN (BY $446 MILLION OR 36%) AND THE REPUBLIC CF KOREA (BY $322 MILLION OR 49%). }
ON THE OTHER HAND, AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS TO ISRAEL AND NETHERLANDS DECREASED CONSIDERABLY (BY $88 MILLION OR 39% AND $79 MILLION OR 34% RESPECTIVELY). )
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE DECEMBER ISSUE OF +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE+ NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE.
/TABLE 1:
$■
WEDNESDAY, -RIL 17, 1985
TAELE 1: AIRBORNE DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR MARKET
1984 (HKS MN.) 1983 (HKS MN.) INCREASE (+) (HKS MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
U.S.A. 19 972 15 169 +4 802 +32
F.R. OF GERMANY 3 101 2 648 + 453 + 17
U.K. 2 831 2 261 + 570 +25
JAPAN 2 830 1 893 + 937 +49
CANADA 1 215 1 118 + 97 + 9
NETHERLANDS 950 715 + 235 +33
SWITZERLAND 800 766 + 33 + 4
FRANCE 757 568 + 189 +33
SINGAPORE 747 547 + 200 +37
AUSTRALIA 544 521 + 24 + 5
TABLE 2: AIRBORNE IMPORTS BY MAJOR SUPPLIER
1984 (HK$ MN.) 1983 (HKS MN.) INCREASE (+) (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
JAPAN 11 519 9 110 +2 409 +26
U. S. A. 10 707 7 966 +2 741 +34
U.K. 3 046 2 121 + 925 +44
TAIWAN 2 437 2 360 + 378 + 18
SWITZERLAND 2 368 2 303 + 68 + 3
SINGAPORE 2 230 1 882 + 348 + 19
F.R. OF GERMANY 1 971 1 414 + 557 +39
REP. OF KOREA 1 718 1 535 + 183 + 12
ITALY 1 402 1 117 + 285 +26
FRANCE 1 266 976 + 290 +33
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WEDNESDAY, »PRIL 17, 1935
U4
FUNDS SOUGHT FOR AIDS TEST IN BLOOD
******
FUNDS WILL BE SOUGHT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO ENABLE ALL DONATED BLOOD TO BE SCREENED FOR EVIDENCE OF INFECTION WITH AIDS AND TO PROVIDE LABORATORY FACILITIES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF SUSPECTED AIDS CASES.
THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AT ITS PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD AFTER THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.
THE REQUEST FOR FUNDS IS BASED ON A RECOMMENDATION BY THE EXPERT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AIDS SET UP BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT FOLLOWS THE RECENT LICENSING IN THE UNITED STATES OF A SCREENING TEST FOR ANTIBODY TO THE AIDS VIRUS, USING THE ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELIZA) TECHNIQUE.
IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT ALL DONATED BLOOD IN HONG KONG SHOULD EE TESTED FOR ANTIBODY TO THE AIDS VIRUS AT THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION CENTRE.
IT IS ALSO FELT ESSENTIAL THAT ADEQUATE SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES BE MADE AVAILABLE TO COVER INDIVIDUALS BELONGING TO THE HIGH RISK GROUPS ON A DOCTOR REFERRAL BASIS, PATIENTS HAVING OR SUSPECTED OF HAVING AIDS, AND FOR THE MEDICAL EVALUATION OF PERSONS WITH A POSITIVE ANTIBODY TEST.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE FUNDS FOR SCREENING AND DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT VIRUS LABORATORY AT QUE^EN MARY HOSPITAL, AND THE INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND YAN 01 POLYCL. IN IC.
FACILITIES SOUGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT VIRUS LABORATORY wILL BE FOR BLOOD TESTS FOR AIDS INFECTION, WHILE THOSE S'.OUGHT FOR THE INSTITUTE OF PATHOLOGY WILL BE FOR TESTS FOR THE STUDY OF THc DEFENCE MECHANISM OF THE BODY AND ITS DEFICIENCY.
TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO ACCEPT VARIOUS FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, ESTIMATED AT SQ67 000 IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND $3 270 000 IN ANNUAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE FIRST YEAR, RISING TO 54 904 000 IN THE SECOND YEAR AND THEREAFTER.
/OTHER ITEMS.......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- U5 -
OTHER ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED AT TOMORROW’S MEETING INCLUDE:
* A PROPOSED RECURRENT SUBVENTION TO THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND,
* INCREASED COMMITMENT FOR SLOPE REMEDIAL WORKS NEAR THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL,
* INTEREST LIABILITIES OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION,
* MONETISATION OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS,
* ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE, AND
* SETTING UP OF A PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN COMPANY TO SERVE HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE.
-----0------
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEET THE MEDIA M M M
THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST, MR LEE NAM-SANG, AND THE CHIEF CHEMIST CF FORENSIC SCIENCE DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY, DR B.N. DA ILLY, WILL MEET THE MEDIA TOMORROW (APRIL 18) AT 4 PM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
-----o------
Ab.....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 46 -
BOARD MEETS TO ELECT CHAIRMAN *****
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD WILL ELECT ITS CHAIRMAN AND REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AT A MEETING ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19).
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS SUITABLE THEMES FOR COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP ISSUE FOR 1987. THE BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM OF PRIVATE STREETS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP WILL BE TABLED FOR MEMBERS’ INFORMATION.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE FORMATION OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES UNDER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, 2ND FLOOR, SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN. THE MEETING WILL START AT 10 AM WITH A CLOSED DOOR SESSION TO ELECT THE DB CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
-----0------
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETS TOMORROW
******
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL ELECT A NEW CHAIRMAN AT ITS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL THEN DISCUSS THE DISTRICT BOARD’S TERMS CF REFERENCE, STANDING ORDERS AND SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS. THEY WILL ALSO CONSIDER INVITING DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES TO ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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A7.....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1935
MOVE TO ENFORCE ORDERS * * *
ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES * * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WILL BE ENFORCING THE OUTSTANDING ORDERS SERVED ON OwNERS OF SAN PO KONG MANSION FOR THE REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES FOLLOWING THE EXPIRY OF THE EXTENDED DEADLINE ON APRIL 1, 1985.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE BOO’S TERM CONTRACTOR WOULD BE ENGAGED TO REMOVE THE ILLEGAL BUILDING WORKS AND DEFECTIVE CONCRETE FINS FOUND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
SINCE JULY LAST YEAR THE BOO HAD ISSUED 413 ORDERS FOR THE REMOVAL OF 657 ITEMS OF ILLEGAL WORKS.
THESE COMPRISED:
* 21 STRUCTURES ON THE FLAT ROOF AT THE FIRST FLOOR LEVEL;
* 445 CAGES AND SIMILAR EXTENSIONS ON THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF THE BUILDING; AND
* 191 CANOPIES AND RACKS.
ANOTHER ORDER, WHICH HAD BEEN OUTSTANDING SINCE SEPTEMBER 1931, REQUIRED THE OWNERS TO REMOVE THE DEFECTIVE CONCRETE FINS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.
+ALTHOUGH MORE THAN 290 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN REMOVED BY OWNERS THEMSELVES, RECENT INSPECTIONS REVEALED THAT NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON THE REMAINING 360 STRUCTURES,* HE SAID.
+AT THE SAME TIME, NO PREPARATIONS HAD BEEN MADE BY THEM TO REMOVE THE DEFECTIVE CONCRETE FINS WHICH ARE A POTENTIAL DANGER TO THE PUBLIC,* HE SAID.
TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR TO START wORK WITHOUT POSING A HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS AND THE PUBLIC ALIKE, THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WILL BE APPLYING TO THE KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT FOR CLOSURE ORDERS TO BE POSTED ON THE FLAT ROOF STRUCTURES LOCATcD ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE BUILDING.
THE FIRST BATCH OF NOTICES OF INTENTION TO CLOSE WILL BE POSTED ON MAY 8 ON THE STRUCTURES AT THE FIRST FLOOR OF NO. 14-16 YIN HING STREET. THE REMAINING FLAT ROOF STRUCTURES WILL BE DEALT WITH AT INTERVALS OF TWO WEEKS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID DETAILS OF THE OPERATION HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OWNERS’ INCORPORATION OF SAN PO KONG MANSION AND THAT CLOSE LIAISON WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE OPERATION.
+OWNERS OF THE BUILDING STILL IN DOUBT ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT STAFF OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OR THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE,* HE ADDED.
- 0 -
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1995
- 48 -
BOOST FOR YOUTH YEAR ACTIVITIES
* * X
ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE 1995 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR RECEIVED A BOOST FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
A DONATION OF $50 000 WAS MADE BY HEWLETT PACKARD (HK) LTD. TO THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 1995 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (CCCIYY) FOR ORGANISING MAJOR EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF THE YEAR.
DURING A CEREMONY, MR J.P. LEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SUB-COMMITTEE OF CCCIYY, WAS PRESENTED WITH A CHEQUE OF THE ABOVE AMOUNT BY MR CLIVE AINSWORTH, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF HEWLETT PACKARD (HK) LTD.
IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE COMPANY’S CONTRIBUTION, MR LEE URGED OTHER PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS TO FOLLOW SUIT.
+HUNDREDS OF ACTIVITIES ARE BEING ORGANISED TO DEVELOP THE POTENTIAL OF OUR YOUTHS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION, AND THE SUCCESS OF THESE ACTIVITIES RELIES HEAVILY ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT,* HE SAI D.
--------o ---------
RARE FLOWER PLANTS ON DISPLAY X X X *
MORE THAN 300 RARE AND VALUABLE ITEMS OF BONSAI AND FLOWER PLANTS WILL BE ON DISPLAY FOR 13 DAYS BEGINNING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE SIXTH ANNUAL BONSAI SHOW ORGANISED BY THE TAOIST CHING CHUNG KOON.
ALSO ON DISPLAY WILL BE WINNING AND OUTSTANDING ENTRIES OF A RECENT BONSAI COMPETITION HELD IN LOCAL SCHOOLS.
THE SHOW IS JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION. ADMISSION IS FREE.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING.
OTHER GUESTS INCLUDE THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN; THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES, MR MICHAEL SUEN ; TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RlCKY FUNG; AND the principal education officer (nt), mr y.p. chan.
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A9.....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
*+9
WORKS TO IMPROVE ISLANDS LANDSCAPE
* * *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE OF THREE ISLANDS.
UNDER THE ISLANDS LANDSCAPE PROJECT 1985, IT IS PROPOSED TO PLANT 1 1OQ TREES, SEEDLINGS AND SHRUBS ALONG THE PROMENADES AT THE NORTH-WEST OF CHEUNG CHAU AND PENG CHAU, AND REVEGETATE A 2 500-SQUARE-METRE NATURAL SLOPE AT TAI LEI ISLAND.
THE PLANTING AND REVEGETATING WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE WALKWAYS OF CHEUNG CHAU AND PENG CHAU AND TO ENRICH THE VEGETATION OF TAI LEI ISLAND.
THE WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN MAY AND WILL CONTINUE FOR UP TO TWO MONTHS WITH ONE YEAR MAINTENANCE PERIOD TO FOLLOW.
THE PLANTING WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT BRANCH OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
--------0----------
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
******
IN SHAU KEI WAN
FROM 1 AM TO 7 AM ON SUNDAY CARRIAGEWAY OF SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET AND CHAI WAN ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
(APRIL 21), THE WESTBOUND
STREET EAST BETWEEN FACTORY
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR FOOTBRIDGE
DURING THE CLOSURE, FACTORY
STREET
BETWEEN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN
WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
STREET EAST AND MONG LUNG STREET ---------
WESTBOUND VEHICLES ON SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST WILL HAVE TO PROCEED TO NAM ON LANE FROM FACTORY STREET VIA THE TEMPORARY LINK ROAD THERE, AFTER WHICH THEY MAY ENTER SHAU KEI wAN ROAD
WESTBOUND.
STING PUBLIC LIGHT LY RELOCATED TO MONG
UNTIL 7 AM THE
IN LINE WITH THE ABOVE MEASURES, THE EXI BUS STAND AT FACTORY STREET WILL BE TEMPORARI LUNG STREET FROM 11 PM ON SATURDAY (APRIL 20)
FOLLOWING DAY.
/TRAM SERVICES .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
- 50 -
*
\ TRAM SERVICES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL ALSO BFAFF|CTED AND WILL START LATER THAN USUAL ON SUNDAY (APRIL 21). THE DETAILS ARE .
FROM SHAU KE I WAN TO WESTERN MARKET FIRST DEPARTURE
7.09 AM
SHAU KEI WAN HAPPY VALLEY 7.H AM
WESTERN MARKET SHAU KEI 'WAN 6.25 AM
HAPPY VALLEY SHAU KEI WAN 6.38 AM
PRIOR TO THE ABOVE TIMES, TRAM SERVICES WILL BE CUT OFF
AT SAI WAN HO.
-------o---------
ROAD CLOSED TO FACILITATE PROCESSION
******
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ALONG NATHAN ROAD ON SATURDAY (APRIL 20) TO FACILITATE A PROCESSION TO BE HELD TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE SALVATION ARMY COMMAND HEADQUARTERS.
THE SECTION OF WING SING LANE EAST OF SOUTHBOUND NATHAN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM TO 12.33 PM.
THE METERED PARKING SPACES AND THE TAXI STAND AT THE ABOVE SECTION OF WING SING LANE WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 3 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19) TO 3 PM ON SATURDAY (APRIL 20).
-----0------
/51 .......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 19^5
- 51 -
URBCO FLOWER SHOW SET TO BLOSSOM
******
VISITORS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FLOwER SHOW, WHICH OPENS ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AN ARRAY OF BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS SPECIALLY FLOWN IN FROM AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA, HOLLAND, HAWAII, THAILAND AND SINGAPORE.
THE SPECIES RANGE FROM RARE AND EXPENSIVE ORCHIDS TO MORE COMMONPLACE BUT EQUALLY ATTRACTIVE VARIETIES OF FLOWERS.
IN ADDITION, A LARGE COLLECTION OF ROSES OF RED, PINK, WHITE. BLUE AND YELLOW COLOUR FROM AUSTRALIA WILL ALSO BE ON DISPLAY SIDE BY SIDE WITH A TOTALLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF HIGH QUALITY BONSAI PLANT.
ANOTHER ATTRACTION WILL BE A GALLERY DEPICTING PICTURES CF NATIONAL OR REPRESENTATIVE FLOWERS OF SOME 20 COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
THE FLOWER SHOW, THE 18TH TO BE ORGANISED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL BE HELD AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN AND THE EXHIBITION HALL OF THE CITY HALL.
IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 3 P.M. TO 6.33 P.M. ON THE FIRST DAY, FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 6.30 P.M. ON SATURDAY AND FROM 9.30 P.M. TO 5.45 P.M. ON SUNDAY. ADMISSION WILL BE S3 FOR AN ADULT AND $1 FOR A CHILD.
THIS YEAR, A RECORD NUMBER OF 1 423 EXHIBITS FROM 501 INDIVIDUALS WILL TAKE PART IN THE 13 COMPETITIVE SECTIONS COVERING CUT FLOWERS, SCENTED CUT FLOwERS, ORCHIDS, AFRICAN VIOLETS, POT PLANTS, BONSAI TYPE PLANTS, FLORAL ARRANGEMENT, FLORAL ART BY CHILDREN, USD GARDEN COMPETITION AND SCHOOL GARDEN COMPETITION.
A NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR WILL BE THE SPLITTING OF THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT SECTION INTO WESTERN AND ORIENTAL STYLES, AND THE INCLUSION OF A +MINIATURE BONSAI+ CLASS IN THE BONSAI TYPE PLANTS SECTION.
FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC, THERE WILL BE 24 COMMERCIAL STALLS AT THE SHO* SELLING A WIDE RANGE OF FLOWERS, PLANTS AND HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU «RE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/
PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OPENING AND THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONIES OF THE FLC'WER SHO* WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2.33 P.M. AND 5.30 P.;. RESPECTIVELY ON FRIDAY AT THE CIT, HALL MEMORIAL GARDEN.
--------0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: +AN EXERCISE IN ACCOUNTABILITY* ............................. 1
MFR ISLAND LINE OPINING MAY 31 ........................... 1
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES BILL INTRODUCED ................ 2
UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY SOUGHT FOR ESTATES BOARD ............. 3
BILL CLEARS WAY FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS ...................... 5
AUDITING OF CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND PROPOSED........... 5
CODE FOR +CONTENTIOUS ISSUSf PROPOSED .................... 6
POLYTECHNIC WELL-POISED TO MOVE FORWARD .................. 9
CON sum COUNCIL NOW +FIRMLY ESTABLISHED .................. 10
BILL PASSED............................................... 11
LAND AUCTION NEPS $789M...................................... 12
INSURANCE FEES INCREASED .................................... 13
INSIGNIA PRESENTATION ....................................... 13
CUSTOMERS MAY NOW CLAIM PRECIOUS METAL ...................... U
FOURTH QUARTER RESTAURANT SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED ........... 14
LADY YOUDE SPENDS BUSY AFTERNOON IN WAN CHAI ................ 16
TWO DISTRICT BOARDS TO ELECT CHAIRMEN ....................... 16
COUNCILLORS SEE FOR THEMSELVES HAWKER PROBLEMS............... 17
EMPLOYERS URGED TO OFFER SUMMER JOBS ........................ 18
YOUTHS URGED TO JOIN DESIGN CONTEST ......................... 19
MJ SIC TRAINEES TO GIVE CONCERT ............................. 19
NEW BOARD TO START PUBLIC SESSION ........................... 20
FLOWER SHOW DRAWS CROWDS .................................... 20
CHAIRMAN ELECTED AT BOARD MEETING............................ 21
LABOUR OFFICE MOVES TO NEW PREMISES ......................... 21
1
THur.S APRIL 18, 1.935
+AN EXERCISE IN ACCOUNTABILITY+ *****
THE RECORD OF WRITTEN AND ORAL ANSWERS RAISED AT THE PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AMOUNTED TO A CONSCIENTIOUS AND VERY PRACTICAL EXERCISE IN ACCOUNTABILITY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AND IT WAS ONE WHICH MIGHT WELL BE NOTED BY STUDENTS OF THAT
SUBJECT, HE ADDED.
TABLING THE REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1986, SIR PHILIP SAID THE RECORD OF THESE WRITTEN AND ORAL ANSwERS ..AS ANNEXED TO THE REPORT, AMOUNTING TO NO LESS THAN 393 PAGES OF TYPESCRIPT.
AT THE SAME TIME, SIR PHILIP SAID, THE REPORT REFLECTED MEMBERS’ PAINSTAKING EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, AN EXAMINATION DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS REQUESTED WERE NO MORE THAN WAS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE EXECUTION OF APPROVED POLICIES.
HE SAID THAT DURING THE COMMITTEE’S MEETINGS, WHICH WERE HELD IN PUBLIC OVER FOUR AFTERNOONS, THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 71 HEADS OF EXPENDITURE SUBMITTED WRITTEN ANSWERS TO 359 QUESTIONS, AND THAT 43 OF THEM WERE CALLED TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN PERSON.
THEY GAVE ORAL ANSWERS TO 221 QUESTIONS OF WHICH THEY HAD RECEIVED PREVIOUS NOTIFICATION, AND RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 200 SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS. SIR °HILIP SAID.
-----o------
MTR ISLAND LINE OPENING MAY 31 * * * M
THE MTR ISLAND LINE WILL OPEN TO PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN ADMIRALTY AND CHAI WAN ON MAY 31, FIVE WEEKS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IT WOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE BUDGET OF $11 BILLION, SIR JOHN SAID WHEN TABLING THE ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1984.
HE NOTED THAT THE MTR WAS THE ONLY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE WORLD WHOSE UNSUBSIDISED FARE REVENUES WERE SUFFICIENT TO COVER ALL COSTS, INCLUDING DEPRECIATION, PLUS A USEFUL OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN. SIR JOHN ALSO SAID THAT IT WAS THE MOST DENSELY UTILISED MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY IN THE WORLD.
/LAST YLAB.........
THURSL. , APRIL 18, 1985
- 2
LAST YEAR, THE MTR CARRIED 411 MILLION PASSENGERS, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE 412 MILLION IN 1983. TOTAL FARE AND OTHER RECURRENT REVENUES EARNED BY THE CORPORATION ROSE BY 13 PER CENT TO 551 168 MILLION. '
♦OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE DEPRECIATION INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT TO $647 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO 55 PER CENT OF REVENUE. THE PROFIT BEFORE INTEREST AND FINANCE CHARGES INCREASED TO $318 MILLION, A 26 PER CENT IMPROVEMENT ON 1983.
♦BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO SERVICE HEAVY INTEREST AND FINANCE CHARGES, THE CORPORATION SUFFERED A LOSS OF $355 MILLION, WHICH IS 53 PER CENT LESS THAN 1983. THE PROFITS REALISED FROM PROPERTY DEVELOPMENTS AND REDUCED INTEREST CHARGES AS A RESULT CF THE STRONG HONG KONG DOLLAR LAST YEAR HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THIS REDUCTION,+ HE SAID.
NEW LOAN FACILITIES NEGOTIATED BY THE CORPORATION DURING 1984 TOTALLED $3.5 BILLION. BY THE END OF 1984 LOANS RAISED BY THE CORPORATION TOTALLED $26.5 BILLION. AS A RESULT OF THE CUMULATIVE LOSSES SUFFERED BY THE CORPORATION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS AT YEAR END WERE REDUCED TO $2 843 MILLION.
♦THE GOVERNMENT SHARES THE CORPORATION’S CONCERN ABOUT THE RATE AT WHICH THE SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS ARE BEING DEPLETED AND IS NOW CONSIDERING SUITABLE MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE CORPORATION’S FINANCIAL POSITION,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
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PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES BILL INTRODUCED *****
THE PURPOSE OF THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) BILL 1985 WAS TO FULFILL THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S OBLIGATION UNDER THE TERMS OF ANNEX II TO PROVIDE DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES FOR THE FIVE CHINESE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP FOR MEETINGS IN HONG KONG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR THOMAS NOTED THAT CLAUSE 10 OF ANNEX II TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION PROVIDED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP SHOULD ENJOY PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES AS APPROPRIATE WHEN IN THE THREE LOCATIONS FOR NESTINGS OF THE GROUP, WHICH WERE BEIJING, LONDON AND HONG KONG.
♦THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE EXCHANGE OF INSTRUMENTS OF RATIFICATION CAN TAKE PLACE,+ MR THOMAS SAID.
/HE SAID .......
THujxoj. APRIL 18, 1985
HE SAID THAT A SEPARATE AND SELF-CONTAINED ORDINANCE WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EXISTING LEGISLATION WHICH COULD BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.
+THE SCHEDULE OF THE BILL SETS OUT THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES TO BE ENJOYED. THESE ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE AS LAID DOWN IN THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS,+ HE SAID.
MR THOMAS SAID SOME FURTHER PROVISION MIGHT LATER HAVE TO BE MADE FOR THE EXPERTS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, AS WELL AS FOR THE CHINESE MEMBERS AND SUPPORTING STAFF OF THE LAND COMMISSION TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE SEVEN OF ANNEX I I I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION.
+DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ABOUT SUCH ARRANGEMENTS. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE EITHER AMENDMENTS TO THIS BILL, OR LATER A SUPPLEMENTARY BILL TO DEAL WITH THOSE FURTHER MATTERS,* MR THOMAS SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
- - 0 - -
UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY SOUGHT FOR ESTATES BOARD
*****
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL IS TO PROVIDE THAT THE SIZE OF THE CORPORATION’S BOARD BE INCREASED BY ONE, AND CHANGED TO PERMIT AN UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR HO SAID THE OPPORTUNITY WAS ALSO TAKEN TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE CF THE CORPORATION MIGHT BE A PUBLIC OFFICER.
HE SAID THAT THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 WITH THE BASIC PURPOSES OF DEVELOPING, LETTING AND MANAGING THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT TAI PO AND YUEN LONG.
+DURING THE FIRST THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF ITS LIFE, DEMAND FOR SITES AT THE TAI PO ESTATE, THE FIRST TO BE DEVELOPED, WAS BR ISK.
+SUBSEQUENTLY, HOWEVER, INTEREST AMONG INDUSTRIALISTS SLACKENED FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. THESE INCLUDED THE DROP IN PROPERTY PRICES WHICH MADE LAND IN THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, THE PRICE OF WHICH WAS LINKED TO THE COSTS OF DEVELOPMENT, LESS COMPETITIVE WITH SITES AND PREMISES ELSEWHERE,* MR HO SAID.
/HE WAS
I'ilUfiSUx, APJuL 18, 1985
HE WAS PLEASED TO ADD THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INTEREST RECENTLY, HE SAID.
ALSO, MR HO SAID, THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ESTATE WAS NOW NEARING COMPLETION, AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CORPORATION WAS DUE TO RETIRE ON MAY 31, 1985.
THEREFORE TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE BOARD OF THE CORPORATION DECIDED THAT IT DID NOT WISH TO APPOINT A NEW PERMANENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE, AND THAT FOR THE TIME BEING IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY WAS APPOINTED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BECAUSE OF HIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT.
+AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS REALISED THAT THIS APPOINTMENT WOULD RESULT IN AN OFFICIAL MAJORITY ON THE BOARD, BECAUSE SECTION 7 OF THE CORPORATION’S ORDINANCE AS IT STANDS DOES NOT PERMIT THE APPOINTMENT OF MORE THAN THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, WHEREAS SUB-SECTION 1(D) PERMITS THE APPOINTMENT OF FOUR PUBLIC G-FICERS IN ADDITION TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, WHO IS AT PRESENT NOT A PUBLIC OFFICER.
♦ACCORDINGLY, THE BILL BEFORE COUNCIL SEEKS TO INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE BOARD BY ONE, AND THROUGH NOT PROVIDING FOR ANY LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO MAY BE APPOINTED, WITHIN THE OVERALL SIZE OF THE BOARD PRESCRIBED, WILL GIVE THE DESIRED FLEXIBILITY IN THE MIX OF MEMBERS,+ MR HO SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THESE VARIOUS CHANGES WERE NOT INTENDED TO CONVERT THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION INTO A PART CT THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, OR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT.
♦THE INTENTION IS THAT THE CHAIRMAN WILL REMAIN AN UNOFFICIAL, SUBJECT TO THE ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL, TWO ADDITIONAL MEMBERS WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE BOARD TO GIVE IT AN UNOFFICIAL MAJORITY; ALL IMPORTANT DECISIONS, INCLUDING THE ALLOCATION OF LAND, WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN BY THE BOARD; AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CORPORATION WILL BE REVIEWED BY JUNE 30, 1986.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
5
BILL CLEARS WAY FOR DIRECT PAYMENTS * * * *
IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF ANNEX I I I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG THAT PREMIUM INCOME FROM LAND TRANSACTIONS SHOULD BE PAID DIRECTLY INTO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND INSTEAD OF BEING PASSED THROUGH GENERAL REVENUE AS AT PRESENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, SIR JOHN SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED, IN ORDER TO ENABLE THIS COUNCIL TO SPECIFY BY RESOLUTION THAT CERTAIN MONEYS SHOULD BE CREDITED DIRECTLY TO A FUND WITHOUT THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATION.
HE SAID HE INTENDED, ON ENACTMENT OF THE BILL, TO MOVE A RESOLUTION UNDER THE AMENDED SECTION 29 THAT WOULD CAUSE LAND REVENUE TO BE PAID DIRECTLY INTO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND.
SUCH MONEYS WOULD BE DEEMED TO BE APPROPRIATED, HE SAID.
+FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WILL EXTEND TO RESOLUTIONS ALREADY PASSED THAT SPECIFY THE CREDITING OF CERTAIN MONEYS DIRECTLY TO FUNDS,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
- 0 - -
AUDITING OF CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND PROPOSED * * X *
IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE STATUS OF THE ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND SHOULD BE PLACED BEYOND QUESTION, SO AS TO DEMONSTRATE CLEARLY THAT THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WERE BEING COMPLIED WITH, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE USE TO BE MADE IN FUTURE OF THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND WAS LAID DOWN IN ANNEX I I I OF THE AGREEMENT, SIR JOHN SAID WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985.
HE SAID THAT THE BILL SOUGHT TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND TO BE TRANSMITTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.
/+HE WILL
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
6
+HE WILL EXAMINE AND AUDIT THESE ACCOUNTS, PREPARE A REPORT THEREON AND SUBMIT IT TO YOU, SIR, AS PRESIDENT OF JHE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THE ACCOUNTS, DULY CERTIFIED BY
HIM.
+THE BILL IS TO COME INTO OPERATION WHEN THE JOINT DECLARATION ENTERS INTO FORCE,* SIR JOHN SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
-----o------
CODE FOR +CONTENTIOUS ISSUE* PROPOSED * * * *
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD SUGGESTED THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION TO THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY CF ACCOUNTANTS THAT THE +CONTENTIOUS+ ISSUE OF RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL AUDITORS MIGHT BE BEST HANDLED BY MEANS OF A CODE OF PRACTICE ISSUED BY THE SOCIETY, THE HON W.C.L. BROWN SAID AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
+WITH THIS, WE ARE CONVINCED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG WILL BE UPHELD IN WHAT IS PROBABLY A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY FOR A BODY OF PROFESSIONALS,* F£ SAID.
HE NOTED THAT WHEN THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED ITS MAIN PURPOSE APPEARED TO BE NO MORE THAN A STRAIGHTFORWARD, REASONABLE PROPOSAL TO TIGHTEN UP ON THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AUDITORS - IN SIMPLE TERMS TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SIGNING CERTIFICATES WERE PHYSICALLY IN HONG KONG TO SUPERVISE THE WORK IN THEIR OFFICES AND RENDER EXPERT ADVICE TO THEIR CLIENTS.
+THE BILL HAD THE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS, BUT NOT UNFORTUNATELY OF ALL AUDITORS.
+N0 ONE SEEMS TO OBJECT TO THE PRINCIPLE OF A RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT, BUT TO DO SO BY LEGISLATION - AS OPPOSED TO THE INTERNAL RULES OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS - SEEMS TO RAISE OBJECTIONS, TO PUT IT MILDLY, OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS BILL, BY REMOVING CERTAIN VESTED RIGHTS BY LAW, WOULD BE AT LEAST INEQUITABLE, AND AT WORST SERIOUSLY WEAKEN THE COMMUNITY’S FAITH IN OUR LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE RULE OF LAW,* HE SAID.
/MR BROWN .......
THURSDAY, APEIL 18, 1985
MR BROWN EXPLAINED THAT THE COUNCIL’S MONETARY AFFAIRS WORKING GROUP, OF WHICH HE IS THE CONVENER, HAD GONE INTO THE +MINEFIELD OF EMOTIONS+ RAISED BY THESE ISSUES IN SOME DEPTH AND THAT WAS WHY THE EXAMINATION HAD TAKEN A LONG TIME.
HE SAID THE POSITION IN A +NUTSHELL+ WAS AS FOLLOWS:
* FIRSTLY WHEN THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS ORDINANCE --------- WAS ENACTED IT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE EXISTENCE OF THE THEN EXISTING AUTHORISED AUDITORS WHO WERE LISTED UNDER SECTION 131(3) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
'' THESE AUTHORISED AUDITORS WERE RECOGNISED UNDER SECTION 30(4) AND BECAME ENTITLED TO BE ISSUED WITH A PRACTISING CERTIFICATE. THERE WAS NO RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR THIS GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WHO WERE PERMANENT RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG. THIS IS THEIR SO CALLED +VESTED RIGHTS+. ALL OTHER AUDITORS, WHICH INCLUDE NEWCOMERS TO THE PROFESSION IN HONG KONG BOTH CHINESE AND NON-CHINESE, BECAME SUBJECT TO A RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT.
* SECONDLY SINCE THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT IN 1973, TIME ITSELF WILL GRADUALLY REDUCE TO ZERO THE NUMBER OF AUTHORISED AUDITORS.
* THIRDLY ALTHOUGH IN THEORY AN AUTHORISED AUDITOR ---------- COULD - UNDER THE LAW - SPEND MOST OF HIS
TIME OUT OF HONG KONG, AND CONTINUE TO HOLD A PRACTISING CERTIFICATE, WHICH WOULD BE WITHHELD NORMALLY FROM OTHER AUDITORS AS THEY WOULD FAIL THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, ON ENQUIRY THE UNOFFICIALS COULD NOT BE FURNISHED WITH ANY KNOWN ABUSE OF THIS PRIVILEGE.
X FOURTHLY IT IS WITHIN THE CAPABILITY OF THE HONG KONG ----------- SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS TO GOVERN THE CONDUCT OF
ALL ITS MEMBERS BY WAY OF CODES OF PRACTICE.
IN SUMMARY, MR BROWN SAID, IT SEEMED THAT IN REGARD TO THE RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT THE BILL PROVIDED A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT DID NOT EXIST.
/he therefore .......
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
- 8
HE THEREFORE MOVED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE AN AMENDMENT TO DELETE THE WHOLE OF CLAUSE 8 FROM THE BILL.
WHAT REMAINED OF THE BILL WERE NON-CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS TO MAKE A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS ORDINANCE IN REGARD TO ITS DISCIPLINARY RULES AND PROCEDURES AND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, MR BROWN SA-ID.
OPPORTUNITY HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO RECTIFY MINOR DEFECTS IN THE ORDINANCE AND GENERALLY ATTEND TO MATTERS OF A + HOUSE-KEEPI NG* NATURE CONSIDERED NECESSARY BY THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS, HE ADDED.
SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS HAD CONFIRMED ITS AGREEMENT TO THIS APPROACH, WHICH WOULD PERMIT THE REMAINDER OF THE BILL TO BE PASSED.
+IT WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL AND CLARIFY, AS PROPOSED IN CLAUSE 7, THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT TO BE ISSUED WITH A PRACTISING CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 29A OF THE ORDINANCE,* HE SAID.
HE THANKED THE PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY CF ACCOUNTANTS +FOR THEIR PATIENT AND DETAILED RESPONSES TO THE MANY QUESTIONS PUT TO THEM*.
HE ALSO THANKED MR BROWN AND THE MONETARY POLICY GROUP IN UMELCO +FOR THE METICULOUS YET SYMPATHETIC EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUES INVOLVED*.
+THIS PROTRACTED EXERCISE CLEARLY INDICATES THAT THIS COUNCIL IS RESPONSIVE TO MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN EVEN WHERE THE CLAUSE AT ISSUE IN THIS BILL WOULD HAVE AFFECTED ONLY A SMALL, AND DECREASING, NUMBER OF PRACTISING ACCOUNTANTS.
+THE COMPROMISE PROPOSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAS THE ADMINISTRATION’S SUPPORT,* HE SAID.
-----o------
/9........
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
- 9 -
POLYTECHNIC WELL-POISED TO MOVE FORWARD * * * * *
THE POLYTECHNIC WAS WELL-POISED TO MOVE FORWARD IN A NEW ERA OF DEVELOPMENT IN WHICH THE MAIN THRUST OF ITS WORK LIES IN THE QUALITY OF ITS ACADEMIC CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY.
TABLING THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ANNUAL REPORT 1983-84 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHEN SAID: +THE YEAR COVERED BY THE REPORT WAS ONE OF CONSOLIDATION AND TRANSITION.
+STRONG EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON CURRICULUM REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT, ON IMPROVED TEACHING AND VALIDATION PROCESS, AND ON RESEARCH AND CONSULTANCY.+
MR CHEN POINTED OUT THAT IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1983-84, THE TOTAL FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENT POPULATION OF 11 990 REPRESENTED ONLY A VERY SMALL INCREASE OVER THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+THERE HAS BEEN A NOTABLE CHANGE, HOWEVER, IN THE MIX OF ENROLMENT ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES OFFERED,* HE SAID.
FIVE DEGREE PROGRAMMES WERE INTRODUCED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1983.
THIS, TOGETHER WITH THE CONTINUED TRANSFER OF CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA LEVEL COURSE TO THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, RESULTED IN AN APPRECIABLE INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED ON HIGHER LEVEL PROGRAMMES.
+DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, 1.5 PER CENT WERE REGISTERED ON BACHELOR DEGREE COURSES, 20.5 PER CENT ON ASSOCIATESHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA, 47 PER CENT ON HIGHER DIPLOMA AND HIGHER CERTIFICATE, AND THE REMAINING 31 PER CENT ON DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES.*
WITH REGARD TO THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OF GRADUATES, bfi CHEN SAID A SURVEY CONDUCTED ANNUALLY BY THE POLYTECHNIC’S STUDENT AFFAIRS UNIT AGAIN SHOWED ENCOURAGING RESULTS.
THE EXPORT-LED ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN HONG KONG WAS REFLECTED IN MORE AND BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY GRADUATES IN DISCIPLINES SUCH AS TEXTILES, CLOTHING, ENGINEERING, ACCOUNTANCY AND COMPUTING STUDIES, HE NOTED.
+0F A TOTAL OF 2 454 GRADUATES FROM FULL-TIME COURSES, 74.5 PER CENT FOUND EMPLOYMENT IN VARIOUS FIELDS, MAINLY IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, 17.6 PER CENT PURSUED FURTHER STUDIES, AND ONLY 7.7 PER CENT WERE STILL UNEMPLOYED AS AT OCTOBER 25, 1984, BUT MANY WERE AT THAT TIME BEING ACTIVELY PROCESSED FOR EMPLOYMENT.
/+THE OVEBALL .......
THiraSD; , APRIL 18, 1985
10 -
GRADUATES IN THAT OF THE
+THE OVERALL AVERAGE MONTHLY SALARY OF THESE THEIR FIRST EMPLOYMENT WAS 9.4 PER CENT MORE THAN PREVIOUS YEAR’S GRADUATES, WHILE THE INFLATION RATE FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 1984 WAS ONLY 7.1 PER CENT,* HE SAID.
MR CHEN ALSO SAID DIRECTORSHIP OF THE POLYTECHNIC HAD BEEN ASSUMED BY DR JOHN LESLIE CLARK IN EARLY JANUARY THIS YEAR WHEN DR KEITH LEGG RETIRED ON COMPLETION OF NEARLY 10 YEARS’ SERVICE
AS DIRECTOR.
0 --------
CONSUMER COUNCIL NOW +FIRMLY ESTABLISHED* *****
THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, WHICH MARKED ITS TENTH ANNIVERSARY IN APRIL 1984, HAD FIRMLY ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS THE CHAMPION OF CONSUMER RIGHTS, ITS CHAIRMAN, THE HON SELINA CHOW, SAID TODAY.
TABLING THE COUNCIL’S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1983-84 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS CHOW ALSO SAID THAT THE COUNCIL HAD ALSO BECOME +A SOUND ADVISOR TO CONSUMER QUERIES.*
MRS CHOW SAID THAT IN THE 1983-84 YEAR, THERE WERE 9 600 COMPLAINT CASES, AGAINST 4 800 IN THE FIRST YEARS OF OPERATION. AND ENQUIRIES MULTIPLIED ALMOST TEN-FOLD OVER EIGHT YEARS, FROM ABOUT 6 000 IN 1976-77 TO NEARLY 60 000 IN 1983-84.
+THIS SUCCESSFUL LINK BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE BUILT ON AND FURTHER EXPANDED AS WE CONTINUE WITH OUR POLICY OF SETTING UP TWO DISTRICT ADVICE CENTRES EACH YEAR UNTIL EACH AND EVERY DISTRICT WILL HAVE A CENTRE OF ITS OWN. WE HAVE NOW 12 SUCH CENTRES,* SHE SAID.
MRS CHOW PRAISED HER PREDECESSOR, MR GALLANT HO FOR HIS +EXTRAORDI NARY GOOD SENSE AND DEDICATION* IN STEERING THE COUNCIL TO ITS POSITION OF STRENGTH DURING HIS FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AS CHAIRMAN.
HE HAD IDENTIFIED THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WHICH HAUNTED THE COUNCIL FOR MANY YEARS - THAT THE LONG DELAYS EXPERIENCED IN THE PASSING OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION COULD BEST BE RESOLVED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE CONSUMER COUNCIL.
THE DELAYS, SHE SAID, HAD +UNDOUBTEDLY BEEN ONE OF THE MORE FRUSTRATING ASPECTS OF THE COUNCIL’S WORK.*
+FOR INSTANCE THE PROPOSAL TO ENACT THE HIRE PURCHASE ORDINANCE WAS INITIATED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL IN 1977.
/+A BILL........
THURSUA’: APRIL 18, 1985
+A BILL TO CONTROL MALPRACTICES BY TRAVEL AGENTS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR THREE YEARS SINCE 1982, AND THAT WAS AFTER FIVE YEARS OF REPEATED REQUESTS FROM THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, WHICH FIRST PUT FORWARD THE ARGUMENTS FOR LEGISLATION IN 1978.
+BOTH BILLS HAVE YET TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL.
+1 AM, HOWEVER, GRATEFUL TO THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES WHO HAS SYMPATHETICALLY RECOGNISED THE PROBLEM AND BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING IN EXPEDITING THE SOLUTION,♦ SHE SAID.
+A CASE IN POINT WHICH I FIND PARTICULARLY GRATIFYING IS HIS SWIFT ACTION TO STUDY POSSIBLE LEGISLATION TO CURB MALPRACTICES BY RETAILERS OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC APPLIANCES WHICH HE ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY.
+FOR MUCH AS I SHARE HIS VIEW ON THE POWER OF PERSUASION, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ANYTHING SHORT OF A PRISON SENTENCE OR A CRIMINAL RECORD WOULD BE TOO MILD A DETERRENT FOR THE DIE-HARD FRAUDULENT RETAILER.+
MRS CHOW ALSO THANKED MISS OPHELIA CHEUNG, WHO HAD SERVED AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE COUNCIL UNTIL THE END OF 1984.
MISS CHEUNG WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ESTABLISHING THE COUNCIL’S LEADING POSITION IN THE CONSUMER MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG, AND ALSO FOR PLACING HONG KONG ON THE MAP OF INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER CAMPAIGNS, SHE SAID.
-----o-----
BILL PASSED * * *
THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
FOUR OTHER BILLS WERE READ A SECOND TIME AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.
THEY ARE: THE PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAiSO.'l GROUP) BILL 1985 AND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985.
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO MAY 1.
o --------
/12 .......
THURSDAY, AP IL 19, 1985
12 -
LAND AUCTION NETS $789M *****
FIVE LOTS OF LAND, INCLUDING THE PRIME SITE IN QUEENSWAY ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WERE SOLD FOR A TOTAL $789.4 MILLION AT TODAY’S (THURSDAY) AUCTION AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE 10 690-SQUARE-METRE QUEENSWAY SITE WITH AN UPSET PRICE OF $500 MILLION WAS BOUGHT BY SWIRE PROPERTIES LIMITED AT $703 MILL ION.
THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE NOT LESS THAN 96 210 SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 1991.
THE OTHER FOUR SITES ARE IN SHA TIN. THREE OF THEM, NEAR SUI WO COURT ARE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
MEASURING ABOUT 11 710 SQUARE METRES, SHA TIN TOWN LOT NO. 194 WAS SOLD TO FAR EAST EMPIRE LIMITED AT $45.5 MILLION WHILE STTL NO. 225 OF 9 515 SQUARE METRES WAS BOUGHT BY FAR EAST EMPIRE LIMITED AT $27 MILLION.
THE THIRD SITE, KNOWN AS STTL NO. 252 AND MEASURING ABOUT 960 SQUARE METRES WAS SUCCESSFULLY BID BY MR KWAN CHUN AT $1.8 MILLION.
THE LAST LOT LOCATED AT A SITE OF 4 915 SQUARE METRES NEAR TO SIU LEK YUEN WAS SOLD TO KOON NGA I CO LTD AT $12.1 MILLION.
COMMENTING ON THE SALE, THE AUCTIONEER, GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR JAMES HUGHES, SAID THAT THE PRICES ACHIEVED CONFIRMED THE STEADY STRENGTHENING OF THE MARKET OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN BORNE OUT BY THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS TO PUT SITES UP FOR SALE.
THE MAY 20 AUCTION, WHEN SEVEN SITES OF DIFFERENT TYPES WOULD BE OFFERED FOR AUCTION, WOULD PROVIDE A USEFUL POINTER TO THE FUTURE, HE SAID.
-----o------
/13........
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
INSURANCE FEES INCREASED * * * *
THE AUTHORISATION AND ANNUAL FEE TO CARRY ON AN INSURANCE BUSINESS IN HONG KONG WILL BE INCREASED FROM $10 090 TO $25 900 FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FEE FOR INSPECTING THE REGISTER OF AUTHORISED INSURERS HAS BEEN REVISED HWM $2 TO $5, FOR OBTAINING A COPY OF AN ENTRY IN THE REGISTER - FROM $2 TO $3, AND FOR CERTIFICATION OF A COPY OR AN EXTRACT OF AN ENTRY - FROM $2 TO $50.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE AUTHORISATION FEE WAS REVISED TO REFLECT THE FULL COST OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE. THE OTHER FEES WERE REVISED TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THOSt CHARGED FOR SIMILAR SERVICES UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
THE FEE INCREASES, UNDER THE INSURANCE COMPANIES ORDINANCE (AMENDMENT OF SECTION 13) REGULATIONS 1985 AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES (REGISTER OF INSURERS)(PRESCRI BED FEE)(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1985, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW.
- - 0 - -
INSIGNIA PRESENTATION * * * *
SEVENTY-FIVE PEOPLE DECORATED BY THE QUEEN FOR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WILL RECEIVE THEIR INSIGNIA FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AT A CEREMONY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING.
AMONG THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE MR MICHAEL THOMAS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO WAS AWARDED THE C.M.G.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A LIST OF THE RECIPIENTS AT THE INSIGNIA PRESENTATION MAY BE COLLECTED FROM THE GIS NEWS DIVISION AT 4 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 19).
ONLY PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN WITH SPECIAL PASSES WILL BE ADMITTED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THEY SHOULD MEET GIS OFFICERS IN THE GUARD ROOM NOT LATER THAN 5.39 PM.
NEWSPAPERS WITHOUT SUCH PASSES WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OF PRINTS WITH MING YUEN STUDIO, 22 QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, TEL. 5-224310.
- - 0
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
- 14 -
CUSTOMERS MAY NOW CLAIM PRECIOUS METAL-
******
THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER SAID TODAY THAT HE WILL RECOGNISE THE CLAIMS OF FORMER PRECIOUS METAL CUSTOMERS OF DEAK-PERERA FAR EAST LIMITED TO OWNERSHIP OF THE PRECIOUS METAL WHICH WAS IN THE POSSESSION OF THE COMPANY AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF ITS WINDING UP.
IT wAS PART OF DEAK’S BUSINESS TO TRADE IN PRECIOUS METALS AND MANY OF THE CUSTOMERS’ HOLDINGS WERE LEFT WITH THE COMPANY TO BE STORED IN SAFE CUSTODY. THE STOCKS OF PRECIOUS METAL ARE NOW STORED IN BANKS IN HONG KONG AND ABROAD. THERE HAS BEEN SOME DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER THE PRECIOUS METAL IS REALLY OWNED BY THE CUSTOMERS OR BY THE COMPANY. THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER MADE AN APPLICATION FOR THE COURT’S DIRECTIONS ON THIS QUESTION. THIS HAS NOW BEEN RESOLVED IN FAVOUR OF THE PRECIOUS METAL CUSTOMERS.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE IN PROGRESS BETWEEN THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER AND AN UNNAMED PRECIOUS METAL TRADING COMPANY FOR A POSSIBLE TAKEOVER BY THE COMPANY OF ALL OF THE FORMER DEAK PRECIOUS METAL CUSTOMERS. UNDER THIS PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT THE NEW COMPANY WILL MAKE PROVISION FOR THE FORMER CUSTOMERS TO REDEEM THEIR CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY DEAK, RETAIN THEIR HOLDINGS OR RE-COMMENCE TRADING.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE CONCLUDED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND ALL PRECIOUS METAL OWNERS WILL BE INFORMED.
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FOURTH QUARTER RESTAURANT SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED *****
TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THE ENTIRE RESTAURANT SECTOR IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984, ESTIMATED AT $4 779 MILLION, WERE SIX PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1983, WHILE THE VOLUME WAS TWO PER CENT HIGHER, ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TOTAL RESTAURANT RECEIPTS FOR THE WHOLE OF 1984 ROSE BY 12 PER CENT IN VALUE AND FIVE PER CENT IN VOLUME, WHEN COMPARED WITH 1983.
A COMPARISON OF RECEIPTS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984 WITH THOSE FOR THE PRECEDING QUARTER, SHOWED TOTAL RESTAURANT RECEIPTS WENT UP BY FIVE PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL RESTAURANT PURCHASES IN THE FOURT QUARTER CF 1984, ESTIMATED AT $2 050 MILLION, WAS ONE PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1983 AND FOUR PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1984. FOR THE WHOLE YEAR OF 1984, IT INCREASED BY 13 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH 1983.
/IN THE ........
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
- 15 -
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984, TOTAL RECEIPTS OF FAST FOOD SHOPS RECORDED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS, AT 12 PER CENT AND EIGHT PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1083. THOSE OF NON-CHINESE RESTAURANTS ROSE BY 10 PER CENT IN VALUE AND FOUR PER CENT IN VOLUME. THE INCREASES IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR OTHER EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (COMPRISING HERB TEA SHOPS, CREAMERIES AND OUTLETS SELLING BEAN CURB JELLY, ETC.), BARS AND CHINESE RESTAURANTS WERE 10 PER CENT, SEVEN PER CENT AND FIVE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, AND THEIR CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN VOLUME TERMS WERE THREE PER CENT, THREE PER CENT AND ONE PER CENT.
COMPARING 1984 WITH 1983, NON-CHINESE RESTAURANTS AND FAST FOOD SHOPS RECORDED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL RECEIPTS, AT 13 PER CENT, FOLLOWED BY CHINESE RESTAURANTS (12 PER CENT), OTHER EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (11 PER CENT) AND BARS (6 PER CENT). IN TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF RECEIPTS, CHINESE RESTAURANTS SHOWED THE LARGEST RATE OF INCREASE. AT SIX PER CENT, FOLLOWED BY NON-CHINESE RESTAURANTS (5 PER CENT), FAST FOOD SHOPS (4 PER CENT), BARS (3 PER CENT), AND OTHER EATING AND DRINKING PLACES (2 PER CENT).
BARS RECORDED THE LARGEST RATE OF INCREASE IN TOTAL RECEIPTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984 COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, AT 15 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 14 PER CENT IN VOLUME. TOTAL RECEIPTS OF CHINESE RESTAURANTS ALSO ROSE, BY NINE PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME. HOWEVER, RECEIPTS OF OTHER TYPES OF RESTAURANTS DECREASED, WITH NON-CHINESE RESTAURANTS FALLING BY SIX PER CENT IN VALUE AND SEVEN PER CENT IN VOLUME, FAST FOOD SHOPS BY FIVE PER CENT IN VALUE AND SIX PER CENT IN VOLUME, AND OTHER EATING AND DRINKING PLACES BY 14 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME.
THE REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF RESTAURANT RECEIPTS AND PURCHASES FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1984 WILL SOON BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT $1 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. : 3-7216024).
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THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1935
- 16 -
LADY YOUDE SPENDS BUSY AFTERNOON IN WAN CHAI
*****
THE GOVERNOR’S WIFE, LADY YOUDE, HAD A BUSY AFTERNOON IN WAN CHAI TODA* (THURSDAY), LOOKING AT OLD AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS, VISITING SEVERAL ORGANISATIONS AND MEETING PEOPLE.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, SHE FIRST WENT TO THE ROOF OF HOPEWELL CENTRE ON QUEEN’S ROAD EAST FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE DISTRICT AND A BRIEFING BY MR LAM ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND URBAN RENEWAL IN THE AREA.
LADY YOUDE THEN VISITED THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S WAN CHAI HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY IN SPRING GARDEN LANE, A HOSTEL OCCUPIED BY 115 OLD PEOPLE WHICH WAS SET UP BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR TO FURTHER RELIEVE THE SHORTAGE OF HOSTEL PLACES FOR PERSONS WHO ARE CAPABLE OF SELF CARE.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY VISITS TO THE ST PAUL’S SECONDARY SCHOOL AND THE HONG KONG SANITORIUM.
THE PARTY LATER WENT TO PATERSON STREET AND CALLED AT A RESIDENTIAL UNIT THERE.
LADY YOUDE ALSO TOURED THE TIGER BALM GARDENS, A POPULAR TOURIST SPOT RECENTLY RENOVATED AND RENAMED AW BOON HAW GARDENS.
BEFORE LEAVING THE DISTRICT, SHE STOPPED AT THE METHODIST YOUTH CENTRE ON HENNESSY ROAD.
- - 0 ----------
TWO DISTRICT BOARDS TO ELECT CHAIRMEN *****
TWO MORE NEW DISTRICT BOARDS WILL ELECT THEIR CHAIRMEN TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
AT TUEN MUN IN THE MORNING, BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
THE ELECTIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS ON THE BOARD’S STANDING ORDERS, THE FORMATION OF SIX COMMITTEES, ALLOCATION OF DB FUNDS AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN TUEN MUN.
IN THE AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET TO ELECT THEIR CHAIRMAN AND DISCUSS SIMILAR BOARD MATTERS.
/THEY WILL .......
THUHSDAY, APRIL 18, 1985
- 17 -
THEY WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON DETAILS OF A PROPOSED FUNERAL PARLOUR IN LAI CHI KOK.
MEANWHILE AT KWUN TONG, THE NEW DB MEMBERS WILL HAVE ANOTHER INFORMAL GATHERING TOMORROW AFTERNOON TO DISCUSS VARIOUS MATTERS BEFORE THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING ON MAY 6 TO ELECT THE CHAIRMAN.
TOMORROW’S GATHERING WILL BE PRECEDED BY A COCKTAIL RECEPTION, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WILL ALSO ATTEND.
--------o ----------
COUNCILLORS SEE FOR THEMSELVES HAWKER PROBLEMS * * * *
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S MARKETS AND STREET TRADERS SELECT COMMITTEE SPENT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON VISITING A NUMBER OF MARKETS, HAWKER BAZAARS AND PROPOSED MARKET SITES IN KOWLOON TO GET A FURTHER INSIGHT INTO HAWKER PROBLEMS.
LED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE, MRS ELSIE ELLIOTT, THE PARTY COMPRISED MISS CECILIA YEUNG, MR TONG KAM-BIU AND MRS MARGARET LI. THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD.
THE COUNCILLORS FIRST VISITED THE KWUN CHUNG OLD MARKET AND HAWKER BAZAAR IN YAU MA TEI WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED ON THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE HAWKERS THERE.
THEY THEN DROVE TO THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE TAI KOK TSUI UC COMPLEX TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERTING IT INTO A TEMPORARY HAWKER BAZAAR PENDING ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT.
THEY LATER VISITED SHAM SHU I PO MARKET WHICH WILL LATER BE CONVERTED INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE MARKET COMPLEX.
DURING THE TOUR, THEY MADE DETAILED ENQUIRIES ON HAWKER MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS VARIOUS POSSIBLE WAYS OF ACCOMMODATING STALL-HOLDERS TRADING IN THOSE MARKETS WHICH WILL BE PULLED DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MODERN MARKET COMPLEXES.
/MSS ELLIOTT, ........
THURSDAY, APHIL 18, 1985
- 18 -
MRS ELLIOTT, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL’S WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW HAWKER AND RELATED POLICIES, SAID: +THIS HAS BEEN A USEFUL VISIT SINCE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON HAWKER ISSUES ON THE GROUND.+
SHE ALSO REVEALED THAT BY THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR THE WORKING PARTY HOPED TO PRESENT A COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON HAWKER ISSUES TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE NEW DISTRICT BOARDS, THE HAWKER ASSOCIATIONS, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE PRESS, THE PUBLIC AT LARGE AND, OF COURSE, THE URBAN COUNCIL.
-----o------
EMPLOYERS URGED TO OFFER SUMMER JOBS
*****
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL URGED EMPLOYERS IN INDUSTRY, COMMERCE AND SERVICE SECTOR TO OFFER TRAINING PLACES IN SUMMER FOR SOME 1 700 STUDENTS OF FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
+PRACTICAL TRAINING IS A VITAL PART OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION. EXPOSURE TO INDUSTRIAL OR REAL-LIFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT WILL HELP STUDENTS TO APPLY WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID.
THESE FULL-TIME STUDENTS, ALL AT TECHNICIAN OR POST-FORM 5 LEVEL, WOULD BE BENEFITED BY GAINING PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN ESTABLISHMENTS RELATED TO THE FIELDS OF CLOTHING AND TEXTILES, COMMERCIAL STUDIES, COMPUTING STUDIES, CONSTRUCTION, DESIGN, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, HOTEL AND TOURISM, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND PRINTING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
EMPLOYERS WHO ARE ABLE TO OFFER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES DURING MID-JULY TO END OF AUGUST ARE URGED TO CONTACT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES DIRECT : MORRISON HILL (5-745321). KWAI CHUNG (0-246221), KWUN TONG (3-7274331), HAKING WONG (3-615161) AND LEE WAI LEE (3-383611).
-----o------
THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 1935
19
YOUTHS URGED TO JOIN DESIGN CONTEST * * * *
ENTRIES ARE NOW INVITED FOR THE BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITION 1985 ORGANISED BY THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS: THE OPEN GROUP FOR THOSE WHO ARE 18 OR ABOVE, THE STUDENT GROUP FOR STUDENTS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 17 AND JUNIOR GROUP FOR CHILDREN OF 13 YEARS CF AGE OR BELOW.
ENTRIES SHOULD MEASURE 5OMM X 17OMM AND BEAR THE NAME, AGE, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER, SCHOOL OR OCCUPATION OF THE PARTICIPANT. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON OR BY POST TO ANY OF THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY MAY 15.
WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED TECHNICAL DRAWING APPARATUS, SCIENTIFIC MODEL SETS AND TROPHIES.
- - 0 - -
MUSIC TRAINEES TO GIVE CONCERT * * *
ABOUT 150 YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVING INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING AT THE MUSIC OFFICE’S MUSIC CENTRES WILL BE PERFORMING IN A CONCERT THIS SUNDAY (APRIL 21) AT THE DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL, JORDAN ROAD AT 3 PM.
THE KOWLOON REGION STUDENTS CONCERT, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, WILL FEATURE PERFORMANCES BY THE EAST KOWLOON YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND AND THE KOWLOON YOUTH STRING ORCHESTRA.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A GUEST PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG CHILDREN’S CHOIR.
MR ALBERT LI SZE-BAY, A MEMBER OF WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AND CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT’S SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, WILL BE THE GUEST.
FREE ADMISSION COUPONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MUSIC CENTRES CF THE MUSIC OFFICE IN KOWLOON. FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 3-7226240.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CONCERT STARTING AT 3 PM THIS SUNDAY (APRIL 21) AT THE DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL.
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'iHURv. APRIL 18, 1935
- 20 -
NEW BOARD TO START PUBLIC SESSION XXX*
THE NEW KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT BOARD WILL START ITS +MEET THE PUBLIC SCHEME* FROM THIS SATURDAY (APRIL 20).
TWENTY-FIVE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL TAKE TURNS TO MEET RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO LISTEN TO THEIR PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS ON WEDNESDAYS FROM 2.30 PM TO 4.30 PM AND ON SATURDAYS FROM 9.30 AM TO 11.30 AM.
TWO MEMBERS WILL BE ON DUTY EACH DAY AT THE BOARD’S OFFICE ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES NEXT TO THE KWAI HING MTR STATION AT 166-174 HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MEET THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD MAKE ADVANCE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT AT 0-212855 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
-----0------
FLOWER SHOW DRAWS CROWDS * * * *
MANY PEOPLE TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BONSAI SHOW HELD AT CHING CHUNG KOON IN TUEN MUN.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID AT THE OPENING CEREMONY THAT LIKE OTHER CITIES IN THE WORLD, HONG KONG HAD ITS SHARE OF URBAN PROBLEMS, BUT THE NEED FOR A GREEN ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTHY LEISURE PURSUITS WAS FAR MORE COMPELLING.
DR HAYES, WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE INNER MEANING OF BONSAI AND ITS PLACE IN CHINESE CULTURE, SAID THAT IT ILLUSTRATED THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE PERCEPTION OF THE HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAN AND NATURE.
+IT ALSO EMBODIES A TIME-HONOURED CHINESE PHILOSOPHY WHICH CHERISHES THE SIMPLE ENJOYMENTS OF LIFE,* DR HAYES SAID.
HE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK MEMBERS OF THE CHING CHUNG KOON FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
♦FACILITIES NOW UNDER THE KOON’S CARE INCLUDE TWO HOMES FOR THE AGED, A PRIMARY SCHOOL, FREE MEDICAL CLINICS, KINDERGARTENS AND A MUCH-NEEDED CARE AND ATTENTION HOME,* HE SAID.
THE BONSAI SHOW WILL BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FROM APRIL 18 TO 28, AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
/21 ........
. HUR APRIL 18, 1935
21
CHAIRMAN ELECTED AT BOARD MEETING * * * *
MR LAM KWOK KWONG WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
BOARD MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED A PAPER ON THE COMPOSITION. TERMS OF REFERENCE, STANDING ORDERS AND SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS CF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD (1985-88).
THE BOARD WILL HOLD ITS SECOND MEETING ON APRIL 26 (FRIDAY) AT THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL IN AP LEI CHAU ESTATE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
- 0 -
LABOUR OFFICE MOVES TO NEW PREMISES * * * *
THE KOWLOON WEST OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE AT SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES wILL MOVE TO NEW PREMISES IN LAI KOK ESTATE, FIRST LEVEL, LAI HO HOUSE, CHEUNG SHA WAN ON MONDAY (APRIL 22).
THE OFFICE WILL HANDLE LABOUR DISPUTES IN THE DISTRICT AND GIVE ADVICE ON MATTERS RELATING TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT IN GENERAL. ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE AT 3-72«5444.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
INSIGNIA FOR 75 PEOPLE ........................................ 1
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON TOMORROW............................ 5
'COUNCIL MARKS MILESTONE IN CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION' ......... 6
HONG KONG'S BUSINESS PROSPECTS STRESSED ....................... 8
'SCORRI' REPORT WELCOMED....................................... 9
WAGE PROTECTION FUND BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED .................. 9
HONG KONG GETS FINNISH GSP .................................... "I1
PREFERENCE WELCOMED ........................................... 12
WAGE SECURITY UNIT SET UP ..................................... 12
RIGHT MOVE IN FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE ....................... 13
THREE MORE BOARDS ELECT CHAIRMEN .............................. 16
MORE PLANTS IN THE PIPELINE TO MAKE HK GREEN .................. 16
CONTRACTORS NEEDED FOR P.OAD PROJECT .......................... 18
SEVEN CROWN LOTS FOR AUCTION .................................. 19
MUSICAL CAMP FOR YOUTHS ....................................... 20
SCHOOLS GET NEW CODE ON SALES ITOIS ........................... 21
OVER 82O.7M HOUSING TENDERS APPROVED .......................... 22
MUSIC FUND GRANTS OFFERED...................................... 22
USE OF ESCALATORS DRIVE ....................................... 25
VISIT TO TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX .............................. 2U
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN SAI WAN HO ................................. 25
CAUSEWAY BAY TAPS OFF ......................................... 25
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
1
INSIGNIA FOR 75 PEOPLE * * * *
SEVENTY-FIVE PEOPLE DECORATED BY THE QUEEN FOR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY, RECEIVED THEIR INSIGNIA FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
THE RECIPIENTS WEREi
CMG (COMPANION OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED ORDER OF ST MICHAEL AND ST GEORGE)______________________
THE HON MICHAEL DAVID THOMAS, QC
CBE (COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, OBE, JP
THE HON CHAN NAI-KEONG, JP
MR GERALD PAUL NAZARETH, OBE, QC, JP
MR WOO HON-FAI, JP
OBE (OFFICER ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
MR JOHN CHAN CHO-CHAK
MR CHEN YUAN-CHU, JP
THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG KAM-CHUEN, JP
THE HON HU FA-KUANG, JP
MR JAMES JOSEPH EDWARD MORRIN, QPM, CPM
ISO (IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER)
MISS LYDIA CHEUNG CHI-MING, JP
/MBS (MEMBER
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
2
MBE (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)
MR CHENG YANG-PING
MR CHEUNG MAN-SANG MRS PEGGY LAM PEI YU-DJA, JP MRS MONA LEONG WONG MAN-SUEN, JP MR EDWIN LEUNG CHUNG-CHING MR GEOFFREY CHARLES LYTTON MR CHARLES STUART WILKINSON, JP
MBE (HONORARY) (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (HONORARY)
THE REVEREND STEPHEN BUTLER EDMONDS, M.M.
MBE (MIL) (MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE) (MILITARY)
MAJOR NICHOLAS WARD WOOLMINGTON, ED
BEM (BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL)
MRS ANGELINA HUNT MR CHAN CHING-HIN MISS CHAN HON-SANG MR CHU CHUEN-HONG MR CHU SHIU-LUN MR LAM KWAN-WAI MR LIU WAH-NGAH
/MR NG
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
- 5 -
MR NG SHIU—LUNG
MR NG YEE-KWAN
MR TANG HON-LIT
MR TANG YUK-MING
MR WAN CH I-YE I
MR WONG KAI-TUNG
MRS WONG YEUNG FUNG-SANG
MR WU PAK-MING
BEM (MIL) (BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL) (MILITARY)
W/O 2 BIRBAHADUR MUKHIA SUNWAR
W/O 2 PETER WOODVILLE MARK WILLIAMS
ISM (IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL)
MR CHUN PAN-HWA
MR CHAN BUN
MR SO LIM
MR TANG SHIU-YING
QPM (QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL) (POLICE)
MR LI KWAN-HA, CPM
QPM (QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL) (ICAC)
MR GRAHAM EDWARD STOCKWELL
/CPM (COLONIAL.....
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
_ U -
CPM (COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL) (POLICE)
MR ROBERT ANTHONY STEELE
MR PAANG KUI-SAN
MR HUI CHIU-YIN
MR LEE KWAN-TAT
MR ALFRED HENRY MORRIS
MISS RENEE EVELYN LEE
MR TONG HUNG-TO
MR MAK WING-CHUN
MR TSANG SIU-KAN
MR CHAN KAM-SHING
MR TANG SIU-CHUNG
MR LAU CHUNG
MR LING LUNG-SHING
CPM (COLON I AL POLICE MEDAL) (FIRE SERVICES)
MR RAYMOND BRIAN JOHNSTON
MR FONG CHEUNG
MR HUNG YUK-CHEUNG
MR LUI KWONG-YEUNG
BADGE OF HONOUR
MR CHAN KIU
MR CHOW DIK-HIN
MR CHUNG KWOK-WING
/Ma hC
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 198?
- 5 -
MR HO SUN-WING MR HO YIU-WAH MR KWAN CHING-KIT DR LAM LIN-SEN MR LAM TAK-ON MR LEE KWONG MR LEUNG CHUNG-PANG MISS LO NGAR-YING MR MA CHING-YUK MR NG SUI-KAI MR WAN HING-YUEN MR YUEN SHU-KWAN -----------------------0-------
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON TOMORROW M * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE. WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON TOMORROW (SATURDAY) FOR A SHORT VISIT.
SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CX 201, ETD 10.50 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE DEPARTURE. THOSE COVERING THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM BY 10 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST. ----------------------------c------- /6............................................................
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
6
’COUNCIL MARKS MILESTONE IN CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION’
******
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL MARKS A MILESTONE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION OF HONG KONG WHICH WILL RESULT IN A MUCH GREATER LOCAL PARTICIPATION AND INFLUENCE IN THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION MAKING PROCESS, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR CHEUNG, WHOSE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE said" "this IS SO BECAUSE OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE BUILT-IN CONSULTATIVE PROCESS THAT WILL HAVE A DOMINANT LOCAL REPRESENTATION.+
SET UP UNDER THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE ON APRIL 1, THE COUNCIL WILL BE MADE UP OF 24 MEMBERS, NINE OF THEM ELECTED BY THE NINE DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NON-URfeAN AREAS. THE CHAIRMAN AND THE TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK WILL BE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WITH THE REMAINING 12 MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
MR CHEUNG, THE FIRST TO BE APPOINTED, SAIDi +SUCH A COUNCIL COMPOSITION SHOULD DISMISS ANY REMAINING DOUBTS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO DEVOLVE MORE DISTRICT LEVEL DECISION MAKING POWERS TO THE PEOPLE THROUGH THEIR DISTRICT BOARD AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVES IN THE COUNCIL.
♦THIS DOMINANT LOCAL REPRESENTATION IN THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL HAVE A DIRECT BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON THE LOCAL POPULACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG SAID THAT ALL COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS SHOULD EE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL ORDINANCE, THE COUNCIL WILL ACT AS AN ADVISORY BODY TO THE GOVERNOR ON MATTERS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE, RECREATION AND CULTURE, AND FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN THE NON-URBAN AREAS. THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IS ALSO TASKED WITH THE ROLE OF ADVISING THE GOVERNOR ON THE PLANNING AND INAUGURAL AND OPERATIONAL MATTERS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT CF THE FULL-FLEDGED REGIONAL COUNCIL.
/+IN PRACTICAL .......
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 19b5
7
♦IN PRACTICAL TERMS,* MR CHEUNG SAID, + THE CREATION OF THE COUNCIL IS ALSO INTENDED TO BETTER PLAN, COORDINATE AND IMPROVE THE EXTENSIVE RANGE OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH PREVIOUSLY WERE PROVIDED BY THREE SEPARATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.*
THIS MUST BE WELCOMED NOT ONLY BY THE RESIDENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BUT ALSO BY INDUSTRIALISTS AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO LOOK TO THE REGION FOR ITS TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF THEIR INTERESTS, SAID MR CHEUNG.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE INCREASED BY 12 ELECTED MEMBERS TO A TOTAL OF 36 WHEN IT BECOMES A FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS STATUTORY BODY ON APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
MR CHEUNG SAID THE WIDE-SPREAD NATURE OF THE TOWNSHIPS AND THE ON-GOING URBANISATION COULD PRESENT NEW CHALLENGES THAT WERE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE FACED IN THE URBAN AREAS.
♦THE GEOGRAPHICALLY SCATTERED CONCENTRATIONS OF POPULATION MAKES IT EXTREMELY DESIRABLE THAT DECISIONS ON THE PROVISIONS OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH STRONG LOCAL AND DISTRICT LEVEL INPUTS.
♦SUCH A COMPOSITION ALSO ENSURES THAT THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE FUTURE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BENEFIT FROM A MORE CONSTITUTIONAL, ORGANISATIONAL AND FUNCTIONAL LINK WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK. IT ALSO GUARANTEES THAT NO GROUP OF PEOPLE WILL BE WITHOUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO THE PROVISIONAL AND, LATER, THE FULL REGIONAL COUNCIL ON THE WIDE RANGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED.
♦AT THIS POINT IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT INDEED TO DEVISE A BETTER WAY THAT GIVES THE LOCAL PEOPLE A CLOSER INVOLVEMENT AND GREATER INFLUENCE IN THE AFFAIRS CF GOVERNMENT,* SAID MR CHEUNG.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COUNCIL’S POLICY DECISIONS WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ITS EXECUTIVE ARM — THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE BULK OF WHOSE MANPOWER CAME FROM THE FORMER teW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
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/8........
FRIDA APRIL 19, 1985 8 -
HONG KONG’S BUSINESS PROSPECTS STRESSED #*#***.
HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PLACE OF TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS INITIATIVES BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE POSITION IN THE REGION, IN PARTICULAR ITS PROXIMITY TO CHINA, AND BECAUSE OF THE AGREEMENT ON ITS FUTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR YAXLEY WAS SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR AT HANOVER IN GERMANY, ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND CO-SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION. / f
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT IS TAKING PARJ IN THE FAIR, IN WHICH IT HAS A STAND.
+WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA, AND AS A RESULT OF OUR ACCUMULATED EXPERIENCE ARE PERFECTLY PLACED TO OFFER A UNIQUE SERVICE TO THOSE FROM ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING EUROPE WHO ARE SEEKING TO ESTABLISH CONTACTS W|TH CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME,* THE DIRECTOR SAID. * 'A -
POINTING OUT THAT CHINA IS HONG KONG’S SECOND MOST IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNER AFTER THE U.S.A., MR YAXLEY SAIDi +1 BELIEVE THAT IT IS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO CHINA AND IN ITS ROLE AS A LINK BETWEEN CHINA AND THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA WILL OCCUR.*
THE RECENTLY SIGNED AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE SHOULD FOSTER EVEN GREATER SI NO-HONG KONG TRADE BY CLARIFYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO ECONOMIES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANT ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY HONG KONG IN CHINA’S FOUR MODERNISATIONS POLICY, HE SAID.
MR YAXLEY SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN THE CENTRE OF GLOBAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC, AND THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES ON THE PACIFIC RIM, SUCH AS AUSTRALIA, CANADA AND JAPAN.
♦THE U.S. AND JAPAN, MORE THAN ANY OTHER INDUSTRIALISED NATIONS, HAVE ALSO RECOGNISED THE INDUSTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE REGION. IN ALL THIS ACTIVITY WESTERN EUROPE SADLY PLAYS A VERY SMALL PART AND IT IS PERHAPS TIME THAT FORE PEOPLE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD WOKE UP TO THE OPPORTUNITIES AND POSSIBILITIES BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,* HE SAID.
MR YAXLEY SAID THE AGREEMENT PRESERVED THE ESSENTIALS FOR TONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDED FOR THE RETENTION OF THOSE FEATURES WHICH HAVE HELPED IT TO BE TO SUCCESSFUL.
NOTE TO EDITORSl
COPIES OF THE DIRECTOR’S SPEECH WILL BE BOXED LATER TODAY.
------c-------
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
9
’SCORRI’ REPORT WELCOMED * * *
TODAY (FR!DAY) WELCOMED THE REPORT FROM THE BRITISH HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE’S SUB-COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION (SCORRI).
A SPOKESMAN SAIDi
*™E H0!*G K0NG GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE REPORT AS AN INDICATION OF HMG’S CONTINUED INTEREST IN HONG KONG’S REFUGEE PROBLEM.
+WE SHALL STUDY THE REPORT CAREFULLY, CONSIDER ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DEAL WITH HONG KONG AND PRESENT OUR VIEWS TO HMG.
♦THE COMMITTEE HAS SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO PARLIAMENT AND 1-MG WILL RESPOND IN DUE COURSE BY MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PARLIAMENT.+
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WAGE PROTECTION FUND BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED
*****
THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-CHUEN, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE FIRST CHAIRMAN OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND BOARD.
THE APPOINTMENT OF MR CHAN AND EIGHT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FUND BOARD IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE FUND BOARD HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED UNDER THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE 1985 WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE EIGHT MEMBERS ON THE BOARD - FOUR UNOFFICIALS AND FOUR PUBLIC OFFICERS - ARE MR TAM YIU-CHUNG AND MR LAM WAH-HUI, REPRESENTING EMPLOYEES? MR wILLIAM TURNBULL AND MR NICHOLAS YEUNG SHU-YAN, REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS; THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, THE REG I STRAr GENERAL, AND COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, OR THEIR REPREStNTATIVES.
/THE SHORESMAN .......
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
1C
THE SPOKESMAN SA IE MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN HAD LONG BEEN INVOLVED wITH THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE WORKING GROUP ON PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY WORKERS OF COMPANIES IN RECEIVERSHIP WHICH RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF A FUND TO PROVIDE QUICK RELIEF TO EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY INSOLVENC/ OF THEIR EMPLOYERS.
FOR MANY YEARS, MR CHAN HAS DEVOTED MUCH OF HIS TIME IN PUBLIC SERVICE, HE TAKES A SPECIAL INTEREST IN LABOUR AFFAIRS. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD DURING 1977 TO 1984.
OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR TAM YIU-CHUNG AND MR LAM WAH-HUI ARE BOTH WELL KNOWN AMONG EMPLOYEES IN GENERAL AND TRADE UNIONS IN PARTICULAR. BOTH HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN PROMOTING EMPLOYEES’ 'WELFARE AND WORKERS’ EDUCATION. MR TAM IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
MR WILLIAM TURNBULL, HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN HIS ADVISORY ROLE TO A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES. HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF FUNDS.
MR NICHOLAS YEUNG SHU-YAN, IS CURRENTLY A MEMBER OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD. HE HAS SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION SINCE 1982.
THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND, ADMINISTERED BY THE FUND BOARD, IS EXPECTED TO HAVE AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $35 MILLION FROM LEVY ON BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES AFFECTED BY INSOLVENCY OF THEIR EMPLOYERS RECEIVE WAGES DUE TO THEM MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN IS POSSIBLE UNDER THE EXISTING COMPLICATED INSOLVENCY PROCEEDINGS.
THE FUND BOARD IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO THE RATE OF LEVY AND CONSIDERING APPEALS IN RELATION TO APPLICATION FOR PAYMENT FROM THE FUND.
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/11
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
11
HONG KONG GETS FINNISH GSP M * * *
MR JERMU LAINE, THE FINNISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, WHO IS CURRENTLY ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG, HAS REVEALED THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS TO INCLUDE HONG KONG AS A BENEFICIARY OF FINLAND’S GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP).
THE MOVE, WHICH IS SEEN AS A SIGNIFICANT BREAKTHROUGH IN BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS, WILL COME INTO FORCE WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1, 1985. IT WILL MEAN THAT HONG KONG GOODS ARE GRANTED TOTAL EXEMPTION FROM IMPORT DUTIES AND LEVIES, UNLIMITED BY ANY TARIFF QUOTAS OR SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS.
THE DECISION TO EXTEND ELIGIBILITY FOR GSP TO HONG KONG COMES AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF RAPIDLY GROWING BILATERAL TRADE. IN 1984, TWO-WAY TRADE EXPANDED BY 60 PER CENT TO H<|691 MILLION, WITH HONG KONG’S IMPORTS OF FINNISH PRODUCTS RISING BY 115 PER CENT TO HKS357 MILLION, LARGELY THANKS TO A REMARKABLE 582 PER CENT INCREASE IN PURCHASES OF FURSKINS.
HONG KONG’S EXPORTS TO FINLAND ALSO ROSE STRONGLY. BY 24 PER CENT TO HK$300 MILLION, WHILE RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 33 PER CENT TO NEARLY HK«34 MILLION DURING THE YEAR.
MINISTER LAINE SAID THAT THIS HIGHLY POSITIVE GROWTH IN TRADE HAD BEEN +LARGELY DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND ITS CLOSE COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH FINNISH FOREIGN TRADE ASSOCIATION IN RECENT YEARS*. HE ALSO STRESSED THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF A PROMINENT LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, MR W.H. CHOU OF WINSOR INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION, AS FINLAND’S HONORARY CONSUL IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN IMPORTANT IN STIMULATING INCREASED TRADE TIES.
MINISTER LAINE NOTED THAT THE TDC’S ACTIVITIES IN FINLAND HAD HELPED TO PROMOTE A GROWING AWARENESS OF HONG KONG BOTH AS A RELIABLE SOURCE OF A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, AS AN ATTRACTIVE MARKET.
THE TDC HAS BEEN PLACING GREATER PRIORITY ON DEVELOPING BILATERAL BUSINESS IN THE PAST TWO YEARS AND THE COUNCIL’S STOCKHOLM OFFICE HAS STEPPED UP ITS ACTIVITIES IN THAT MARKET.
/12 .......
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 19^5
12
PREFERENCE WELCOMED X M X *
COMMENTING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR JERMU LAINE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE FOR FINLAND, THAT TARIFF PREFERENCE WOULD BE EXTENDED TO HONG KONG FROM MAY 1, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND
INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO SAIDi
♦WE WELCOME THIS DECISION BY THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE BEEN MAKING REPRESENTATIONS IN THIS REGARD OVER THE YEARS, AND REGARD IT AS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR ITS DIRECT EFFECT ON TRADE BUT AS THE ATTAINMENT OF EQUAL TREATMENT BY HONG KONG. IT WELL ENABLES US TO COMPETE ON EQUAL TERMS WITH OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH ALREADY BENEFIT FROM TARIFF PREFERENCE.+
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME ARE EXPECTED SHORTLY AND WILL THEN BE ANNOUNCED TO THE TRADE IN THE USUAL WAY BY THE TRADE DEPARTMENT.
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WAGE SECURITY UNIT SET UP * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A NEW UNIT TO DEAL a I TH APPLICATIONS FOR PAYMENT FROM THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND.
THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT HAS STARTED OPERATION AT TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, FIRST FLOOR, HENNESSY ROAD, wAN CHAI, A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
UNDER THE PROTECTION OF wAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE, wHlC CAME INTO EFFECT TODAY, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OwED /.AGES AND wrlOSE EMPLOYER BECOMES INSOLVENT MAY APPLY FOR PAYMENT FROM ThE FUND RESPECT OF ANY WAGES FOR SERVICES RENDERS. ON OR AFTER APRIL 1,
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 5-276209 OR AT ANY OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
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/13........
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
1?
RIGHT MOVE Im FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE WAS BROADLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH TODAY.
NEED TO IDENTIFY AND BOLSTER THE FAMILY
BUT THERE WAS A NEED TO IDENTIFY AND BOLSTER THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHICH EXIST, OR POTENTIALLY EXIST, AND TO MAKE BETTER USE OF SUCH FACILITIES, SHE ADDED.
MEDICAL OR LEGAL INTERVEMT! NS, BY THEMSELVES, WERE UNLIKELY TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE. AS WITH OTHER CHILD CARE SERVICES, A VARIETY OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE APPROACHES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, STEREOTYPED PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE AVOIDED, SHE SAID.
IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY SHE SAID, TO FACE UP TO ™E FACT THAT RESOURCES WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BE AVAILABLE IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO PROVIDE THE IDEAL TREATMENT FOR ALL AFFECTED FAMILIES.
IN THIS SITUATION, TREATMENT MUST HAVE SPECIFIC AND LIMITED GOALS WHICH WOULD HOPEFULLY ENABLE REUNION OF THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS WITHIN THE FAMILY HOME IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, SHE SAID.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM (F CHILD ABUSE WAS AT TWO LEVELS - CRISIS INTERVENTION, DIRECTED AT INDIVIDUALS, AND PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION, AIMED AT PRESERVING FAMILY UNITY AND HARMONY.
THE MAIN THRUST OF CRISIS INTERVENTION WAS TO PUT AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE ABUSE AND TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD. CONCURRENTLY IT WAS NECESSARY TO TREAT THE ABUSIVE PARENTS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS TO RELIEVE STRESS.
♦HOSPITAL TREATMENT ■ . FREQUENTLY INDICATED FOR THE CHILD SINCE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT PHYSICAL ABUSE CONSTITUTES OVER 80 PER CENT OF ALL KNOWN ABUSE CASES,♦ SHE SAID.
IF CONDITIONS IN THE HOME ARE TOLERABLE. IT IS FREQUENTLY BEST TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO REMAIN WITH THE FAMILY WHILE THE SOCIAL WORKER WORKS WITH BOTH THE CHILD AND PARENTS.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT ENFORCED SEPARATION WAS LIKELY TO INCREASE THE FEEL INGS OF GUILT ON THE PART OF THE CHILD AND INTENSIFY THE ANIMOSITY THAT THE ABUSIVE PARENT FELT TOWARDS THE CHILD.
/+THUC, SiiPAKATlON.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
19
♦THUS, SEPARATION, WHETHER TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT, SHOULD EE A MEASURE OF LAST RESORT DICTATED ONLY BY THE INTERESTS OF THE CHILD,* SHE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE DEPARTMENT’S CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT, ffiS CHAN SAID THAT IT SERVED AS +THE FOCAL POINT FOR HANDLING ALL GENUINE CHILD ABUSE CASES.+
THE UNIT PROVIDES PRACTICAL HELP FOR THE FAMILY, INCLUDING ARRANGING FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, BETTER ACCOMMODATION AND DAY CARE SERVICES FOR THE CHILDREN.
PARENTS ALSO RECEIVE INTENSIVE COUNSELLING TO IMPROVE THEIR SELF IMAGE, TO ENABLE THEM TO SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND TO COPE BETTER WITH THEIR PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
IF NECESSARY, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE EMPOWERED TO APPLY TO THE COURTS FOR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER SO THAT THE ABUSED CHILD CAN RECEIVE THE BEST POSSIBLE TREATMENT.
SPEAKING OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HOTLINE, MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO ENCOURAGING THE PUBLIC TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES, THE HOTLINE WAS ALSO INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO SEEK HELP WHEN THEY FELT THEMSELVES UNABLE TO COPE.
♦UNFORTUNATELY,+ SHE SAID, +VERY FEW CALLS TO OUR HOTLINE ARE ACTUALLY MADE BY PARENTS THEMSELVES. WE HOPE THAT MORE PARENTS AT RISK WILL MAKE USE OF THIS FACILITY. THEY CAN BE ASSURED OF PROMPT PROFESSIONAL HELP IN CONFIDENCE.+
TURNING TO ALTERNATIVE CARE FOR THE ABUSED CHILD, MRS CHAN SAID THERE WAS SOME EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT PROPERLY CONTROLLED AND SUPPORTED, RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT COULD BE BENEFICIAL BOTH TO THE CHILD AND TO THE ABUSIVE PARENTS.
- IN THE LONGER TERM, AN ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE MIGHT BE TO EXPAND FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOME SERVICES SO THAT ABUSED CHILDREN COULD BE PROVIDED WITH A HOME AWAY FROM HOME.
♦HOWEVER,♦ SHE SAID, +BOTH THESE SERVICES ARE STILL AT AN EARLY STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND IT WILL TAKE TIME AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO BUILD UP A POOL OF SUITABLE FOSTER PARENTS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY DEGREE OF SOCIAL WORK SUPPORT TO ENABLE FOSTER PARENTS, BIOLOGICAL PARENTS AND THE CHILD TO INTERACT AND TO DEVELOP A CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP.+
MRS CHAN DISCLOSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT PLANNED TO OPEN A SECOND RECEPTION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AT SHA KOK ESTATE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR. »»
/SnL —1X2 . ■•••••«
.-■RIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
- 15 -
SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT SUFFICIENT RESOURCES COULD BE IDENTIFIED LATER IN THE YEAR TO ESTABLISH A SMALL EMERGENCY SECTION WITHIN THIS NEW HOME TO CATER FOR ABUSED CHILDREN REQUIRING TEMPORARY, AND PROBABLY INTENSIVE CARE.
ON 1HE PREVENTIVE FRONT, MRS CHAN REFERRED TO THE GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL POLICIES ON CASH SUPPORT, HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND SAID THAT CONTINUED IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE SERVICES WERE BOUND TO HAVE A BENEFICIAL EFFECT.
SHE ALSO MENTIONED FACILITIES SUCH AS CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH CENTRES, CHILD CARE SERVICES, DISTRICT AND TERRITORY-WIDE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, WOMEN’S GROUPS AND HOME HELP.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN 1985-86, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROPOSED TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL REGISTRY OF ABUSED CHILDREN.
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WOULD BE CONSULTED ON THE ACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME, SHE SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE QUESTION OF MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE, MRS CHAN SAID THAT LEGISLATION ENACTED WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS SOMETIMES HAD UNFORESEEN CONSEQUENCES. SHE FELT THAT LEGAL INTERVENTION COULD ONLY BE JUSTIFIED IF VOLUNTARY hEANS FAILED, AND IF IT DID NOT COMPROMISE THE INTERESTS OF PARENTS AND CHILD AND THOSE PROFESSIONALS WHO HAD TO WORK TOWARDS THEIR REHABILITATION.
FURTHERMORE, SHE SAID, LEGISLATION TO BE EFFECTIVE HAD TO BE ENFORCED. +WH&REAS WE COULD COPE WITH INVESTIGATING A HUNDRED ODD REPORTS OF ALLEGED ABUSE, IT IS SIMPLY NOT POSSIBLE TO COPE WITH A SUDDEN DELUGE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED REPORTS,* SHE EXPLAINED.
BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN DEFINING +CHILD ABUSE*, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING ITS HOTLINE, IT WAS LIKELY THAT ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF REPORTS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIATED UPON INVESTIGATION.
SHE ADDED THAT IT WAS ALSO NOT EASY TO PRESCRIBE AN APPROPRIATE PENALTY THAT »OULD HAVE A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT EFFECT WITHOUT BEING TOO HARSH.
♦ON BALANCE, THEREFORE, MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABU$E WOULD NOT APPEAR TO BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS STAGE,* SHE SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
THE TEXT OF MRS CHAN’S SPEECH WILL BE BOXED.
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/16........
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
16
THREE MORE BOARDS ELECT CHAIRMEN * * * *
THREE MORE DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTED THEIR CHAIRMEN TODAY.
THE CHAIRMEN ARE Ml? WILLIAM WAN HON-CHEUNG OF SAI KUNG, MR LAU WONG-FAT OF TUEN MUN AND MR STEPHEN CHENG PO-HONG OF SHAM SHU I PO.
ALSO ELECTED AT THE TWO NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS ARE W WAN YUET-KAU AND MR HO SUN-KUEN AS THE RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF SAI KUNG AND TUEN MUN TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL.
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MORE PLANTS IN THE PIPELINE TO MAKE HK GREEN ******
THE URBAN COUNCIL AIMS TO PLANT SOME 890 000 TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREA THIS YEAR AS PART OF ITS CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO KEEP HONG KONG GREEN.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WHEN ADDRESSING GUESTS AT THE COUNCIL’S 1BTH FLOWER SHOW WHICH WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY MRS LAWRENCE FUNG AT THE CITY HALL LOW BLOCK TODAY.
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THAT OVER THE YEARS, THE COUNCIL HAS EXERTED EVERY EFFORT TO BEAUTIFY HONG KONG AS COULD BE SEEN SIMPLY BY TAKING A STROLL THROUGH ANY OF THE COUNCIL’S PARKS, GARDENS AND PLAYGROUNDS.
+THE FLOWER SHOW IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT AS IT NOT ONLY MARKS A FURTHER STEP IN THE COUNCIL’S CONTINUING EFFORTS TO TURN HONG KONG INTO A GREENER CITY, IT ALSO ENHANCES OUR APPRECIATION AND LOVE OF NATURAL BEAUTY AND RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO BEAUTIFY OUR ENVIRONMENT,* HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL PLANTED OVER 789 000 SHRUBS, TREES AND FLOWERS IN THE URBAN AREA.
♦I THINK THE FIGURE IS WORTH EMPHASISING SINCE IT MEANS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF A MILLION PLANTINGS. FURTHERMORE, IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF ALMO T GLTP VPR CENT OVER THAT OF 1978,* HE ADDED.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, I9E5
MEANWHILE, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED WINNERS OF THE VARIOUS COMPETITIVE SECTIONS, FOR WHICH A RECORD NUMBER OF 1 423 ENTRIES WAS RECEIVED.
THE JUDGES HAD THEIR USUAL HARD TIME IN TRYING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE SPLENDID DISPLAYS. AMONG THE JUDGES WERE SOME BLIND PEOPLE WHO WERE INVITED BY THE COUNCIL TO JUDGE THE EXHIBITS IN THE SCENTED CUT FLOWERS SECTION.
♦THE ACUTE SENSE OF SMELL OF THESE PEOPLE GAVE US CONSIDERABLE HELP IN ASSESSING THE PERFUME OF RELEVANT ENTRIES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE RESULTS OF THE COMPETITION ARE AS FOLLOWS!
OVERALL BEST EXHIBIT - DIAMOND FARM
BEST CUT FLOWER
CLOVER NUSERY
* BEST ROSE FOR GENTLEMEN’S BUTTONHOLE
♦ BEST IN SCENTED CUT FLOWER -
♦ BEST ORCHID
♦ BEST POT PLANT
♦ BEST AFRICAN VIOLET
+ BEST BONSAI TYPE PLANT
♦ BEST FLOWER ARRANGEMENT
(WESTERN STYLE)
* BEST FLOWER ARRANGEMENT (ORIENTAL STYLE)
* BEST ROSE ARRANGEMENT
+ BEST FLORAL ART BY CHILDREN
* BEST SCHOOL GARDEN PLOT
♦ BEST SCHOOL CHILDREN PLOT
(FLOWER GROWING)
HUNG CHUN YUEN FLORIST
LEUNG WO-KAN DIAMOND FARM SO SAI CHI WONG KWAN MAN-HO NG PANG
YUEN YIM-LING
CHAN WAI-KWAN PAUL TAM SIK-KWONG
LAM MAN-SHUEN
KWONG PUI SCHOOL FANLING PUBLIC SCHOOL
BEST USD
r’RIUAY, APRIL 19, 1-85
- 18 -
+ BEST USD GARDEN
(SMALL GARDEN PLOT) - SHA TIN FU SHAN
CC REST GARDEN
(LARGE GARDEN PLOT) - BOUNDARY STREET
INDOOR GAMES HALL
PRIZES INCLUDING CASH, AN URBAN COUNCIL CUP AND CHALLENGE CUPS WERE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS BY MRS STEPHEN LAU AT THE MEMORIAL GARDEN, CITY HALL.
THE FLOWER SHOW WILL REMAIN OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 6.30 P.M. TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND FROM 9.30 A.M. TO 5.45 P.M. ON SUNDAY (APRIL 21). ADMISSION IS $3 FOR AN ADULT AND Si FOR A CHILD.
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CONTRACTORS NEEDED FOR ROAD PROJECT *****
ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
OVERSEAS
CONTRACTORS IN HONG KONG AND
INCLUSION IN A LIST OF QUALIFIED TENDERERS
THE SHING MUN SECTION OF A NEW HIGHWAY LINKING TSUEN WAN AND SHA
TIN.
THE DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY, KNOWN AS ROUTE 5,'WILL FORM PART OF THE OVERALL SCHEME TO IMPROVE ROAD NETWORKS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SHING MUN SECTION WILL CONSIST OF A PAIR OF 1 600-METRE-LONG TUNNELS UNDER NEEDLE HILL, A PAIR lOO^J^-LONG BRIDGES LOWER SHING MUN RESERVOIR AND A SECOND PAIR OF TUNNELS 950 METRES WHICH WILL PASS BENEATH SMUGGLERS RIDGE.
OVER THE OF ABOUT
THE TWIN-TUBE TUNNELS OF ARCH SHAPE WILL BE 10.5 METRES IN DIAMETER AND WILL BE DRIVEN GENERALLY THROUGH ROCK.
THE
PROJECT WILL ALSO CONSIST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF APPROACH ROADS IN BOTH TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AND TOLL PLAZA AT THE TSUEN WAN END, ELECTRICITY SUBSTATIONS ALONG THE ROUTE AND ANCILLARY DRAINAGE WORKS.
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTORS WITH RECENT SATISFACTORY PROVEN EXPERIENCE OF SIMILAR CONTRACTS CAN APPLY FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL BE CALLING FOR TENDERS FOR THIS PROJECT FROM THE LIST OF PREQUALIFIED CONTRACTORS WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS. WORK IS EXPECTED TO START AT THE BEGINNING OF 1986 AND TAKE ABOUT 43 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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/19........
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1935
19
SEVEN CROWN LOTS FOR AUCTION * * * *
SEVEN LOTS OF CROWN LAND WILL BE PUT UP FOR AUCTION ON MAY 20 IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE AT 2.30 PM.
FIVE OF THE SITES ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND WHILE THE OTHER TWO ARE IN SHA TIN.
ONE PLOT, LOCATED AT HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, IS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (INCLUDING HOTEL).
THE DEVELOPER WILL HAVE TO COMPLETE NOT LESS THAN 30 900 SQUARE rtTRES OF THE GROSS FLOOR AREA ON THE 3 429 SQUARE-METRE SITE BEFORE JULY 1, 1989.
THE NEXT TWO LOTS ARE AT MOORSOM ROAD, JARDINE’S LOOKOUT, AND SOUTH BAY ROAD IN REPULSE BAY. MEASURING ABOUT 2 243 AND 3 650 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY, BOTH ARE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
THE REMAINING TWO HONG KONG SITES ARE IN KENNEDY TOWN. ONE AT VICTORIA ROAD WHICH MEASURES ABOUT 500 SQUARE METRES IS FOR INDUSTRIAL OR GODOWN PURPOSES WHILE THE OTHER IS OF 680 SQUARE METRES AT SAI NING STREET IS TO BE USED FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL (EXCLUDING GODOWN) PURPOSES.
OF THE TWO PLOTS IN SHA TIN, ONE OF ABOUT 39 440 SQUARE METRES IS NEAR TO SUI WO COURT. IT IS FOR RESIDENTIAL USE.
THE OTHER SITE OF 3 371 SQUARE METRES, BEHIND CITY ONE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX, IS RESTRICTED TO INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
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/20
FRIDA APRIL 19, 1985
- 20 -
MUSICAL CAMP FOR YOUTHS *****
THE 1985 HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH AND SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, WILL BE HELD THIS YEAR AT PO LEUNG KUK PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP, SAI KUNG, FROM JULY 20 TO AUGUST 4.
THE CAMP AIMS AT DEVELOPING YOUNG PEOPLE’S MUSICAL TALENT THROUGH INTENSIVE TRAINING IN A SUMMER CAMP ATMOSPHERE.
♦PROMISING YOUNG MUSICIANS WILL BE RECRUITED HERE AND FROM OVERSEAS. \
♦RENOWNED MUSICIANS WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO CONDUCT MASTER CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS IN THE CAMP.
♦IT WILL HELP FOSTER INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE THROUGH MUS IC,♦ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUSIC OFFICE SAID.
APART FROM MUSIC TRAINING, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM SWIMMING, ARCHERY AND CANOEING TO CYCLING AND VOLLEYBALL WILL BE PROVIDED.
PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 24 WHO CAN PLAY A CHINESE OR WESTERN ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT MAY APPLY TO JOIN THE CAMP’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OR CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
THE MUSIC OFFICE IS PLANNING AN OVERSEAS TOUR IN AUGUST, AND WILL SELECT PARTICIPANTS FROM THE CAMP’S SYMPHONY AND CHINESE ORCHESTRAS.
YOUTHS BELOW 16 YEARS OF AGE, WHO PLAY A WIND INSTRUMENT (WESTERN) MAY JOIN THE CAMP’S JUNIOR BAND.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WITH ORCHESTRAL-BAND EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFIED APPLICANTS WILL BE AUDITIONED AT A LATER DATE.
THE CAMP FEE FOR THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OR CHINESE ORCHESTRA MEMBER IS $400 FOR THE WHOLE DURATION, WHILE THAT FOR THE JUNIOR BAND MEMBER IS $200 FOR THE PERIOD EITHER FROM JULY 20 TO 27 OR FROM JULY 27 TO AUGUST 4.
FEES ARE INCLUSIVE OF TUITION FEE, BOARD AND LODGING AND ALL ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMP.
INTERESTED PERSONS SHOULD APPLY NOW. FORMS, WITH FULL DETAILS, ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE AND DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE MUSIC OFFICE HEADQUARTERS, 11/F, WING ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG BEFORE MAY 6, 1985.
FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 5-458791.
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/21 ........
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
21
SCHOOLS GET NEw CODE ON SALES ITEMS
******
A REVISED CODE OF PRACTICE RELATING TO THE SALE OF STATIONERY, UNIFORMS AND OTHER ITEMS IN SCHOOLS HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ALL SCHOOLS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT URGED ALL SCHOOL HEADS TO COOPERATE FULLY TO ENSURE THAT THE CODE IS COMPLIED WITH.
SCHOOLS INVOLVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE SALE OF ITEMS TO STUDENTS SHOULD ENSURE THAT NO PURCHASE SHOULD BE COMPULSORY, AND THAT PARENTS ARE INFORMED ACCORDINGLY, HE SAID.
+AN ADEQUATE DESCRIPTION OF THE ITEMS SHOULD BE GIVEN SO THAT PARENTS AND STUDENTS CAN EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO PURCHASE THESE ITEMS ELSEWHERE,+ HE SAID.
IF THESE ITEMS ARE MADE UP IN PACKAGES, EACH ITEM SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR SALE SEPARATELY WITH INDIVIDUAL PRICES CLEARLY SHOWN, HE ADDED.
UNDER THE CODE, HEADS OF SCHOOLS SHOULD ISSUE LISTS OF ALL BOOKS, INCLUDING TEXTBOOKS, REFERENCE BOOKS AND WORKBOOKS, TO EXISTING STUDENTS BEFORE THE END OF ANY TERM WHEN A CHANGE IS PROPOSED, AND TO NEW STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENTS WHEN ADMISSIONS ARE AGREED, HE SAID.
SCHOOLS WHICH USE EXERCISE BOOKS PRINTED WITH THE SCHOOLS’ NAMES AND CRESTS SHOULD PERMIT THEIR STUDENTS TO USE EXERCISE BOOKS OF COMPARABLE SIZE, QUALITY AND LAYOUT WHICH ARE ON SALE AT STATIONERS IF THEY ARE CHEAPER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ALSO, SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT COMPEL STUDENTS TO PURCHASE THEIR UNIFORMS FROM THE SCHOOL TAILOR, AND SHOULD ENSURE THAT MATERIALS SELECTED FOR THE UNIFORMS ARE OF A TYPE, QUALITY AND COLOUR GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS OF THE UNIFORM AND SPECIMENS OF THE MATERIALS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS wHO WISH TO MAKE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF UNIFORM.
WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SCHOOL BADGES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY PARENTS FROM A SOURCE OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL TAILOR.
WHERE SCHOOLS PROVIDE SPORTS CLOTHES, BADGES AND TIES, PRICES SHOULD BE KEPT AS LOw AS POSSIBLE, HE SAID.
/22 .......
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
TVER $20.7:1 HOUSING TENDERS APPROVED
*****
THREE PUBLIC HOUSING TENDERS TOTALLING OVER $20.7 MILLION HAVE JUST BEEN APPROVED FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND LANDSCAPING AT TWO RENTAL AND ONE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATES.
TWO OF THE TENDERS, VALUED AT $19.1 MILLION, ARE FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS ON SEVEN NEW BLOCKS, TWO COMMERCIAL CENTRES, ONE COOKED-FOOD CENTRE AND ONE PRIMARY SCHOOL AT TIN PING AND LEI TUNG ESTATES UNDER THEIR SECOND PHASE.
TIN PING ESTATE, THE THIRD PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT IN FANLING/ SHEK WU HUI NEW TOWN, IS BEING DEVELOPED IN TWO PHASES AND WILL HOUSE ABOUT 22 700 PEOPLE IN SIX BLOCKS ON FULL COMPLETION BY 1987.
THE REMAINING TENDER IS WORTH $1.5 MILLION UNDER WHICH LANDSCAPE WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO PROVIDE MORE GREENERY AT THE HOS CHOI PO COURT IN SHEK WU HUI.
THE TENDERS WERE APPROVED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S BUILDING COMMITTEE AT ITS LAST MEETING.
MUSIC FUND GRANTS OFFERED * * * *
SCHOOLS AS WELL AS MUSIC AND DANCE ORGANISATIONS CAN NOw APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND FOR THE YEAR 1985-86.
THE GRANTS ARE PRIMARILY INTENDED FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN THE FIELDS OF MUSIC, DANCE AND OTHER ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES.
GRANTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN MADE TO SCHOOLS, MUSIC AND DANCE ORGANISATIONS FOR PURCHASING INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT, PAYING INSTRUCTORS’ FEES FOR TRAINING, PURCHASING MUSIC BOOKS, SCORES ANU TAPES, ORGANISING MUSIC EVENTS SUCH AS CONCERTS AND MUSIC CAMPS.
APPLICATIONS CAN ALSO BE MADE FOR GRANTS FOR OTHER PURPOSES WHICH CONFORM * I TH THE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE FUND.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUSIC FUND SAID THE MUSIC FUND nAS GRANTED ABOUT $4.6 MILLION TO VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS. *IN 1934-3-, MORE THAN $540 000 WAS GRANTED TO 35 SCHOOLS, NINE MUSIC AND DANCE ORGANISATIONS AND ^OUP VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,* HE SAID.
/AU. rtiXSISTEHEL
FRUAY, APRIL 19, 198?
- 23 -
all — oISTERED NON-Pl:OF IT-MAK ING ORGANISATIONS MAY APPLY FOR THE GRANTS.
APPLICATION FORMS AND INFORMATION PAMPHLETS ARE NO* AVAILABLE FROM :
(A) HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MUSIC FUND SECRETARIAT, 1OTH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, 25 HARBOUR ROAD, *AN CHAI, HONG KONG;
(B) MUSIC OFFICE HEADQUARTERS, 11TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG ; AND
(C) ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE (FOR ADDRESSES, PLEASE CALL 5-741455, EXT. 43).
THE CLOSING DATE IS SATURDAY, MAY 4. FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED BY DIALING 5-741455, EXT. 43.
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USE OF ESCALATORS DRIVE * * * * *
A CAMPAIGN URGING PEOPLE *WALK ON THE LEFT* WHEN USING
TO +STAND ON THE RIGHT* AND TO ESCALATORS, WILL BE HELD TOMORROW.
FROM 11 AM, ABOUT 120 BOY SCOUTS, DISC JOCKEYS AND VOCALISTS WILL BE TAKING UP POSITIONS AT MTR STATIONS IN TSIM SHA TSUI, CENTRAL, SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN TO DISTRIBUTE CAMPAIGN HANDOUTS. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED WITH A PERFORMANCE OF SONGS AT CHATER GARDEN IN CENTRAL, FROM 1 PM TO 2 PM.
THE CAMPAIGN IS ORGANISED BY RTHK AND SPONSORED BY THE BOY SCOUT ASSOCIATION AND ROTARY CLUB.
- 0 -
/24........
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
2^
VISIT TO TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX 0*0*
aooamcutq HAVE BEEN MADE FOR A PRESS VISIT TO THE NEW KOWLOON BAY TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX OF THE VOCATIONAL PINING Ki" ON HJESOAT (APRIL 23) AFTERNOON, BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY OPENS LATER THIS YEAR.
A BRIEFING WILL BE GIVEN BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE vrr Sr MORRS MORGAN. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A VISIT TO fciiip rPNTRFS — MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING INDUSTRY, ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRES WHE^E COURSES HAVE ALREADY STARTED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
„,„;S
JI46PMASHARP. GIS AND VTC INFORMATION OFFICERS WILL
SHOULD THE COMPLEX STATION) AT ASSIST.
0 -
/25
1
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 19o5
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN SAI WAN HO
* * * *
TRAFFIC ON A NUMBER OF ROAD SECTIONS IN SAI WAN HO »ILL BE REROUTED AS FROM IT AM ON MONDAY (A3RIL 22) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOw.
DETAILS OF THE TRAFFIC CHANGES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
* TAI FOO STREET BETWEEN WAI HANG STREET AND SAI WAN HO STREET - REROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
* WAI HANG STREET BETWEEN TAI FOO STREET AND TAI CHEONG STREET - REROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
> TAI CHEONG STREET BETWEEN WAI HANG STREET AND SAI WAN HO STREET - REROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
-----0------
CAUSEwAY BAY TAPS OFF * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN CAUSEwaY BAY WILL cc TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (APRIL 2z) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY PERCIVAL STREET, LEIGHTON ROAD, LEE GARDEN ROAD, KAI CHIU ROAD AND HENNESSY ROAD INCLUDI HOUSE NO. 482 OF HENNESSY ROAD AND HOUSE NO. 1-3 OF JARDINE S
CRESCENT.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT MUST BE MAINTAINED ..................... 1
9
SCOUTS PRAISED FOR YOUTH YEAR ACTIVITIES ....................
EPA TO GIVE PRESS BRIEFING................................... 3
YOUTHS URGED TO PLAY CIVIC ROLE.............................. 4
FEBRUARY ORDERS-CN-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT .... 5
SALVATION ARMY PRAISED FOR WORK.............................. 8
SUMER FORESTRY CAMPS ORGANISED .............................. 8
DRAG® BOATS TO RACE AT NEW VENUE............................. 9
VIETNAMESE BOATS CONTINUE JOURNEY ........................... 9
'YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE' ............................. 10
KIOSK OPERATOR NEEDED........................................ 1°
SPORTS AREA FOR KOWLOON PARK................................. 11
NEW TAXI STANDS DESIGNATED................................... 11
PERMANENT EASEMENT PROPOSED.................................. 12
TAPS OFF IN POK FU LAM....................................... 13
FIRING PRACTICE.............................................. 13
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
1
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT MUST BE MAINTAINED X * H *
HONG KONG’S OBJECTIVE IS TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM AS WELL'AS A FLOW OF RESETTLEMENT CF REFUGEES FROM HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE SALVATION ARMY COMMAND HEADQUARTERS IN YAU MA TEI THIS MORNING.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE BRITISH HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE’S REPORT ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, SIR EDWARD SAID HE WOULD BE TALKING TO MINISTERS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS ABOUT THE REPORT DURING HIS LONDON VISIT.
♦BOTH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE NO INTEREST IN MAINTAINING THE CLOSED CAMPS.
♦OUR CONCERN IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERALL SOLUTION TO THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD A VERY GOOD RECORD IN ACCEPTING AND LOOKING AFTER VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, AND COOPERATING IN THE RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME.
♦OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT DIMINISH AND THAT IF REFUGEES DO ARRIVE HERE WE CAN BE SURE OF BEING ABLE TO OBTAIN RESETTLEMENT PLACES FOR THEM.
♦AND I SHALL BE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE TO MINISTERS WHEN I AM THERE, BECAUSE THEY WILL WANT TO CONSIDER IT AND WE WILL WANT TO CONSIDER IT BEFORE THEY REPLY TO THE REPORT,+ HE ADDED.
ON WHETHER HONG KONG CAN HANDLE MORE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, HE SAID: +THE WAY TO DEAL WITH A REFUGEE PROBLEM WAS TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN GO ON TO COUNTRIES OF SETTLEMENT.
♦YOU CANNOT HAVE THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST SETTLEMENT ACCEPTING THEM ALL SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE CLOSEST.
♦THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL INTEREST IN THIS PROBLEM AND TO MAINTAIN A FLOW OF RESETTLEMENT FROM HONG KONG. THAT IS OUR OBJECTIVE.♦
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE AGENDA FOR HIS ™IP TO LONDON, SIR EDWARD SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE WAS TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO MINISTERS AND PARLIAMENTARIANS AND OTHERS OF WHAT HAD BEEN GOING ON IN HONG KONG.
ONE OF THE PRIME SUBJECTS WOULD BE PREPARATION FOR THE ELECTIONS, HE SAID.
/♦THESE IS........
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1?85
2 -
♦THERE IS VERY GREAT INTEREST THERE SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEVELOPING OVER THE LAST
IN THE WAY IN WHICH THIS FEW YEARS,+ HE SAID.
ELECTED MEMBERS WERE
SIR EDWARD NOTED THAT NOW THE FIRST
ABOUT TO TAKE THEIR PLACE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. +THIS HAs AROUSED GREAT INTEREST AND PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING AND HOW WE THINK IT WILL DEVELOP,♦ HE SAID. +S0 THAT WILL BE ONE
CF THE KEY TH INGS.+
HE SAID HE WOULD ALSO TALK TO PEOPLE IN LONDON ABOUT WORLD TRADING PROBLEMS BECAUSE +WE ARE COMING UP TO SOME IMPORTANT TRADE DISCUSSIONS.+
♦I WANT TO KNOW HOW THE PEOPLE IN LONDON AND IN THE DEPARTMENT^ CF TRADE SEE THESE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE HONG KONG’S TRADE INTERESTS ARc VERY IMPORTANT TO HONG KONG AND SO I WANT TO HAVE A TALK ABOUT THAT.
♦AND THEN THERE WILL BE OTHER ISSUES. I EXPECT THE JLG WILL COME UP, BUT IT IS NOT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MY VISIT,* HE SAID.
ASKED WHO HE WOULD BE SEEING IN LONDON, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE EXPECTED TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR RICHARD LUCE IN THE FOREIGN OFFICE, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE.
♦COMMISSIONER MR HAYE HAS ARRANGED A LUNCH AT WHICH I AM GOING TO MEET A NUMBER OF MPS, INCLUDING SIR PETER BLAKER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANGLO-HONG KONG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP,* HE SAID.
♦I EXPECT BY THE TIME I GET THERE ON MONDAY - WHEN I TURN UP IN LONDON ON MONDAY - THE LIST OF PEOPLE I AM TO SEE WILL HAVE GROWN SOMEWHAT BECAUSE IT DOES TEND TO GROW VERY SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE LAST FEW DAYS BEFORE I ARRIVE.*
SCOUTS PRAISED FOR YOUTH YEAR ACTIVITIES ******
THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR IS OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID AT THE ASSOCIATION’S ST GEORGE’S DAY RALLY THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPEAKING AS THE CHIEF SCOUT OF THE ASSOCIATION, SIR EDWARD SAID THIS YEAR WAS OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE BECAUSE ALL HONG KONG YOUTH GROUPS ARE TAKING PART IN THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR.
♦I AM GLAD TO KNOW THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE CALL TO PARTICIPATE, YOUR ASSOCIATION HAS ORGANISED A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WHICH EMPHASISE THE THEME OF ’PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE’.
/♦THE COMMUNITY.......
SATURMY, APRIL 20, 1985
+ THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT BADGE SCHEME INTRODUCED EARLIER THIS YEAR ENCOURAGES PARTICIPATION BY SCOUTS IN A NUMBER OF CAMPAIGNS, TO ’CLEAN HONG KONG’. ’PREVENT CORRUPTION’, ’FIGHT AGAINST DAUG ABUSE’ AND ’FIGHT AGAINST CRIME’,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT NEXT YEAR WOULD ALSO BE A YEAR OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO THE ASSOCIATION.
*l UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ALSO PLANNING TO HOLD A JAMBOREE TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, A RECORD OF WHICH YOU CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD,* SAID.
HE ALSO CONGRATULATED MR CHAU CHAM-SON ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSOCIATION.
+UNDER HIS GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP, I AM SURE THAT SCOUTS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY EXCITING AND CHALLENGING PROGRAMMES WHICH WILL HELP THEM TO BECOME CITIZENS OF WHOM ANY COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
- - 0 - -
EPA TO GIVE PRESS BRIEFING
*****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WILL GIVE A PRESS BRIEFING TO INTRODUCE THE NEW MOBILE AIR QUALITY MONITORING LABORATORY AT ITS HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 24) AFTERNOON.
ACTING PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, MR FRED TROMP WILL SPEAK ABOUT THE $950 000 MOBILE LABORATORY WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION EARLY THIS MONTH.
AFTER THE BRIEFING, PRESS MEMBERS WILL BE TAKEN TO THE GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY POOL OFFICE AT KAI TAK WHERE THEY WILL SEE THE MOBILE LABORATORY IN OPERATION. TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED DURING THE TOUR.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE 11/F, EMPIRE CENTRE, 68 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST BY 1.45 PM. GIS OFFICERS WILL ASSIST.
- - 0
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985 ‘
4
YOUTHS URGED TO PLAY CIVIC ROLE *****
YOUNG PEOPLE, THE DRIVING FORCE OF SOCIETY, SHOULD PLAY THE ROLE OF PIONEERS WHILE HONG KONG’S POLITICAL STRUCTURE IS UNDERGOING GREAT CHANGES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, W DONALD LIAO, SAID THIS EVENING (SATURDAY).
THROUGH ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SHARPEN THEIR AWARENESS IN SOCIETY AND POLITICS, AS WELL AS WIDEN THEIR HORIZONS TO DEVELOP A BALANCED AND WHOLESOME PERSONALITY, HE SAID.
+THEY MAY THUS MAKE ACTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY AND SERVE THE PUBLIC WELL,* HE SAID, AT THE ST GEORGE’S DAY FELLOWSHIP DINNER OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG.
MR LIAO NOTED THAT YOUNG PEOPLE’S ENTHUSIASM IN TAKING PART IN POLITICS WAS EVIDENT IN LAST MONTH’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
SIXTY, OR 12 PER CENT, OF THE 501 CANDIDATES WERE AGED BETWEEN 21 AND 30.
AND 46, OR 19 PER CENT, OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS WERE IN THE SAME AGE GROUP, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 11 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE DB ELECTIONS THREE YEARS AGO, HE SAID.
THIS WAS VERY ENCOURAGING, AND THERE WOULD BE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS TO TAKE PART IN POLITICS, HE SAID.
+THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY, APART FROM TRYING THEIR BEST TO BLAZE NEW TRAILS AND TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES WITH FULL CONFIDENCE, SHOULD ALSO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AS THE BASIC SPIRIT OF SCOUTS ADVOCATES, SO THAT HONG KONG MAY MAINTAIN ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POLITICAL STABILITY,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE THEME OF THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, +PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE*, COINCIDES WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION, AND SHOULD BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING PART IN POLITICS.
MR LIAO ALSO PRAISED THE SCOUTS FOR DEVOTING THEIR TIME AND PERSONAL RESOURCES TO THE MOVEMENT.
----0-----
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
5
FEBRUARY ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, X * X * X x *
PAYROLL FIGURES OUT
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND IN TERMS OF MONTHS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN FEBRUARY 1985 WAS SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
jVHI LE INCREASES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND WERE REPORTED IN THE PLASTIC AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, ORDER POSITIONS IN OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE.
COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH, EMPLOYMENT IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES DECREASED AS SOME WORKERS LEFT THEIR JOBS AROUND THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
CONTINUED INCREASES IN PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF YEAR-END BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY. HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY AS MOST FIRMS HAD PAID YEAR-END BONUSES IN JANUARY.
LABOUR TURNOVER ON THE APPROACH OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ALSO CAUSED THE NUMBER OF OPERATIVES EMPLOYED BY CONSTRUCTION FIRMS TO DECLINE. PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WENT UP BECAUSE OF DOUBLE PAY AND YEAR-END BONUSES.
IN THE SERVICES SECTORS, HOWEVER, SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN PAY-ROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BECAUSE MOST OF THE FIRMS HAD ALREADY DISTRIBUTED THEIR ANNUAL BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY IN JANUARY.
THE EMPLOYMENT LEVEL IN THE SERVICES SECTORS WAS STABLE, EXCEPT FOR A VERY SLIGHT DECLINE IN THAT OF HOTELS.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE TABLES BELOW.
THE survey covered a panel of the 200 LARGEST manufacturing COMPANIES AND THE 50 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 department 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 ........
sr-
UAL
• Kill 20, 1985
The SURVEY REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 1985 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAl TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, AT $1.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT AT 3-7212786.
A. ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
1NDUSTRY (% CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR FEB. 1985
DEC. 1984 JAN. 1985 FEB. 1985
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR -2 -2 X 4.55
TEXTILES, EXCEPT
WEARING APPAREL X -4 * 2.17
PLASTI C PRODUCTS 5 -1 5 4.45
FABRI CATED METAL
PRODUCTS 1 6 2 3.59
ELECTRICAL AND •
ELECTRON!C PRODUCTS -2 X * 5.44
OTHERS X X 4.34
ALL ABOVE INDUSTRI ES -1 -1 X 4.47
—
B. EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS
PERSONS ENGAGED BY
THE COMP AN 1ES SURVEYED PER CAPITA EARNINGS PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR FEB. 1985 HKft
industry/ SERVICES DEC. 1984 CHANGE JAN. 1985 OVER THE FEB. 1985 PRECEDI DEC. 1984 NG MONTH) JAN. FEB. 1985 1985
MANUFACTURE NG -1 X -2 8 15 11 3 737
FOOD AND DRINKS X 1 X 48 -32 3 679
/WS1HING APFXitLL........
SATU.lDAY, -Jr-. L 2( 1585
WEAR! NG
APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR X -1 -2 6 10 9 3 071
TEXTlLES, EXCEPT WE ARI NG APPAREL X -1 -1 14 2 20 3 778
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 1 -2 -3 -3 10 64 4 493
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS -1 X -2 2 30 20 3 732
ELECTRI CAL AND ELECTRONlC PRODUCTS -2 X -4 10 12 12 3 547
OTHERS X 2 X 10 20 -2 4 890
XX CONSTRUCTION X -1 -3 6 13 6 5 165
SERVICES X X X 28 17 -21 5 897
BANKS X -1 X 71 -7 -34 4 589
HOTELS X X -1 32 58 -20 5 289
PUBLI C UTILITlES X X X 7 35 -23 5 662
others X 1 X 28 11 -2 8 312
X CHANGES WITHIN + 0.5 PER CENT
X* PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY; SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS NOT INCLUDED.
---------q------------
SATUR
APRIL 20, 1985
8
SALVATION ARMY PRAISED FOR WORK
X X X X X
WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SALVATION ARMY WERE VERY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND DEMONSTRATED THE VITAL ROLE PLAYED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SALVATION ARMY COMMAND FEADQUARTERS COMPLEX, SIR EDWARD SAID, +THE SALVATION ARMY MINISTERS NOT ONLY TO SPIRITUAL BUT ALSO TO THE MATERIAL NEEDS.*
HE NOTED THAT THE SALVATION ARMY WAS MARKING ITS 55TH YEAR IN HONG KONG, AND SAID IT HAD GROWN FROM OPERATING A HOME FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS, INTO A LARGE AND WELL ORGANISED VOLUNTARY AGENCY, PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
IT OPERATED A NUMBER OF KINDERGARTENS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND WELFARE SERVICES, INCLUDING CHILD CARE CENTRES, CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES, HOMES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, DAY AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE DISABLED.
*THE COMPLETION OF THIS MODERN, PURPOSE-BUILT HEADQUARTERS WILL ENABLE THE SALVATION ARMY TO CONSOLIDATE AND EXPAND ITS VALUABLE WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
HE CONGRATULATED ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THIS BUILDING PROJECT AND WISHED THE SALVATION ARMY CONTINUED SUCCESS IN ITS OPERATION HERE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
-----0------
SUMMER FORESTRY CAMPS ORGANISED
X X X X X X
WEEK-LONG FORESTRY WORK CAMPS HAVE BEEN ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR STUDENTS AND VOLUNTARY WORKERS DURING THE COMING SUMMER HOLIDAYS.
THESE WORK CAMPS, WHICH WILL BE HELD BETWEEN JULY 8 AND AUGUST 23 AT 18 DIFFERENT COUNTRY PARK SITES, ARE OPEN TO ALL PERSONS AGED 15 OR OVER.
APPLICATIONS AND ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CAMPS FROM SCHOOLS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND IF THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, SUCH APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT THROUGH THE COUNCIL.
FOR UNIVERSITIES AND POST-SECONDARY COLLEGE STUDENTS, APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE CLOSING DATE IS MAY 15.
------o ------
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
9
DRAGON BOATS TO RACE AT NEW VENUE *****
THE TAI PO DRAGON BOAT RACE WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 22 AT A NEW VENUE THIS YEAR, AT TOLO HARBOUR OUTSIDE THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
THIS WAS DECIDED AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT DRAGON BOAT COMMITTEE.
FIFTY TEAMS WILL TAKE PART IN THE RACE, EACH WITH 27 MEMBERS COMPRISING A PADDLING CREW OF 24, A DRUMMER, A GONG-BEATER AND A STEERSMAN.
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM TEAMS TO TAKE PART IN THE RACE. APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICES OF THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED AND DISTRICT OFFICE. THE FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY MAY 13 WITH AN ENTRY FEE CF $500.
- - - - 0 -----------
VIETNAMESE BOATS CONTINUE JOURNEY i Ji
IN THE PAST TWO DAYS, TWO VIETNAMESE REFUGEE BOATS HAVE DECIDED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY AFTER ARRIVING IN HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE FIRST BOAT, WITH EIGHT REFUGEES, ARRIVED ON APRIL 15. ITS OCCUPANTS CLAIMED TO HAVE LEFT HONG GAI, NORTH VIETNAM ON MARCH 20. THEY ALL OPTED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY AND THEY WERE GIVEN FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS. MINOR REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THEIR BOAT AND ITS ENGINE. THEY LEFT VOLUNTARILY ON APRIL 18.
THE SECOND BOAT, WITH 106 REFUGEES, ARRIVED ON APRIL 17.
ITS OCCUPANTS CLAIMED TO HAVE LEFT NHA TRANG, SOUTH VIETNAM ON APRIL 9. ONE GROUP OF 59 DECIDED TO STAY IN HONG KONG AND, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE WHO WAS SENT TO HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT ON APRIL 17, ALL WERE TRANSFERRED TO CHI MA WAN CLOSED CENTRE ON APRIL 18. THE REMAINING GROUP OF 47 ELECTED TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY. THEY WERE GIVEN ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF FOOD AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS. THEY LEFT VOLUNTARILY ON APRIL 19.
THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE TWO BOATS BROUGHT TO SIX THE NUMBER OF CASES OF VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CLOSED CENTRE POLICY IN JULY 1982. THERE HAVE NOW BEEN THREE CASES IN 1985.
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
’YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE’ * * * *
A THREE-DAY CONFERENCE ENTITLED +YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE* WILL BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG BETWEEN APRIL 29 AND MAY 1.
IT IS ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (CCCIYY).
- - 0
KIOSK OPERATOR NEEDED OK#
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE OPERATION OF A LIGHT REFRESHMENT KIOSK AT THE SAI KUNG TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND FROM JULY 1.
THE SPORTS GROUND IS A MAJOR RECREATION AND SPORTS COMPLEX FOR THE 30 000 RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TOWN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
FACILITIES AT THE SPORTS GROUND INCLUDE A STANDARD-SIZED, TURFED SOCCER PITCH, AN ALL-WEATHER RUNNING TRACK AND A BASKETBALLVOLLEYBALL COURT.
PERSONS INTERESTED IN BIDDING FOR THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT TO RUN THE KIOSK SHOULD OBTAIN TENDER FORMS FROM THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE RSD ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF SAI KUNG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SAI KUNG.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS MUST BE HANDED IN AT THE RSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE (AUSTIN CENTRE), 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI, BEFORE 9 AM ON MAY 24.
FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE RSD ON TELEPHONE 3-2813707.
- - 0 - -
SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 1985
11 -
SPORTS AREA FOR KOWLOON PARK * * * * *
TENDERS ARE INVITED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SPORTS AND GAMES AREA AT KOWLOON PARK.
IT WILL CONSISTS OF A TEMPORARY ACCESS ROAD TO KOWLOON PARK FROM AUSTIN ROAD, TWO VOLLEY BALL COURTS ON HARD PLAYING SURFACE, A REFRESHMENT KIOSK, AND SPECTATOR TERRACES WITH A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 500 PEOPLE.
ANCILLARY FACILITIES SUCH AS CHANGING ROOMS, TOILETS AND STORES WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED, AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
THE WORKS, DESIGNED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ARE EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN JULY AND BE COMPLETED IN MARCH 1986.
-----o-----
NEW TAXI STANDS DESIGNATED * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 23), NEW TAXI STANDS WILL BE DESIGNATED AT THE EASTERN KERBSIDE OF WOOSUNG STREET AT ITS JUNCTION WITH PAK HOI STREET AND AT THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE OF NING PO STREET BETWEEN NATHAN ROAD AND PARKES STREET.
THE EXISTING TAXI STAND AT PARKES STREET WILL BE CANCELLED.
AND KAM
ON THE SAME DAY, YUEN LONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT 31-3/4 MILESTONE AND 31 MILESTONE WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 12.30 AM
1.15 AM TO FACILITATE ROAD WORK. MOTORISTS MAY USE FAN ROAD AND KAM TIN ROAD INSTEAD.
ALSO FROM TUESDAY, SOY STREET BETWEEN HAK PO STREET AND SAI YEE STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TO EASE TRAFFIC FLOW.
0
SATURDAY, APR L 20, 1985
- 12 -
PERMANENT EASEMENT PROPOSED * * * *
GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO CREATE A PERMANENT EASEMENT ON KING’S ROAD IN NORTH POINT IN CONNECTION WITH A FOOTBRIDGE PROJECT.
IT IS REQUIRED TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTBRIDGE NO. 6 AT THE JUNCTION OF KING’S ROAD AND JAVA ROAD.
THE PROPOSAL WILL AFFECT PRIVATE LAND IN FRONT OF MODEL HOUSING ESTATE WHERE 108.7 SQUARE METRES OF PERMANMENT EASEMENT IS TO BE CREATED. THIS LAND IS CURRENTLY USED AS PAVEMENT.
THE FOOTBRIDGE IS ONE OF THE NINE BEING CONSTRUCTED IN THE NORTH POINT AND QUARRY BAY AREAS AS PART OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEME CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED IN THESE AREAS.
A NOTICE OF AN ORDER MADE UNDER THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND POSTED ON OR NEAR THE SITE.
THE ORDER AND RELEVANT PLAN CAN BE SEEN ATi
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG?
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HONG KONG NORTH, 12TH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG? AND
* EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, 884-886, KING’S ROAD, GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG.
ON THE EXPIRY OF A TWO-MONTH PERIOD FROM THE POSTING OF THE NOTICE, THE EASEMENT WILL BE CREATED.
ANY PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE MAY SUBMIT CLAIMS IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS.
----0-----
SATURDAY, APRIL W, 1985
TAPS OFF IN POK FU LAM XXX
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN POK FU LAM WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SIX HOURS BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 23) FOR WATER MAINS WORK.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY BISNEY ROAD, CONSORT RISE AND CROWN TERRACE.
- 0 - -
FIRING PRACTICE * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE FROM MONDAY (APRIL 22) TO FRIDAY (APRIL 26) BETWEEN 8 AM AND 5 PM.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
land supply +more than ade^uate+ .............................. 1
HK LEADS WORLD IN THREE EXPORT CATEGORIES ..................... 4
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS BEING SURVEYED ...................................................... 7
INSIDER DEALING TRIBUNAL TO HOLD FORMAL SITTINGS .............. 8
YAU MA TEI BOARD MEETS TOMORROW ............................... 9
BOARD TO HEAR ABOUT HOUSING AREA .............................. 9
FIGHT AGAINST RATS GOES ON .................................... 10
GRANTS OFFERED FOR SPORTS, CULTURAL PROJECTS .................. 11
CHILDREN SOUGHT FOR CHOIR ..................................... 12
SPACE FRAME SYSTEM SUPPLIERS NEEDED ........................... 15
SUPPORT FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES URGED ............................ 15
FIRE ENGINEERS PLAN OIL FIELD VISIT ........................... 15
CHILDREN'S ART WORKS ON SHOW................................... 15
ELEVATED ROAD TO EASE TRAFFIC.................................. 16
UC MANAGES WIDE-RANGING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ............... 17
TRAFFIC LAKES TO CLOSE FOR ROAD WORKS
17
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1965
LAND SUPPLY +MORE THAN ADEQUATE*
*****
THE EXISTING AND PLANNED LEVELS OF LAND SUPPLY ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO MEET HONG KONG’S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THIS PROJECTION, CONTAINED IN THE 1984-85 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY PUBLISHED TODAY, IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE MADE BY THE COMMITTEE IN ITS PREVIOUS REPORT.
IN ITS LATEST REPORT, THE COMMITTEE, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP CF MR BILL BROWN, HAS RECOMMENDED ANNUAL LAND SUPPLY TARGETS FOR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF USE IN RELATION TO THEIR EXISTING AND PLANNED AVAILABILITY.
THE COMMITTEE HAS CONSIDERED THE PROVISION OF LAND FOR THE HOUSING AND MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND HAS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A LONG TERM VIEW OF THE MARKET POTENTIAL WHICH OUGHT NOT TO BE INFLUENCED BY SHORT TERM MARKET CONDITIONS, SAID MR BROWN.
REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW LAND HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND THESE HAVE BEEN COMPARED WITH THE CURRENT LAND SUPPLY FORECAST TO ASSESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICY OBJECTIVES COULD BE MET, HE ADDED.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, FUTURE LAND PRODUCTION SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING AT 26 200 FLATS A YEAR, WITH A FURTHER 3 800 FLATS TO BE PRODUCED THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE NEW SITES.
CURRENT FORECASTS SHOW A GROWING SHORTFALL FROM 1989-90 IN LAND REQUIRED TO MEET FLAT PRODUCTION TARGETS FROM 1992-93, DESPITE THE AVAILABILITY OF A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF SUPPLEMENTARY SITES, WHICH THE COMMITTEE FEELS +CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO MEET THIS SHORTFALL*.
HOWEVER, IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT’S DECISIONS BASED ON THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY STUDIES IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE NEW RECLAMATIONS AROUND THE WESTERN HARBOUR AREA WHICH SHOULD BEGIN TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THIS END BY 1992-93.
THE REPORT ALSO SAYS THAT LAND SUPPLY SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT THE ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF 10 000 FLATS FOR BOTH THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
/A MORE-THAN-AOr*<UATE........
SUNDAY, APRlu 21, 19&5
2
A MORE-THAN-ADEQUATE LAND SUPPLY HAS BEEN FORECAST FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CONTRIBUTE AN AVERAGE OF 24 OOO FLATS A YEAR FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. IN VIEW OF THE CONSIDERABLE SURPLUS IN THE SUPPLY OF SITES FOR ALL TYPES OF PRIVATE HOUSING, THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT CONSIDER IT NECESSARY FOR LAND PRODUCTION TARGETS TO BE SET.
NEVERTHELESS IT FEARS THAT THIS SURPLUS SUPPLY SITUATION COULD LEAD DEVELOPERS TO CONCENTRATE ON PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING IN THE URBAN AREAS LEADING TO AN IMBALANCE IN THE NEW TOWNS.
THE COMMITTEE THEREFORE RECOMMENDS THAT THE STUDY OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING, AS WELL AS THE PATTERN OF PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING INVESTMENT, SHOULD CONTINUE WITH A VIEW TO DETERMINING THE MOST APPROPRIATE HOUSING MIX TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE IN VARIOUS INCOME BRACKETS AND THE WAYS IN WHICH THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED.
ON THE SUPPLY OF LAND FOR THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, THE REPORT EXPECTS AN AMPLE SUPPLY BOTH IN THE SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONGER TERMS.
THE COMMITTEE HAS EXAMINED POSSIBLE APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING THE DESIRED DISTRIBUTION OF MANUFACTURING JOBS BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, NOTWITHSTANDING THE RECOGNITION THAT A BALANCE BETWEEN RESIDENT LABOUR FORCE AND LOCAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES IS FAR MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE IN A FREE MARKET SITUATION.
HAVING REGARD TO THE PRESENT SUPPLY SITUATION AND MARKET CONDITIONS, THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES THREE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE BALANCED INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THESE PROPOSALS INCLUDE PUTTING ABOUT HALF OF THE REMAINING CROWN LAND ZONED + INDUSTRIAL* IN KOWLOON BAY TO MEDIUM-TERM TEMPORARY USE, REVIEWING THE PLOT RATIOS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS YET TO BE RECLAIMED AT CHAI WAN AND SIU CHAI WAN.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO FEELS THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE ACTIVE PROMOTION OF PRESENT AND FUTURE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITI-S IN HONG KONG, PARTICULARLY IN THE NON-METROPOLI TAN AREAS.
IN ADDITION TO SETTING TARGETS, FORECASTING SUPPLY AND MONITORING PERFORMANCE IN LAND SUPPLY, THE COMMITTEE HAS ALSO STUDIED SUCH RELATED TOPICS AS:
/• THE PLANNING, .........
bLNDAY, APRIL 21, 1965
* THE PLANNING, PROCEDURAL, FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (LDC) CONCEPT. THE COMMITTEE BELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE NOW SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR FOR AN EARLY DECISION TO BE MADE ON SETTING UP AN LDC TO UNDERTAKE REDEVELOPMENT WORK ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT. IF AN EARLY DECISION IS TAKEN, IT IS HOPED THAT SOME REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS BY THIS NEW APPROACH CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN 1986-87 TO IMPROVE THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.
* THE PROVISION OF OFFICE SPACE UP TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AND THE TRANSPORT IMPLICATIONS OF OVERCENTRALISATION OF COMMERCIAL OFFICES IN CENTRAL AND THE INNER CITY BUSINESS DISTRICTS. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THAT TRANSPORT PLANNING SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF POTENTIAL INTER-ZONAL TRAVEL DEMANDS AND AIM TO PROVIDE EFFICIENT PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR CIRCULATION IN AREAS SUITABLE FOR NEW OFFICE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT.
* THE IMPACT OF AUTOMATION ON THE INDUSTRIAL AND OFF ICE SECTORS.
* THE RELEASE OF VACANT CROWN LAND SITES FOR TEMPORARY USES AND THE PROSPECT OF REZONING UNDEVELOPED GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY (GIC) SITES.
IN CONCLUSION, THE REPORT STATES THAT IT HAS NOTED THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO FORM A NEW BUILDING AND LAND ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY MERGING THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY AND THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IN ITS PREVIOUS REPORT, THE SCLS STATED THAT ITS ROLE HAD BEEN FULFILLED AND SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT CARRY OUT A REVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE.
THE REPORT IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $20.
-----0------
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
HK LEADS WORLD IN THREE EXPORT CATEGORIES
******
HONG KONG WAS THE LARGEST EXPORTER OF CLOTHING, TOYS AND GAMES, AND ELECTRIC HAIR DRESSING APPARATUS IN THE WORLD IN 1983.
HONG KONG WAS ALSO THE SECOND LARGEST EXPORTER OF FANS, DOMESTIC TYPE (AFTER TAIWAN); AND THE THIRD LARGEST EXPORTER CF WATCHES COMPLETE (AFTER SWITZERLAND AND JAPAN) AND RADIOBROADCAST RECEIVERS (AFTER JAPAN AND TAIWAN).
DETAILS OF THESE ARE CONTAINED IN THE +HONG KONG REVIEW OF OVERSEAS TRADE IN 1984+, ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $15 PER COPY.
THE REVIEW CONTAINS A BRIEF TEXT ON HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE PERFORMANCE IN 1984, 18 GRAPHS AND 38 STATISTICAL APPENDICES WITH COMPARATIVE FIGURES FOR THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
THE REVIEW PRESENTS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE DIRECTION AND COMPOSITION OF HONG KONG’S OVERSEAS TRADE IN 1984, INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF TRADE BY MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS AND BY COMMODITY CATEGORIES, AS WELL AS STATISTICS ON HONG KONG’S PERFORMANCE IN WORLD TRADE AND IN PRINCIPAL OVERSEAS MARKETS, COMPARED WITH THOSE OF MAJOR COMPETITORS.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PUBLICATION ARE STATISTICS ON EXCHANGE RATES OF PRINCIPAL FOREIGN CURRENCIES AND THE EFFECTIVE (TRADE-WEIGHTED) EXCHANGE RATE INDEX FOR THE HONG KONG DOLLAR.
ACCORDING TO THE REVIEW, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN VALUE WERE NOTED IN IMPORTS FROM CHINA (BY $12 932 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT) AND FROM JAPAN (BY $12 286 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT). THE OVERSEAS MARKETS WITH THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE THE U.S. (BY $17 573 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT) AND CHINA (BY $5 060 MILLION OR 81 PER CENT). HOWEVER, DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO EGYPT AND THE NIGERIA DROPPED CONSIDERABLY IN VALUE (BY $267 MILLION OR 48 PER CENT AND BY $265 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY).
/BY COMMODITY .......
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, '> 85
5
BY COMMODITY CATEGORIES, SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN VALUE WAS REGISTERED IN IMPORTS OF TEXTILES (BY $8 757 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT); AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS, APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $6 318 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT)-WHEREAS THE COMMODITIES WITH THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE CLOTHING (BY $12 349 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT) AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS) (BY $5 196 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT).
THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORT TRADE ROSE BY 48 PER CENT IN 1984.
CHINA REMAINED THE LARGEST SUPPLIER OF GOODS FOR SUBSEQUENT RE-EXPORT. RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN INCREASED BY $8 427 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT WITH THE LARGEST INCREASE REGISTERED IN CLOTHING (BY $1 597 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT).
THE U.S. WAS THE LARGEST MARKET FOR RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN, ACCOUNTING FOR 31 PER CENT OF ALL RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN THROUGH HONG KONG. THE COMMODITY WITH SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH WAS MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY BASKETWORK AND WICKERWORK AND BAMBOO ARTICLES) (BY $1 331 MILLION OR 148 PER CENT).
RE-EXPORTS OF JAPAN ORIGIN ALSO GREW (BY $7 066 MILLION OR 61 PER CENT), PARTICULARLY FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1 302 MILLION OR 90 PER CENT). ABOUT HALF OF THE RE-EXPORTS OF JAPAN ORIGIN WENT TO CHINA WITH THE HIGHEST GROWTH REGISTERED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1 475 MILLION OR 341 PER CENT).
IN 1984, RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA ROSE DRASTICALLY BY $15 882 MILLION OR 130 PER CENT, BUT RE-EXPORTS TO NIGERIA FELL BY $332 MILLION OR 60 PER CENT.
THE VALUE OF AIRBORNE TRADE IN 1984, REPRESENTING 23 PER CENT OF TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE, INCREASED BY $22 268 MILLION OR 27 PER CENT OVER 1983. IN TERMS OF TONNAGE, AIRBORNE TRADE CONSTITUTED LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF TOTAL TRADE.
AIRBORNE TRADE WITH THE U.S. INCREASED VERY RAPIDLY IN 1984; VALUES OF IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY $2 741 MILLION (OR 34 PER CENT), $4 803 MILLION (OR 32 PER CENT) AND $1 270 MILLION (OR 54 PER CENT) RESPECTIVELY.
/ANALYSED BY
SliNJAY, APRIL 21, 19^5
6 -
ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, IMPORTS OF THERMIONIC, COLD CATHODE AND PHOTO-CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, PHOTOCELLS, TRANSISTORS AND PARTS TRANSPORTED BY AIR EXPERIENCED THE HIGHEST GROWTH (BY $3 015 MILLION OR 38 PER CENT), WHILST IN THE CASE OF EXPORTS BY AIR, CLOTHING RECORDED THE HIGHEST GROWTH (BY $3 682 MILLION OR 35 PER CENT). RE-EXPORTS OF THERMIONIC, COLD CATHODE AND PHOTO-CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, PHOTOCELLS, TRANSISTORS AND PARTS INCREASED BY $2 047 MILLION (OR 70 PER CENT).
AS FOR SEABORNE TRADE WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 59 PER CENT OF TOTAL MERCHANDISE VALUE IN 1984, AN INCREASE OF $59 329 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT OVER 1983 WAS RECORDED. ANALYSED IN TERMS OF TONNAGE, AS MUCH AS 90 PER CENT OF TOTAL TRADE WAS CARRIED BY SEA.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN SEABORNE TRADE WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS FROM JAPAN (BY $9 736 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT), EXPORTS TO THE U.S. (BY $12 759 MILLION OR 45 PER CENT) AND RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA (BY $3 808 MILLION OR 192 PER CENT).
VALUE OF SEABORNE IMPORTS OF TEXTILE FABRICS INCREASED RAPIDLY BY $3 595 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT WHEREAS THAT OF EXPORTS CF CLOTHING ALSO ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY BY $8 492 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT. RE-EXPORTS OF TEXTILE FABRICS BY SEA INCREASED BY SI 504 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT IN 1984.
THE REVIEW ALSO PUBLISHES UNIT VALUE AND QUANTUM INDEXES WHICH ARE OFTEN USED TO ASSESS THE MOVEMENTS IN COMMODITY PRICES AND CHANGES IN TRADE VOLUME.
DURING 1984, THE TRADE VOLUMES FOR IMPORTS, DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT, 17 PER CENT AND 31 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY, OVER 1983.
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN THE EXPORT VOLUMES OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (BY 54 PER CENT) AND DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (BY 31 PER CENT), AND IN THE IMPORT AND RE-EXPORT VOLUMES OF CAPITAL GOODS (BY 35 PER CENT AND 55 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY).
/? .......
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SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1932
7
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS BEING SURVEYED
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONDUCTING AN ANNUAL SURVEY OF THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS FOR THE YEAR 1984.
THE SURVEY COVERS WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT ESTABLISHMENTS, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.
QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING SENT TO A SAMPLE OF ABOUT 8 130 ESTABLISHMENTS OUT OF A TOTAL OF SOME 120 000 ESTABLISHMENTS FALLING UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE SURVEY.
DATA TO BE COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY INCLUDE THE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, FLOOR AREA, EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR COSTS, OPERATING EXPENSES, PURCHASES, OPENING AND CLOSING STOCKS, BUSINESS TURNOVER AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
SUCH ECONOMIC DATA WILL PROVIDE BASIC INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE AND SERVICE SECTOR AND ARE NEEDED FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF THE SECTOR’S CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
THE SURVEY RESULTS WILL ALSO BE USED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE FORMULATION OF DECISIONS AND POLICIES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID RESPONSE TO THE SURVEY IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
A CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER AUTHORISING THE CONDUCT OF THIS SURVEY WAS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 11 OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NOTICE NO. 16 IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ON JANUARY 13, 1984.
SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES BY JULY 31, 1985.
OFFICERS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, WHO CARRY A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD WHILE ON DUTY, WILL VISIT THE ESTABLISHMENTS CONCERNED TO ASSIST THEM IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRES IF REQUIRED.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND THAT ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION WHICH DID NOT REVEAL DETAILS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE RELEASED.
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A ...
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
INSIDER DEALING TRIBUNAL * * * *
TO HOLD FORMAL SITTINGS * M
IN RESPONSE TO ENQUIRIES FROM THE PRESS THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT HAS BEEN RELEASED BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INSIDER DEALING TRIBUNAL.
THE TRIBUNAL WAS REQUIRED BY NOTICE FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY UNDER SECTION 141H(2) OF THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE DATED NOVEMBER 2, 1984 TO INQUIRE INTO AND DETERMINE
(A) WHETHER CULPABLE INSIDER DEALING IN RELATION TO ORDINARY SHARES IN INTERNATIONAL CITY HOLDINGS LIMITED OR ANY RELATED COMPANIES HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE PERIOD BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1984 AND JUNE 30, 1984? AND
(B) THE IDENTITY OF ANY PERSONS INVOLVED IN SUCH INSIDER DEALING AND THE EXTENT OF THEIR CULPABILITY.
THE TRIBUNAL IS MINDFUL OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE PUBLICATION CF THE TRIBUNAL’S REPORT TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. IN THE bEANTIME THE PURPOSE OF THIS STATEMENT IS TO KEEP THE PUBLIC INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THE INQUIRY WITHOUT CONTRAVENING THE PROVISION OF THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE WHICH PROHIBITS THE PUBLICATION OF MATERIAL RECEIVED BY THE TRIBUNAL FOR THE PURPOSES OF ITS INQUIRY.
THE NECESSARY SCOPE OF THE TRIBUNAL’S INVESTIGATION IS PROVING TO BE VERY EXTENSIVE. SOME 200 PERSONS HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED AND INFORMATION CONCERNING SHARE DEALINGS HAS BEEN OBTAINED FROM MORE THAN 1 000 DEALERS. THE TRIBUNAL’S INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN FULLY EXTENDED AND THEIR NUMBERS HAVE HAD TO BE SUPPLEMENTED FROM THREE TO FIVE IN ORDER TO EXPEDITE THE INQUIRY.
THE TRIBUNAL’S INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND IT WILL BEGIN ITS FORMAL SITTINGS ON JUNE 18, CONTINUING IF NECESSARY UNTIL JULY 12, 1985. FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDER WAY AND THE TRIBUNAL ENVISAGES THAT IT WILL PROBABLY RESUME ITS SITTINGS ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1985 WITH A VIEW TO CONCLUDING ITS SITTINGS BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT EVERY SITTING OF THE TRIBUNAL SHALL BE IN CAMERA. IT IS REGRETTED THAT THE PUBLIC MAY NOT THEREFORE BE ADMITTED TO THE SITTINGS WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY THE PUBLICATION OF THE TRIBUNAL’S REPORT TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRIBUNAL IS MR JUSTICE CLOUGH. THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE MR GORDON M. MACWHINNIE AND MRS BARBARA M. WONG. COUNSEL TO THE TRIBUNAL IS MR G.J. MCMAHON OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS.
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/9 .....
SUNDAY, APR IL 21, 1=>35
9
YAU MA TEI BOARD MEETS TOMORROW * * * * *
THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW (MONDAY) AFTERNOON.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING, A CLOSED-DOOR SESSION WILL BE HELD TO ELECT THE BOARD’S CHAIRMAN.
AFTER THE ELECTION, BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE STANDING ORDERS, THE FORMATION OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES, THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE, THE MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN OF EACH CF ITS COMMITTEES, THE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS, AND THE BOARD’S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1985-86.
MEMBERS’ VIEW WILL ALSO BE SOUGHT ON WHETHER THE BOARD SHOULD ALLOCATE $140 000 TO BEAUTIFY A VACANT SITE ALONG HONG TAT PATH IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD SUPPORi THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.
THEY WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE OUTSTANDING PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT FROM 1982 TO 1985, THE BOARD’S FINANCIAL PROCEDURE AND THE +MEET-THE-PUBLIC+ SCHEME.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE PROGRESS REPORT OF GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP ON PRIVATE ROADS AND THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.
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BOARD TO HEAR ABOUT HOUSING AREA *****
TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON A PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE TENURE OF THE SHUEN WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY (APRIL 23) MORNING.
THE SHUEN WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOben 1982 TO HOUSE VICTIMS OF SQUATTER FIRES AND OTHER NATURAL DISAoTEKo. THE TENURE OF THE THA EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 1985.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE FORMATION Or VARIOUS BOARD COMMITTEES AND WILL BE BRIEFED ON AN INFORMATION PAPxr< ON PRIVATE ROADS.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE PROVISIONAL ALLOCATION AND APPLICATIONS OF FUNDS.
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/-IO..........
SUNDAY, APR IL 21, 1985
10
FIGHT AGAINST RATS GOES ON
* * *
MORE THAN 56 000 RATS WERE DESTROYED BY PEST CONTROL OFFICERS OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR, DURING 385 BLOCK DISINFESTATION AND 740 HOLE-BAITING OPERATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE OPERATIONS ARE AN ON-GOING EXERCISE TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST DISEASES WHICH MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY RATS, A SPOKESMAN FOR RSD SAID TODAY.
PEST CONTROL OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS RSD DISTRICT OFFICES INSPECT ALL POSSIBLE RODENT BREEDING PLACES ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND PLACE TRAPS OR APPLY POISON ONCE RODENT BREEDING IS TRACED, IE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WERE NO LONG-LASTING METHODS TO EXTERMINATE RATS AS ALL CONTROL MEASURES WERE EASILY +OFFSET BY THE RAPID REPRODUCTION CAPACITY OF RATS.+
AS RATS USE ALL AVAILABLE FOOD AND SHELTERING PLACES
TO BREED, THE BEST WAY TO STOP THEM FROM MULTIPLYING IS TO KEEP ALL FOOD IN RAT-PROOF CONTAINERS TO LEAVE NO REFUSE AROUND,
HE SAID.
IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT NOT TO GIVE RATS A PLACE TO HIDE EITHER BEHIND OPENINGS ON FLOORS, WALLS OR IN VENTILATION DUCTS.
*A BUILDING THAT IS CLEAN AND WELL-MAINTAINED KEEPS RATS AWAY,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS WHO ENCOUNTER RODENT NUISANCE ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRICT OFFICES CF THE RSD FOR ASSISTANCE.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
11
GRANTS OFFERED FOR SPORTS, CULTURAL PROJECTS
*****
ORGANISATIONS NEEDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATIONAL, SPORTING, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION.
ABOUT ONE MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS THIS FINANCIAL YEAR 1985-86 AND APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FROM THE FUND ARE NOW BEING INVITED.
THE FUND IS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT OF THE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID PROJECTS SHOULD BE PRINCIPALLY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, BENEFIT A LARGE SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AND BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ON REASONABLE REQUEST.
THEY SHOULD ALSO BE SPECIFICALLY OF THE +BRICK AND MORTAR+ TYPE, BE DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THE INDIVIDUAL AND ENCOURAGE PURPOSEFUL USE OF LEISURE TIME AND PRIMARILY BENEFIT YOUNG PEOPLE, HE SAID.
TO ENSURE A REASONABLE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS TO BE APPROVED EACH YEAR, GRANTS WILL NOT EXCEED MORE THAN $200 000 EACH AND MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECTS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A STRICTER BASIS.
HOWEVER, EACH CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS AS TO WHICH PROJECTS SHOULD BE SUPPORTED EITHER IN FULL OR IN PART.
PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO INITIATION OF NEW PROJECTS OF NEW AGENCIES WHICH HAVE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION OR ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER MAJOR SOURCES.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES SECTION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, DISTRICT OFFICES OF URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND FROM THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN DUPLICATE AND FORWARDED TO THE SECRETARY, COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, 11TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG, NOT LATER THAN MAY 21, 1985.
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/12........
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
12
CHILDREN SOUGHT FOR CHOIR
*****
THE SHAM SHUI PO CHILDREN’S CHOIR IS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERo, AND THERE ARE PLANS TO BOOST THE CHOIR’S TRAINING AND PERFORMING PROGRAMMES.
CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 12, LIVING OR STUDYING IN SHAM SHUI PO, CAN APPLY TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHOIR. UPON ENROLMENT A CHOIR MEMBER WILL RECEIVE VOCAL TRAINING BY PROFESSIONAL INSTRUCTORS FOR TWO HOURS EVERY SATURDAY AT BUDDHIST TAI HUNG COLLEGE.
AFTER THE EXPANSION, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHOIR IS EXPECTED TO REACH 140, COMPRISING SENIOR AND JUNIOR SECTIONS.
THE CHILDREN’S CHOIR IS PART OF THE DISTRICT-BASED RECREATIONAL AND ART PROGRAMME SPONSORED BY THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD. THE ENTRANCE FEE IS $60 AND THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION IS $40.
THE CHOIR WAS FORMED IN 1982 TO ENRICH CHILDREN’S MUSICAL INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE, TO FOSTER THEIR TEAM SPIRIT AND GOOD CHARACTER THROUGH HEALTHY GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND TO PROMOTE ART AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMME.
DESPITE ITS SHORT HISTORY, THE CHOIR HAS MANAGED TO ORGANISE A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL CONCERTS AND MADE REGULAR APPEARANCES ON TELEVISION AND LOCAL STAGES.
APART FROM TRAINING SESSIONS, THE CHOIR ALSO ORGANISES FREQUENT GATHERINGS AND OUTINGS, AND ARRANGES MEMBERS TO ATTEND OTHER CONCERTS IN GROUPS AS WELL AS TAKING PART IN OPEN COMPETITION.
ENTRY FORMS FOR THE CHOIR MEMBERSHIP ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 3-704251 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
15
SPACE FRAME SYSTEM SUPPLIERS NEEDED
******
PERSONS CAPABLE OF SUPPLYING AND ERECTING PREFABRICATED TUBULAR SPACE FRAME SYSTEMS, ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR INCLUSION IN THE LIST OF SUPPL IERS-MANUFACTURERS OF SPACE FRAME SYSTEMS.
THP SYSTEMS ARE TO BE FITTED AS ROOFS AT INDOOR GAMES HALLS IN YUEn’lONG AND SHA TIN, AND RECREATIONAL GROUNDS IN KOWLOON BAY AND TO KWA WAN.
THE SUPPLIERS-MANUFACTURERS ARE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY AND _ ----------------------------------- AND BE RESp0NsiBLE
SUPERVISE THE ERECTION OF THE SPACE FRAMES
FOR THE DESIGN IN THE CASE OF MODIFICATION TO SUIT THE SPECIFIED
DIMENSIONS AND ROOFING SYSTEM.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT, ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, NOT LATER THAN MAY 10 AND MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED 'APPLICATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE +LIS i CF SUPPLIERS-MANUFACTURERS OF SPACE FRAME SYSTEMS*’.
APPLICANTS SHOULD ALSO ENCLOSE DETAILED INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE SYSTEM, ERECTION METHODS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THEIR MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY.
--------c----------
SUPPORT FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES URGED
******
SCHOOLS. PARENTS. HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN
TEACHERS AND ALL WHO THE CHANELLING OF OUR
AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES
CARE FOR HONG KONG YOUNG PEOPLE TOWARDS
THE PURSUIT OF HEALTHY
MEMBER SAID THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON
A DISTRICT BOARD
MR ALBERT LI WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN CF THE DI STR ICT’S*SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, SAID THAT THE MUSIC CFF ICE’S INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME HAS GONE A LONG *AY TO ilDEN THE HORIZON OF SOME OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO EQUIP THEM WITH A BROADER PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE.
/MH LI .......
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 19&5
14
MR LI WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY OF THE KOWLOON REGION STUDcNTo CONCERT AT THE DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICt FOR ITS TRAINEES IN KOWLOON TO PERFORM IN PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY BEFORc THEIR PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
+BEING AN EDUCATIONALIST MYSELF, I AM IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE AND SUPPORT THE WORK IT DOES,* F£ ADDED.
MRS DORIS HO, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, SAID IN HER WELCOME SPEECH THAT THE MUSIC OFFICE, IN RUNNING THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME, PLACED MUCH IMPORTANCE ON PROGRESS, AND INSTRUCTORS AND TRAINEES ALIKE MUST REGULARLY REVIEW AND EVALUATE WHAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED AND WHAT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE.
SHE SAID, THE STUDENTS CONCERTS PROVIDE SUCH OCCASIONS FOR ASSESSMENT AND ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME.
♦THE PERFORMERS INCLUDE NOT ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF TRAINING BUT ALSO THOSE WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE PAST YEAR,* SHE SAID.
+SOME OF THE PERFORMERS TODAY HAVE ONLY LEARNT TO PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS FOR A YEAR OR TWO, BUT THEIR MASTERY OF THE INSTRUMENT IN THE SHORT TIME IS WORTHY OF COMMENDATION,* SHE STRESSED.
MRS HO ALSO THANKED THE PARENTS AND FRIENDS ATTENDING THt CONCERT FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY ENCOURAGEMENT AND ADVICE WHICH HELPED TO MAKE THE WHOLE TRAINING PROCESS.
THE MUSIC OFFICE’S EAST KOWLOON YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND AND THE KOWLOON YOUTH STRING ORCHESTRA, AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINEES SHOWED THEIR PROGRESS BY PLAYING VARIOUS WESTERN AND CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE CONCERT.
THE HONG KONG CHILDREN’S CHOIR ALSO GAVE A GUEST PERFORMANCE.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1935
15
FIRE ENGINEERS PLAN OIL FIELD VISIT *****
THE HONG KONG CHAPTER OF FIRE ENGINEERS IS PLANNING TO VISIT THE SOUTH SEA OIL FIELD IN HAINAM ISLAND, THE OUT-GOING PRESIDENT CF THE INSTITUTE OF FIRE ENGINEERS, HONG KONG BRANCH (IFE), MR WOO KWAN-KUEN SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE INSTITUTE’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, MR WOO, WHO IS ALSO ACTING CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE KOWLOON FIRE COMMAND, SAID THERE HAD BEEN NO VISIT TO THE OIL FIELD DURING HIS TERMS OF OFFICE BECAUSE OF SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEMS.
HE HOPED THE INCOMING COUNCIL WOULD PURSUE THE MATTER.
MR WOO ALSO SAID THAT 44 MEMBERS HAD PASSED THE VARIOUS GRADES OF IFE EXAMINATIONS, SCORING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PASS RATES AMONG ALL OVERSEAS BRANCHES.
HE SAID THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF IFE WOULD TAKE PART IN THE ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND FIRE EXPOSITION AND CONFERENCE (AISEC’85) AND ALSO THE 3RD SOUTH EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC FIRE SAFETY CONFERENCE (SEAPAC) TO BE HELD IN SINGAPORE IN NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
AT THE MEETING, MR G.V. ALLAWAY WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE IFE HONG KONG BRANCH FOR THE COMING YEAR. MR ALLAWAY IS THE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER OF KOWLOON SOUTH DIVISION OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
- c - -
CHILDREN’S ART WORKS ON SHOW
*****
ABOUT 600 HANDICRAFTS AND PAINTINGS BY SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM MORE THAN 40 SCHOOLS IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE ON DISPLAY ON TUESDAY (APRIL 23) AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
THE TWO-DAY EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE OF WONG TAI SIN DI STR ICT WI TH SPONSORSHIP OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
THE EXHIBITS INCLUDE POTTERY WARES, CHINESE AND WESTERN PAINTINGS, PAPER MODELS, ENGRAVINGS AND HANDICRAFT MADE OF RATTAN, WOOD, STRAW AND FOAM RUBBER.
/A
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
16
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISERS SAID THAT THE EXH IBJTION wAS ONE OF THE SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE’S COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECTS, TO DEVELOP THE CREATIVENESS AND ARTISTIC POTENTIAL OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE FROM 3 PM TO 6 PM ON TUESDAY AND FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM ON THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 104, CHING TAK STREET.
THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PAUL WONG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, MR ALBERT LI AND OTHER ORGANISERS WILL OFFICIATE AT THE EXHIBITION’S OPENING CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 3 PM ON TUESDAY.
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ELEVATED ROAD TO EASE TRAFFIC * * * * *
AN ELEVATED ROAD IS TO BE BUILT ACROSS NATHAN ROAD TO LINK CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND BOUNDARY STREET.
IT WILL FORM PART OF A DISTRICT DISTRIBUTOR ROAD SYSTEM KNOWN AS ROUTE 11 CONNECTING LAI CHI KOK AND SHAM SHU I PO WITH EAST KOWLOON, AND WILL PROVIDE A THROUGH ROUTE FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD TO BOUNDARY STREET WITHOUT INTERRUPTING GROUND LEVEL TRAFFIC.
WORK INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 6.75-METRE WIDE TWO-LANE ONE-WAY ELEVATED ROAD FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD NEAR MAPLE STREET TO BOUNDARY STREET NEAR SAI YEE STREET.
THERE WILL ALSO BE MODIFICATION OF THE CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD/ TAI PO ROAD JUNCTION AND LOCAL WIDENING OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET AND NATHAN ROAD ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED ELEVATED ROAD.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES ANCILLARY ROAD RECONSTRUCTION, DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING WORKS, WILL START IN JULY AND BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT 27 MONTHS.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT.
/17........
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 1985
- 17 -
UC MANAGES WIDE-RANGING RECREATIONAL FACILITIES X X X * *
WITH LAND AT A PREMIUM IN HONG KONG, EVERY SITE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR RECREATION IS UTILISED TO THE FULL.
AT PRESENT, THE COUNCIL OPERATES 11 INDOOR GAMES HALLS, EACH COMPRISING A MULTI-PURPOSE COURT FOR BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BADMINTON AND GYMNASTICS A SQUASH COURT AND TABLE TENNIS ROOMS.
ALL THE COURTS ARE WELL PATRONISED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS. THE MOST POPULAR HALLS LAST MONTH WERE THE WONG NAI CHUNG ROAD IGH, THE BOUNDARY STREET IGH AND THE MORSE PARK IGH, ALL OF WHICH ATTAINED A 96 PER CENT USAGE RATE.
THE COUNCIL ALSO MANAGES A RANGE OF FACILITIES THAT INCLUDE 36 GRASS SOCCER PITCHES, 102 HARD SURFACED MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, 15 ROLLER SKATING RINKS, SEVEN JOGGING TRACKS, 84 TENNIS COURTS, 167 BASKETBALL COURTS, 35 VOLLEYBALL COURTS, 16 SQUASH COURTS, TEN BADMINTON COURTS, IWO HOCKEY GROUNDS, TWO RUGBY GROUNDS, FOUR INDOOR/OUTDOOR STADIA, 187 CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS, 12 BEACHES, 11 SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES, TWO BOWLING GREENS AND TWO OBSTACLE GOLF COURSES.
OF THESE, THE SQUASH COURTS ARE HEAVILY USED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WITH THE USAGE RATE AS HIGH AS 97 PER CENT.
FOR THOSE WHO PREFER PASSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES DURING LEISURE HOURS, THE COUNCIL PROVIDES SOME 410 GARDENS (INCLUDING SITTING-OUT AREAS AND GARDEN AREAS INSIDE PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS), 26 PARKS AND 181 AMENITIES PLOTS.
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TRAFFIC LANES TO CLOSE FOR ROAD WORKS
*****
TWO TRAFFIC LANES OF THE SECTION OF YUEN WO ROAD BETWEEN WANG POK STREET AND SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 25) FOR EIGHT WEEKS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO EXERCISE UTMOST CARE AND PATIENCE ON USING THE SAID ROAD SECTION AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS EXPECTED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, aPRIL 22, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
'HK — AN IDEAL LINK WITH CHINA' ............................. 1
UNCERTAINTY EXPECTED FROM COMING MFA EXPIRY ................. 1
PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR MaCAU GOVERNOR'S VISIT ............... 3
TWO DB CHAIRMEN ELECTED ..................................... 4
YOUTH POLICIES BEING STUDIED................................. 4
PUBLIC SUPPORT URGED FOR ROAD SAFETY DRIVE ..................
COURSE OFFERED FOR PRACTISING JOURNALISTS ................... 6
NEW BOARD MEMBERS TOUR ESTATES .............................. 7
WORK STARTS ON ROAD PROJECT ................................. 8
BOARD HOLDS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW...........................
FLOWER SHOW REGISTERS MANY +FIRSTS+ .........................
NEW OFFICES FOR RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTIONS ...........
TRAFFIC CHANGE ..............................................
WATER MAINS WORK ............................................ 10
WATER STORAGE FIGURES
10
Mji.JA SIL 22, 1985
1 -
’HK — AN IDEAL LINK WITH CHINA’ ******
HONG KONG’S IDEAL AND UNIQUE SITUATION AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR COMMERCIAL LINKS WITH CHINA AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN REGION IS WELL-ESTABLISHED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY (DESIGNATE), MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID IN BRUSSELS.
MR AKERS-JONES, WHO IS CURRENTLY ON AN OVERSEAS TOUR IN EUROPE, VISITED BELGIUM LAST WEEK AND IS NOW IN GENEVA.
MEETING JOURNALISTS FROM BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS OVER LUNCH AT THE END OF LAST WEEK, MR AKERS-JONES URGED EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN NOT TO MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED IN HONG KONG.
♦THE COUNTRIES BORDERING THE PACIFIC AND IN PARTICULAR THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, ARE ALREADY EXPANDING THEIR INVESTMENT IN AND BUSINESS LINKS WITH HONG KONG.
+NOW THAT THE JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG UP TO AND BEYOND 1997 HAS BEEN SIGNED, THE PROSPECTS FOR EXPANSION OF TRADE AND INVESTMENT BOTH IN HONG KONG AND IN CHINA AND THE SOUTH-EAST ASIAN REGION, VIA HONG KONG, ARE AS EXCITING AS AT ANY TIME IN HONG KONG’S HISTORY,+ HE SAID.
♦EUROPEAN BUSINESS SHOULD TAKE CARE THAT THEY ARE NOT LEFT OUT IN THE COLD,+ MR AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT.
-----o-----
UNCERTAINTY EXPECTED FROM COMING MFA EXPIRY ******
MID-1986 TEXTILES OUR
THE EXPIRY OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) IN INTRODUCES AN UNWELCOME ELEMENT OF UNCERTAINTY INTO THE AND CLOTHING SECTOR WHICH COMPRISES OVER 40 PER CENT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
MR MACLEOD WAS SPEAKING FREIGHT CONFERENCE ORGANISED
AT THE TWO-DAY U.S.-ASIA SEA/AIR
BY THE HONG KONG SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL.
♦I HAVE RECENTLY COME BACK FROM A MEETING IN MEXICO WITH THE OTHER COUNTRIES AFFECTED BY THESE RESTRAINTS, WHERE WE WERE CO-ORDINATING OUR POSITION FOR THE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH WILL START FORMALLY IN JULY THIS YEAR.
♦WE SHALL BE SEEKING LIBERALISATION, AN AIM ALREADY AGREED AT THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) MINISTERIAL NEETING IN NOVEMBER 1982.+
/HOWEVSS, MR........
WNIUY, APHIL 22, 1985
2
HOWEVER, MR MACLEOD SAID, +WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSIONS THAT THIS WILL BE EASILY OBTAINED. THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE U.S.A.
IS NOW SO IRRATIONAL THAT UNFORTUNATELY UNREASONABLE DEMANDS AND HARASSMENT CANNOT BE RULED OUT.+
ON PROTECTIONIST MEASURES, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT SUCH PROTECTIONIST PRESSURES IN THE LONG RUN CONCERNED US EVEN WHEN THEY DID NOT AFFECT US DIRECTLY (AS WITH AUTOS AND STEEL) AS HONG KONG RELIED ON THE GATT.
♦THE GATT IS THE ONLY MULTILATERAL TREATY WHICH LAYS DOWN AGREED RULES FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND THOSE WHO SUBSCRIBE TO IT ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN FOUR-FIFTHS OF WORLD TRADE.
+THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE ENSHRINED IN THE GATT IS THAT TRADE MUST BE CONDUCTED ON THE BASIS OF NON-DISCRIMINATION - THE +MOST-FAVOURED-NATION+ CLAUSE.
+THUS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF COUNTRY +A+ HAD GOOD REASONS FOR PROTECTING IN SOME WAY ITS FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY, IT WOULD NEED TO APPLY ANY PROTECTIVE MEASURES TO ALL SUPPLIERS, NOT JUST TO THE ONE OR TWO WHICH MOST CONCERNED IT.
+THIS, AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT COUNTRY +A+ WOULD HAVE TO COMPENSATE THOSE INJURED OR FACE RETALIATION, HELPS TO DISCOURAGE MEMBERS FROM RESORTING TO PROTECTIVE MEASURES TOO LIGHTLY.+
+DESPITE THE MANY EXCEPTIONS TO THE GATT,+ MR MACLEOD SAID, +WE AND MANY OTHERS ARE CONVINCED THAT IT IS BETTER TO HAVE SOME RULES, AND SOME FORUM FOR APPEAL, THAN NONE AT ALL.
+HENCE OUR CONCERN OVER PROTECTIONIST PRESSURES IN GENERAL RELATE TO THE WEAKENING OF THE GATT, WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS DEPENDS IN THE END ON THE POLITICAL WILL OF THE MAJOR TRADING BLOCS TO MAKE IT WORK.+
NEVERTHELESS, MR MACLEOD SAID HE OVERALL WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE PROSPECTS FOR CONTINUED EXPANSION OF TRADE AND HENCE OF SHIPPING, WAS VERY GOOD.
HE WELCOMED ANY ASSISTANCE SHIPPERS COULD GIVE TO PUSHING A FREE TRADE LINE IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, AND IN CORRECTING ANY MISTAKEN IMPRESSIONS OF HONG KONG.
+WE MUST TRY TO GET A MORE RATIONAL AND BALANCED DEBATE ON THESE ISSUES GOIJ4G PARTICULARLY IN THE U.S.A.,* HE SAID.
MOK PPIL 22, 1985
- 3 -
PRESS ARRANGEMENTS FOR MACAU GOVERNOR’S VISIT ******
PRESS FACILITIES HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS OF THE ‘•'■ED IA TC COVER THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, TO HONG KONG ON FRIDAY, APRIL 26.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL NEED SPECIAL ACCREDITATION TO COVER ALL PUBLIC FUNCTIONS. PRESS LAPEL BADGES WILL BE ISSUED BY GIS TO ALL ACCREDITED JOURNALISTS.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR ACCREDITATION HAVE BEEN BOXED FOR COLLECTION. EDITORS ARE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORMS AND RETURN THEM TO THE DUTY OFFICER, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, BY 12 NOON, APRIL 24, AT THE LATEST.
PLEASE NOTE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR JUST ONE REPORTING TEAM TO COVER THE WHOLE PROGRAMME.
MORNING PROGRAMME
THE MACAU GOVERNOR, ACCOMPANIED BY MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, WILL ARRIVE BY JETFOIL AT THE MACAU FERRY PIER AT 9.45 AM. THEY WILL BE MET BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND LADY YOUDE. THERE WILL BE A FIXED POSITION INSIDE THE RESTRICTED AREA FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TO COVER THEIR ARRIVAL. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE MACAU FERRY PIER BEFORE 9 AM, WHEN GIS OFFICERS WILL ESCORT THEM INTO THE RESTRICTED AREA.
ON ARRIVAL AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA WILL BE BRIEFED BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG. MEANWHILE, MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE, WILL VISIT PO LEUNG KUK IN CAUSEWAY BAY, AND THEN GO TO THE TEAWARE MUSEUM AT VICTORIA BARRACKS. IN VIEW OF THE TIGHT SCHEDULE, TWO COACHES WILL TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WHO WISH TO COVER THESE VISITS FROM THE MACAU FERRY PIER TO PO LEUNG KUK IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OFFICIAL PARTY DEPARTS.
AFTERNOON PROGRAMME
IN THE AFTERNOON, THE MACAU GOVERNOR AND MADAM ALMEl IM E COSTA, ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE, WILL VISIT SHA TIN NEW TOWN. THEY WILL ARRIVE AT THE LION’S PAVILION AT 3.15 PM FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE NEW TOWN AND BE BRIEFED ABOUT VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. THE PARTY WILL THEN PROCEED TO VISIT SHA TIN CITY ONE AND LUNG HANG ESTATE.
TWO PRESS COACHES WILL LEAVE THE CGO CARPARK IN CENTRAL AT 2 PM SHARP FOR SHA TIN.
AT THE END OF THE VISIT, THE TWO COACHES WILL TAKE THE PRESS PARTY STRAIGHT BACK TO THE MACAU FERRY PIER TO ENABLE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU AND MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, WHO WILL BE SEEN OFF BY SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE AT AROUND 6 PM.
-----0-------
MONDAY, Ar RI L 22, 198 5
- 4 -
TWO DB CHAIRMEN ELECTED
X X *
MR CHAN LAU-FONG WAS ELECTED AS THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL AT A MEETING HELD THIS AFTERNOON.
AT ANOTHER MEETING, MR YIP WAH WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE YAU MA TEI DI STRI CT BOARD.
----O-----
YOUTH POLICIES BEING STUDIED
XXX
OVER 70 POLICY-MAKERS, ADMINISTRATORS, ACADEMICS AND YOUTH WORKERS FROM BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS WILL GET TOGETHER TO PROBE HONG KONG’S EXISTING YOUTH POLICIES AT A THREE-DAY CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG BETWEEN APRIL 29 AND MAY 1.
THE CONFERENCE, ENTITLED +YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE+ IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (CCCIYY) TO MARK THE YOUTH YEAR.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTIVITIES SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE CCCIYY MR LO KING-MAN, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE CONFERENCE WOULD HIGHLIGHT THE I YY THEMES OF +DEVELOPMENT+ AND +PARTI Cl RATION*.
HE SAID THIS GROUP OF EXPERTS WOULD CLOSELY EXAMINE HONG KONG’S EXISTING POLICIES AND PROVISION FOR YOUTH AND IDENTIFY ANY GAPS IN THESE TWO AREAS, WITH A VIEW TO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
+THE CONFERENCE IS TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES THOSE WITH WHOM THEY WORK, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, TO ASSESS THE SUITABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING POLICIES WHICH AFFECT YOUTH AND TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
THE CONFERENCE WILL COVER TOPICS SUCH AS +YOUTH AND EDUCATION* +YOUTH, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT*, +YOUTH IN COMMUNITY* +YOUTH AND ' FAMILY*, *YOUTH AND MASS MEDIA* AND +YOUTH SERVICES - COORDINATION AND RECOMMENDATION*.
AMONG THE SPEAKERS WILL BE MR PAUL LEE OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC MR RANCE LEE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG MR HUI YIN-FAT OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES MR PETER TSAO, SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION AND MR LI YUET-TING, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
A PRSLIMDULRY.........
L Zi, 15*85
A PRELIMINARY REPORT SUMMARISING THE DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE WILL BE COMPILED AND THE REPORT WILL PROVIDE THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE SECOND STAGE OF THE CONFERENCE IN JULY, WHERE IT WILL BE FURTHER DISCUSSED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS YOUTH ORGANISATIONS, SCHOOLS, POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND UNIVERSITIES.
PARTICIPANTS OF THE SECOND-STAGE CONFERENCE WILL NOT ONLY BE INVITED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON TOPICS THAT CONCERN THEMSELVES TODAY, THEY WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACTIVELY INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN THE PLANNING AND ORGANISATION OF THE CONFERENCE.
MR J.P. LEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE CCCIYY, THANKED THE SPONSOR OF THE CONFERENCE - THE WING ON GROUP - FOR ITS DONATION OF $100 000.
HE DISCLOSED THAT OTHER MAJOR EVENTS INCLUDE A CIVIC DAY FOR YOUTH IN OCTOBER AND A CLOSING CEREMONY IN DECEMBER.
+ I.YY IS A COMMUNITY EVENT, AND WE WISH EVERY POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION BY HONG KONG CITIZENS,* SAID MR LEE. +WE SHOULD HOPE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME FORWARD WITH THEIR SUPPORT.*
HE APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, TO SPONSOR OTHER IYY ACTIVITIES IN FUTURE. HE SAID INTERESTED PARTIES ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE CCCIYY SECRETARIAT BY CALLING 3-676226.
--------0 ----------
PUBLIC SUPPORT URGED FOR ROAD SAFETY DRIVE
******
SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN IS NOT MERELY AN ACT OF CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE BUT FOR OURSELVES.
’’FOR WHILE THE PEOPLE KILLED OR INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS EVERY DAY MAY NOT BE KNOWN TO US AT ALL, THERE IS NO TELLING THAT THE NEXT ON THE TOLL WILL NOT BE OURSELVES OR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY DEAR TO US,” THE ACTING ASSISTANT CHIEF POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER, MR LAU KAI-FAT, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
MR LAU SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS OVER THE YEARS WIDELY PUBLICISED THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY AND HAS WON MUCH SUPPORT FROM THE MEDIA.
AN EXAMPLE IS TVB’S THREE EPISODES IN THE ’’GOOD MORNING HONG KONG” STARTING TOMORROW ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT THEME.
■'’IN appbeciatiqk
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1985
6
IN APPRECIATION OF POLICE HELP IN PRODUCING THE ROAD SAFETY SPECIAL, TVB ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER MISS SOPHIA CHAN TODAY PRESENTED A BANNER TO THE FORCE.
THE BANNER WAS RECEIVED BY MR LAU WHO ALSO PRESENTED A BANNER AND A SPECIALLY INSCRIBED BATON TO MISS CHAN AS A GESTURE CF THANKS FOR HER SUPPORT.
MR LAU HOPED THAT THE PUBLIC WILL LEARN TO USE THE LIGHT SIGNAL CROSSING FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR THEIR SAFETY.
ON-THE-SPOT LESSONS ON HOW TO CROSS THE ROAD AT PEDESTRIAN NEGLIGENCE BLACKSPOTS IN CENTRAL IS NOW BEING GIVEN BY A DISTRICT POLICE TRAFFIC TEAM.
THE PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT REDUCTION PROGRAMME STARTED LAST WEDNESDAY AND WILL LAST UNTIL THE END OF THIS MONTH, TO BE FOLLOWED BY STREET ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
THE TRAFFIC TEAM IS POSITIONED AT THE CROSSING ON THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAYS OUTSIDE WORLDWIDE HOUSE, AND AT A SPOT OUTSIDE THE MTR CONSTTRUCTION SITE NEAR CHATER ROAD IN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL IN THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON RUSH HOURS.
BY MAY 1 WHEN THE LESSONS END, POLICE WILL BE ON SPECIAL ALERT FOR PEOPLE WHO DISOBEY THE RULES AND SOMMONSES UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, WHICH CARRY A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2,000, WILL BE ISSUED.
-----o------
COURSE OFFERED FOR PRACTISING JOURNALISTS * * * *
TWO CANADIAN COMMUNICATION EXPERTS WILL BE BACK AGAIN TO HONG KONG TO CONDUCT A THREE-WEEK +JOURNAL ISM SYMPOSIUM+ FOR LOCAL JOURNALISTS NEXT MONTH, AT THE REQUEST OF THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
THE JOURNALISM WORKSHOP ORGANISED LAST YEAR BY PROFESSOR C. CRYSLER AND PROFESSOR G. DECARIE OF CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY, CANADA WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY WORKING JOURNALISTS.
IN THE SYMPOSIUM FROM MAY 13 TO MAY 31 THIS YEAR, THE TWO PROFESSORS WILL DISCUSS WITH PARTICIPANTS THE ESSENTIALS OF NEWS GATHERING, WRITING TECHNIQUES, ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS REPORTING, PRESS LAW AND ETHICS.
MR WILLIAM MARSHALL, ASSISTANT TO ATTORNEY GENERAL, WILL ALSO GIVE A LECTURE ON PRESS LAW AND ETHICS ON MAY 31, FROM 9.30 AM TO 12.30 PM.
/WITH $70 000 .......
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1985
WITH $70 000 TRAINING COURSE SUBSIDY FROM THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, THE BOARD IS ABLE TO OFFER THIS ENGLISH +JOURNALISM SYMPOSIUM* AT $1 500 PER PARTICIPANT.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO TAKE THE FULL COURSE, SEPARATE LECTURES ARE ARRANGED AT FEES OF $100 AND $200 PER MODULE.
THE SYMPOSIUM IS OPEN TO ALL PRACTISING JOURNALISTS AND THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS APRIL 30.
FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM MR FRANK NG, SECRETARY OF THE BOARD AT 5-8932341 EXT. 283.
-----o------
NEW BOARD MEMBERS TOUR ESTATES
*****
NEW MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL TOUR SHUN LEE AREA TOMORROW (TUESDAY) MORNING TO GAIN FIRST-HAND INFORMATION ABOUT THE AREA.
AFTER BEING BRIEFED ON THE LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS WILL VISIT THREE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATE AND A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
ALONG THE ROUTE THEY WILL ALSO INSPECT VARIOUS WELFARE AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, THE JORDAN VALLEY CONTROLLED TIP, AND WILL EE BRIEFED ABOUT PARKING PROBLEMS IN THE AREA.
THE VISIT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT TO FAMILIARISE MEMBERS WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT, AND IS ALSO PART OF A FOUR-MONTH ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK, WILL ALSO JOIN THE TOUR.
-----o-----
/8........
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1985
8
WORK STARTS ON ROAD PROJECT * * * *
WORK HAS STARTED ON A $37 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE EXTENSION OF TAI CHUNG KIU ROAD WHICH HAS BEEN PARTIALLY BUILT IN AN AREA TO THE EAST OF SIU LEK YUEN NULLAH IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE NEW ROAD, WHICH WILL BE PARTLY DUAL TWO LANES AND PARTLY SINGLE LANE, IS TO BE EXTENDED FOR ABOUT A KILOMETRE FROM NEAR SHA TIN CITY ONE TO AH KUNG KOK.
THE 18-MONTH CONTRACT INCLUDES THE COMPLETION OF DRAINAGE AND LOCAL ROADS FOR FUTURE RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
--------o----------
BOARD HOLDS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW
* * * *
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS FIRST MEETING TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
PRIOR TO THE MEETING, A CLOSED DOOR SESSION WILL BE HELD TO ELECT THE BOARD CHAIRMAN.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL THEN DISCUSS THE BOARD STANDING ORDERS, THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES AND THE SELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN TO EACH OF THE COMMITTEES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO COMMENT ON THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS FOR 1985-86, THE MONG KOK DISTRICT NEWSPAPER, DISTRICT PLANS FOR PROMOTING THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, AND THE REPORT CF A STUDY ON THE NEEDS FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES.
THE +MEET THE PUBLIC* SESSION AND THE REVIEW OF 1985 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTION PROCEDURES WILL ALSO BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS CF THE BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES FOR 1985-86, TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED, AND THE PROGRESS REPORT BY A WORKING GROUP ON PRIVATE ROADS.
--------o----------
/9........
UCKDAY, 1PBIL 22, 1985
- 9 -
FLOWER SHOW REGISTERS MANY +FIRSTS+ * * * *
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW HAS ACHIEVED A NUMBER OF +FIRSTS+ THIS YEAR.
THE THREE-DAY SHOW, HELD AT THE CITY HALL LAST WEEKEND, ATTRACTED A RECORD 34 874 VISITORS. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 2 392 OVER LAST YEAR’S TOTAL.
THE ATTENDANCE ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE EVENT WAS ALSO A RECORD, NUMBERING 18 249 COMPARED WITH 17 257 REGISTERED ON THE SAME DAY LAST YEAR.
FURTHERMORE, A RECORD 1 423 COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS WERE RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
THE CHIEF MANAGER (LEISURE SERVICES) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR ROGER POLLARD, SAID THE SHOW HAD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR EVENTS AMONG THE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
+THIS YEAR’S SHOW IN PARTICULAR WAS THE BEST IN YEARS WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF FLOWERS AND VARIETIES OF PLANTS ON DISPLAY,+ MR POLLARD SAID.
+THE WEATHER WAS ALSO EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD AND THE COMMERCIAL STALLS OUTSIDE THE SHOW SITE ALSO HELPED BOOST THE ATTENDANCE FIGURES.+
- - - - 0 ----------
NEW OFFICES FOR RECREATION AND AMEN I Tl ES SECT IONS * * * *
FOLLOWING THE RE-ORGANISATION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THIS MONTH, A NUMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTIONS HAVE MOVED TO NEW OFFICES.
THE NEW ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THESE SECTIONS ARE«
+ KOWLOON WEST REGIONAL OFFICE, AMOY PLAZA, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, KOWLOON.
(TEL. NO. 3-7553997)
♦ HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICE, 16/F., HONEST MOTORS BUILDING, 9-11 LEIGHTON ROAD, HONG KONG.
(TEL. NO. 5-8919522)
BA.STEKN
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1985
10
+ EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, G/F., SHOP A, CHATON HOUSE, 100—104 TSAT TSE MUI ROAD, HONG KONG.
(TEL. NO. 5-628958)
+ WANCHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, G/F., DOMINION CENTRE, 55-57 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, HONG KONG.
(TEL. NO. 5-8610302)
ALL APPLICATIONS FOR USE OF URBAN COUNCIL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE NEW OFFICE IN THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT.
-----o------
TRAFFIC CHANGE * * * *
TRAFFIC ON TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN SHEUNG WAN WILL BE REROUTED FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (APRIL 23) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
THE CHANGES ARE:
* SQUARE STREET - ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND
M TA I PING SHAN STREET BETWEEN SQUARE STREET AND UPPER STATION STREET - ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
------o-------
WATER MAINS WORK * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (APRIL 25) FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY SHAU KEI WAN ROAD, SUN SING STREET AND TAI ON STREET, INCLUDING TAI ON HOUSE.
------0-------
WATER STORAGE FIGURES * * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (APRIL 22) STOOD AT 59.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 348.197 MILLION CUBIC NETRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 407.385 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 69.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
------o-------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONTROLS ON AIRCRAFT NOISE PLANNED.............................. 1
HK TO OPEN INVESTMENT OFFICE IN NEW YORK.....................
COMPLEX HET,PS MEET TRAINING NEEDS ............................. 4
BOARD MEMBERS LEARN MORE ABOUT DISTRICT ........................ 5
NINE PERSONS JAILED FOR TRADE MARK OFFENCES .................... 6
TWO MORE BOARD CHAIRMEN ELECTED................................. 6
BOARD TO SET UP COMIITTEES ..................................... 7
PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION QUOTAS UP ............................ 7
LIQUOR LIC3JSING BOARD TO CONSIDER TWO APPLICATIONS............. 8
TAX RESERVE INTEREST CUT ....................................... 8
TENDERS INVITED TO OPERATE KIOSK AND BAR ...................... 10
CEREMONY TO MARK TRAIL OPENING.................................. 11
URBAN CLEARWAY................................................... H
ROAD CLOSURE..................................................... H
SALT WATER CUT
11
UE
, APRIL 23, 193
1 -
CONTROLS ON AIRCRAFT NOISE PLANNED *****
UNDER LEGISLATION CURRENTLY BEING DRAFTED, ALL LOCALLY REGISTERED AIRCRAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE +NOISE CERT IF ICATED+ TO MEET THE INTERNATIONAL NOISE LEVEL CRITERIA FROM NEXT JANUARY, THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR TREVOR THORPE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
AND, PROBABLY, FROM JANUARY 1988, ANY AIRCRAFT EITHER LOCAL CR FOREIGN NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL NOISE CRITERIA WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LAND OR TAKE OFF IN HONG KONG, MR THORPE TOLD THE PENINSULA ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON.
ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THE GOVERNMENT WAS IMPLEMENTING CONCERNED THE CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS ON AIRCRAFT, MR THORPE SAID.
♦WE ARE CURRENTLY INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW MY DEPARTMENT TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER AIR FREIGHT FORWARDERS CONCERNING THE CARRIAGE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF DANGEROUS GOODS WITHIN AIRCRAFT.
♦CIVIL AVIATION LEGISLATION, WITH SUCH A DYNAMIC AND HIGH TECHNOLOGICAL INDUSTRY AS AVIATION, MUST CONTINUALLY BE DEVELOPED,* W THORPE SAID.
TURNING TO DEVELOPMENTS AT KAI TAK AIRPORT, MR THORPE SAID STAGE V DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE COMPLETED BY EARLY 1988 AT A COST OF 1273 MILLION.
A PROJECT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT IS A NEW TRANSPORT TERMINUS TO THE WEST OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING WHICH WILL BE OPENED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
THE TERMINUS WILL BE IN THE OLD OPEN AIR CAR PARK AND WILL ENABLE ARRIVING PASSENGERS TO BOARD TAXIS, HIRE CARS AND AIRPORT COACHES IN A BRIGHTER, CLEANER AND MORE PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT THAN CURRENTLY EXISTS ALONG THE ARRIVALS KERB OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING.
STAGE V DEVELOPMENT WILL INCREASE THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING CAPACITY FROM THE PRESENT 3 400 TO 5 300 PASSENGERS PER HOUR IN EACH DIRECTION.
+THIS WILL BE ACHIEVED BY EXTENDING THE EXISTING BUILDING BY A SIMPLE HORIZONTAL TWO-LEVEL EXTENSION TO JHE EAST, HENCE INCREASING THE AREA AVAILABLE FOR PASSENGER PROCESSING BY ABOUT HALF AS MUCH AGAIN,* MR THORPE SAID.
♦PASSENGER THROUGHPUT PER YEAR IS EXPECTED IN THE ORDER OF 16 MILLION BY 1990, COMPARED WITH 9.6 MILLION LASTYEAR> WHILE THAT FOR CARGO WILL REACH 700 000 TONNES IN 1990, AGAINST LAST YEAR’S 417 000 TONNES,* HE SAID.
/he stressed .......
TUBSi £, AF'ftlL 23, 1985
2
HE STRESSED THAT WHILE MANY CIVIL AVIATION DEVELOPMENTS WERE VISIBLE AND COULD BE SEEN AND USED BY THE PUBLIC AT KAI TAK, OTHERS CONCERNING AIR SAFETY AND AIR SERVICES WERE 7+INVISIBLE, OR BEHIND THE SCENES.+
ELECTRONIC FACILITIES FOR CIVIL AVIATION WERE, FOR INSTANCE MOSTLY IN THE INVISIBLE CATEGORY.
AND SOME OF OUR OLDER EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING THE RADAR DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, WOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES IN THE NEAR FUTURE, MR THORPE SAID.
♦LEGISLATION AND REGULATION OF AIR SERVICES ALSO ARE INVISIBLE ASPECTS OF AVIATION, BUT NEVERTHELESS IMPORTANT.
♦ FOR OUR AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, WE ARE ALWAYS REVIEWING OUR PROCEDURES AND FACILITIES TO MEET THE DEFINED OBJECTIVE OF THE SAFE, ORDERLY AND EXPEDITIOUS MOVEMENT OF AIR TRAFFIC.
♦ WE ALL KNOW THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WANT US TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL AND VISIBLE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM, BUT I HOPE THAT IT IS REASSURING FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT THE PROVISION OF A SAFE, ORDERLY AND EXPEDITIOUS AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH SO MANY INVISIBLE DEVELOPMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CIVIL AVIATION GROWTH IN HONG KONG,+ MR THORPE SAID.
-------0 - - - -
HK TO OPEN INVESTMENT OFFICE IN NEW YORK
******
HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WILL OPEN A NEW YORK OFFICE LATER THIS YEAR TO SEEK INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, THE DEPARTMENT’S DIRECTOR, MR JOHN YAXLEY, ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK, MR YAXLEY SAID THE OFFICE WOULD OPEN IN AUTUMN.
+HONG KONG SEES THE UNITED STATES AS A CONTINUING SOURCE OF INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT, WITH THE U.S. ALREADY HOLDING 54 PER CENT OF SUCH FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY,* HE SAID.
MR YAXLEY SAID THIS SHARE HAD RISEN FROM 44 PER CENT IN 1981. THE UNITED STATES IS FOLLOWED BY JAPAN WITH 21 PER CENT, AND BRITAIN IN THIRD PLACE WITH SEVEN PER CENT.
/OF total .......
TUHSDnX, APEIL 23, 1985
3 -
OF TOTAL FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY, 36 PER CENT IS IN ELECTRONICS, 10 PER CENT IS IN TEXTILES AND GARMENTS, AND EIGHT PER CENT IN ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS.
IN MONEY TERMS, U.S. INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS TO $6 240 MILLION, WHILE OVERALL FOREIGN INVESTMENT HAS INCREASED 63 PER CENT.
♦ MANUFACTURING IS IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG. WE EXPORT ABOUT 96 PER CENT OF WHAT WE PRODUCE,* MR YAXLEY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CAPITAL INTENSIVE, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE AREAS WITH HIGH FOREIGN INVESTMENT. +THE MAJOR ATTRACTION OF HONG KONG IS NO LONGER CHEAP LABOUR.*
MR YAXLEY SAID HONG KONG NOW HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST LABOUR COSTS IN ASIA AFTER JAPAN, MEANING THERE IS MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON AUTOMATION AND QUALITY CONTROL THAN IN THE PAST.
+A SIDE EFFECT OF THIS IS THAT MANY LOW-SKILL PROCESSES ARE NOW CARRIED OUT IN CHINA, WITH FINISHING OFF BEING DONE IN HONG HONG. MR YAXLEY GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS, WHICH WERE MADE IN CHINA BUT WERE CHECKED AND PACKAGED IN HONG KONG. SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THE DOLLS ARE STILL BEING MADE IN THE REGION EVERY WEEK,* HE SAID.
CHINA IS ALSO GAINING SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY THROUGH ITS OWNERSHIP OF FACTORIES IN HONG KONG. SUCH CHINESE INVESTMENT IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH MORE THAN $3 900 MILLION.
MR YAXLEY SAID HONG KONG WAS A NATURAL GO-BETWEEN FOR CHINA AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD. WITH CHINA’S INCREASING OVERSEAS CONTACTS, HONG KONG IS NOT BEING SQUEEZED OUT, BUT RATHER IS ASSUMING A MAJOR ROLE IN CHINA’S DEVELOPMENT.
_----0-----
TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935
4
COMPLEX HELPS MEET TRAINING NEEDS
*****
WITH INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, THERE HAS BEEN GREATER NEED FOR OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING IN RECENT YEARS, MR MORRIS MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID TODAY.
MR MORGAN SAID THAT WHEN THE FIVE TRAINING CENTRES OF THE KOWLOON BAY TRAINING CENTRES COMPLEX STARTED RECRUITING TRAINEES LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 10 000 PERSONS APPLIED FOR 630 PLACES.
MR MORGAN WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT A PRESS TOUR OF THE S110-MILLI0N COMPLEX THIS AFTERNOON.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE KOWLOON BAY COMPLEX, WHICH HOUSES THE TRAINING CENTRES FOR MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PRINTING, ELECTRONIC, PLASTICS AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES, WILL PROVIDE 4 600 TRAINING PLACES ANNUALLY WHEN IT BECOMES FULLY OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR, WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE.
FOUR OF THE CENTRES HAD STARTED OPERATING TRAINING COURSES IN THE COMPLEX EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND HAD ALREADY GAINED A GOOD REPUTATION FOR OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING.
ALL CENTRES ARE EQUIPPED TO SIMULATE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE THE ACTUAL WORKING CONDITIONS IN INDUSTRY.
♦THE AIM IS FOR TRAINEES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TRAINING,* MR MORGAN SAID.
BY OFFERING A TOTAL OF 18 FULL-TIME AND TWO PART-TIME COURSES RANGING FROM 30 HOURS TO ONE YEAR IN LENGTH, THE FIVE TRAINING CENTRES PROVIDE PRACTICAL TRAINING IN VARIOUS TRADES AT OPERATIVE, CRAFT, TECHNICIAN AND TECHNOLOGIST LEVELS.
♦THIS EFFORT IS TO ENSURE THAT A STEADY SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED MANPOWER IS MADE AVAILABLE TO SUSTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES,* MR MORGAN SAID.
♦ TO ENCOURAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE UP INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BEFORE ENTERING EMPLOYMENT, WEEKLY ALLOWANCES ARE PAID TO FULL-TIME TRAINEES.
♦ IN ADDITION, FULL-TIME TRAINEES AT CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN LEVELS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ON A DAY-RELEASE BASIS.+
UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING AT THE CENTRES, THE TRAINEES WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER INDUSTRY OR COMMERCE FOR FURTHER JOB EXPERIENCE OR BECOME APPRENTICES AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON THE JOB.
/a becbuitment .......
TUESDAY, APRIL ?3, 1?85
- 5 -
A RECRUITMENT AND PLACEMENT OFFICER IN EACH CENTRE WILL HELP TRAINEES TO FIND EMPLOYMENT IN RELATED INDUSTRY, MR MORGAN ADDED.
LOCATED AT TAI YIP STREET, KOWLOON BAY, THE COMPLEX IS THE FIRST OF TWO COMPLEXES BEING CONSTRUCTED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL. THE SECOND COMPLEX IS SITUATED IN KWAI CHUNG AND WILL BE OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR.
-----o------
BOARD MEMBERS LEARN MORE ABOUT DISTRICT * X *
ABOUT 25 MEMBERS OF THE NEW KWUN TONG DISTRICT
BOARD TODAY (TUESDAY) VISITED THE RELATIVELY NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA OF SHUN LEE.
AFTER BEING BRIEFED ON THE LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS BY A SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER, MR J.J. NG, THEY TOURED SHUN LEE, SHUN ON AND SHUN TIN ESTATES, SHUN CHI COURT AND THE SHUN LEE TSUEN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
AT SHUN TIN ESTATE, THE PARTY HAD A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE JORDAN VALLEY CONTROLLED TIP PROJECT, AND WERE BRIEFED ABOUT THE CONTROLLED TIP WHICH WOULD START OPERATIONS IN LATE 1985. THE PROJECT WOULD ALSO PROVIDE SEVEN HECTARES OF -OPEN SPACE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.
AS FOR THE PROBLEM OF A SHORTAGE IN LORRY CARPARK SPACES IN THE AREA, BOARD MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY PROVIDED EIGHT ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACES IN SHUN LEE ESTATE.
THE PARTY ALSO INSPECTED SOME COMMUNITY AND WELFARE FACILITIES ALONG THE ROUTE.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, ALBERT LAM, AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK, ALSO JOINED TODAY’S VISIT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF ORIENTATION TOURS TO FAMILIARISE THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE DISTRICT.
--------0 ---------
TUESDAY, APr.’lL 23, 1935
6
NINE PERSONS JAILED FOR TRADE MARK OFFENCES ******
NINE PERSONS WERE GIVEN JAIL SENTENCES RANGING FROM ONE TO SIX MONTHS FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
SIX OF THEM WERE HAWKERS. THEY HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF T-SHIRTS BEARING FORGED TRADE MARKS FOR SALE.
RELEASING THESE FIGURES TODAY (TUESDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR
THE TRADE INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT SAID THE BUREAU HANDLED 227 PROSECUTION CASES IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 27 PER CENT IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1984.
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX OF THESE CASES WERE CONNECTED WITH FORGED TRADEMARKS AND FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS. THE REMAINDER INVOLVED IN FRAUD OF CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN, TEXTILES LICENSING, IMPORT/EXPORT DECLARATION ETC.
DURING THE PERIOD, TOTAL FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS AMOUNTED TO $2.3 MILLION AND THE GOODS FORFEITED TO THE CROWN WERE VALUED AT $1.8 MILLION.
- - 0 - -
TWO MORE BOARD CHAIRMEN ELECTED * * *
TWO MORE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMEN WERE ELECTED TODAY.
MR SHUM CHOI-SANG WAS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS SECOND MEETING ON THURSDAY (APRIL 25) AFTERNOON.
IN MONG KOK, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI WAS ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN.
TJES , APRIL 23, 1985
7
BOARD TO SET UP COMMITTEES
*****
NORTH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL SET UP VARIOUS COMMITTEES UNDER THE BOARD AT THEIR MEETING ON THURSDAY (APRIL 25).
AT THE MEETING, THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE PROVISION OF OFFICES FOR BOARD MEMBERS.
THEY WILL ALSO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.
-----o------
PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION QUOTAS UP
******
ALLOCATION QUOTAS OF RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING ARE GOING UP FOR ELIGIBLE PEOPLE FROM MOST CATEGORIES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
+STILL GETTING THE LARGEST SHARE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE WAITING LIST, FOR WHICH THE QUOTA HAS AGAIN BEEN INCREASED BY 400 TO 13 200,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TODAY.
IN ADDITION AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HE SAID ANY FLATS REMAINING UNUSED FROM OTHER CATEGORIES WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE WAITING LIST QUOTA AFTER THE NEEDS OF THE OTHER CATEGORIES HAD BEEN MET.
+0F THE WAITING LIST QUOTA, EARMARKED FOR UNRELATED ELDERLY PERSONS ARE 1 000 FLATS, WHICH ARE 200 MORE THAN FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+FOR THE ’RE-USE OF TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS’ CATEGORY, THE QUOTA HAS GONE UP FROM 1 500 TO 2 200.
+ALSO INCREASED ARE QUOTAS FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF OLDER ESTATES, FROM 6 000 TO 7 000= FOR COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, FROM 800 TO 900- AND FOR JUNIOR CIVIL SERVANTS, FROM 1 500 TO 1 700.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN LINE WITH THE NEW ALLOCATION POLICY OF PROVIDING SPECIALLY DESIGNED ACCOMMODATION FOR SINGLE PERSONS, SOME 700 SINGLETON HOUSING UNITS WOULD BE CREATED IN 1985-86 AND 2 000 UNITS FROM CONVERSION OF EXISTING ESTATE FLATS.
+THE STOCK OF 2 700 IN 1985-86 IS MAINLY SET ASIDE FOR SINGLETONS FROM TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND MARK l/lI BLOCKS ALTHOUGH A SMALL NUMBER WILL BE USED FOR COMPASSIONATE AND OTHER CASES.
/+AS FOB .......
TU3SL APRIL 23, 1985
+AS FOR DOUBLETONS, NEW FLATS AND EXISTING CASUAL VACANCIES WILL BE USED.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN 1985-86, THERE WOULD BE ALTOGETHER 38 300 FLATS BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR ALLOCATION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANTICIPATED CASUAL VACANCIES.
HE SAID THE TAKE-UP OF THE VARIOUS QUOTAS WOULD BE REGULARLY REVIEWED AND ADJUSTMENTS COULD BE MADE IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING NEEDS.
0 - -
LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD TO CONSIDER TWO APPLICATIONS ******
THE URBAN COUNCIL’S LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD WILL HOLD ITS MONTHLY MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO CONSIDER TWO APPLICATIONS.
ONE IS FROM THE POLICE FOR REVOCATION OF THE LIQUOR LICENCE OF GOOD WORLD NIGHT CLUB IN JORDAN ROAD, AND THE OTHER IS FOR THE ISSUE OF A LIQUOR LICENCE BY ANGUS GRILL ROOM LOUNGE AT TAK SHING STREET, YAU MA TEI.
THE MEETING WILL BE PRESIDED BY THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR PETER C.K. CHAN.
TAX RESERVE INTEREST CUT * * *
AS FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), THE NEW ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES WILL BE 4.56 PER CENT (TAX FREE) AS AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE OF 5.04 PER CENT (TAX FREE).
NOTICE OF THIS WAS PUBLISHED YESTERDAY (MONDAY) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES IS CALCULATED IN MONTHLY STEPS AND THE NEW RATE WILL BE $0.38 PER MONTH PER $130. INTEREST WILL BE CREDITED AS BEFORE IN RESPECT OF COMPLETED MONTHS BETWEEN PURCHASE AND SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID.
/INTEREST IS
TUESL' , APRIL 23, 1985
- 9 -
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, HE SAID.
THE NEW RATE WILL APPLY TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER APRIL 24, 1985.
CERTIFICATES WHICH WERE ISSUED BEFORE APRIL 24, 1985 WILL CONTINUE TO EARN INTEREST AS FOLLOWS
5.16% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MARCH 23, 1984 AND BEFORE MAY 18, 1984,
8.4 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY 18, 1984 AND BEFORE JULY 6, 1984;
10.08% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JULY 6, 1984 AND BEFORE JULY 13, 1984;
12.84% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JULY 13, 1984 AND BEFORE AUGUST 10, 1984;
10.8 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 10, 1984 AND BEFORE AUGUST 31, 1984;
9.6 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 31, 1984 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 5, 1984;
8.52% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 5, 1984 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 31, 1984;
8.04% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 31, 1984 AND BEFORE NOVEMBER 28, 1984;
7.56% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 28, 1984 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 28, 1984;
7.08% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 28, 1984 AND BEFORE JANUARY 16, 1985;
6.6 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 16, 1985 AND BEFORE JANUARY 30, 1985l
5.52% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 30, 1985 AND BEFORE APRIL 3, 1985; AND
5.04% PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER APRIL 3, 1985 AND BEFORE APRIL 24, 1985
BUT ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL RULE THAT INTEREST CEASES TO ACCRUE AFTER 36 COMPLETED MONTHS WITHOUT SURRENDER FOR PAYMENT OF TAX.
/EXAMPLE* .......
TUSSDA'X, APRIL 23, 1985
EXAMPLE: 31 000 CERTIFICATES PURCHASED ON APRIL 24, 1985, MAY 24, 1985 AND JUNE 24, 1985 RESPECTIVELY, SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX DUE ON JULY 23, 1985 WILL HAVE INTEREST CALCULATED AS FOLLOWSs-
ON $1 000, APRIL 24, 1985 TO JULY 23, 1985
3 COMPLETE MONTHS AT $3.80 PER MONTH • $11.40
ON $1 000, MAY 24, 1985 TO JULY 23, 1985
2 COMPLETE MONTHS AT $3.80 PER MONTH - $ 7.60
ON $1 000, JUNE 24, 1985 TO JULY 23, 1985
1 COMPLETE MONTH AT $3.80 PER MONTH - $ 3.80
$22.80
- - 0 - -
TENDERS INVITED TO OPERATE KIOSK AND BAR ******
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE LIGHT REFRESHMENT KIOSK AND THE PAVILION BAR AT THE HONG KONG STADIUM.
SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE AWARDED A 34-MONTH CONTRACT STARTING FROM SEPTEMBER 1, THIS YEAR. AT PRESENT THE KIOSK AND THE BAR CARRY A MONTHLY RENTAL OF $33 380.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE OBTAINABLE AT THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICE (LEISURE SERVICES) AT 9-11 LEIGHTON ROAD, 16TH FLOOR, HONEST MOTORS BUILDING, HONG KONG.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN DUPLICATE AND PLACED BY HAND IN THE TENDER BOX AT THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECEPTION COUNTER, 12TH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), ICE HOUSE STREET, BEFORE
9 A.M. ON FRIDAY, MAY IQ, 1985. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
- - 0
TUESDAY , =>R IL 23, 1985
11
CEREMONY TO MARK TRAIL OPENING
* * *
A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE QUARRY BAY COUNTRY PARK TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE 5D-KILOMETRE-LONG HONG KONG TRAIL BUILT BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE TRAIL TRAVERSES ALL FIVE COUNTRY PARKS AND PASSES BY THE FIVE RESERVOIRS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD AND DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
- _ - - 0 ----
URBAN CLEARWAY * * *
FROM 4 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 26), THE SECTION OF SPRING GARDEN LANE FROM HOUSE NO. 47 TO NO. 65 IN WAN CHAI WILL BE MADE AN URBAN CLEARWAY.
WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION, NO VEHICLES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
-----o--------
ROAD CLOSURE
X *
WANG POK STREET BETWEEN SHA TIN CENTRE STREET AND YUEN WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (APRIL 26-27) FROM 12.30 AM TO 5.30 AM TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE SHA TIN CENTRE STREET AND PAK HOK TING STREET.
-----o------
SALT WATER CUT X K X
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN KOWLOON WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR NINE HOURS FROM 10 PM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 26) TO 7 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORKS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY FERRY STREET, WATERLOO ROAD, CORNWALL STREET, CHING CHEUNG ROAD AND SEA FRONT, INCLUDING MONG KOK, TAI KOK TSUI, SHAM SHU I PO, CHEUNG SHA WAN, TAI WOR PING SO UK, SHEK KIP MEI, YAU YAT TSUEN, BEACON HILL AND BROADCAST DR I V
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
CONTzNTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR RETURNS TOMORROW .................................. 1
GOVT AGREES WITH PROPOSAL .................................. 1
SELECT COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT COMMERCIAL CRIMES .............. 2
NEW OTC LEGISLATION EXPECTED ............................... 3
REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS 6
LADY YOUDE SEES NEOLITHIC POTTERY .......................... 7
MONETARY AFFAIRS CHIEF RETIRING ............................ 8
NO EFFECT STOTT HERE FROM U.S. LABEL RULES ................. 9
HOUSING PRODUCTION EXCEEDS TARGET FOR FIFTH YEAR........... 10
LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL FOR HIKERS OPENS ...................... 11
LIQUOR LICENCE REVOKED..................................... 12
LAPEL BADGES FOR PRESS ................................... 13
EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS ST: HTV PRODUCTION ................ 13
RECRUITS COMPLETE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TRAINING .......... 14
MOBILE AIR QUALITY LAB A BIG HELP .......................... U
PROMOTING TOURISM DI EASTERN DISTRICT ..................... 15
CONTRACT SIQIBIG FOln. COMPLEX ............................ 18
ILLEGAL KWUN TONG STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED ................... 16
.................................................... • • • 17
WEDNcSDAY, APRIL 24, 1935
1
GOVERNOR RETURNS TOMORROW * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AFTER VISITING LONDON.
SIR EDWARD WILL BE ARRIVING ON FLIGHT BR382, ETA 6.10 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S ARRIVAL. THOSE COVERING THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM BY 5.20 PM TOMORROW.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
GOVT AGREES WITH PROPOSAL * * * *
A LEGAL DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CONFIRMED THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE UMELCO PROPOSAL TO SET UP A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, WOULD SPEAK IN FAVOUR OF THE PROPOSAL ON MAY 1 WHEN THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR ROGER LOBO, PRESENTED A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT IN THE COUNCIL.
HE SAID IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT FURTHER AT THIS STAGE.
- - 0 -
...SEl 24, 1385
SELECT COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT COMMERCIAL CRIMES * * * *
SIR ROGER LOBO, SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE INTENDED TO PRESENT A MOTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 1 PROPOSING THE SETTING UP OF A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS WAS THE DECISION REACHED AT AN IN-HOUSE MEETING OF UNOFFICIALS THIS MORNING WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE REPORT FROM MR PETER C WONG, CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP WHICH HAS BEEN EXAMINING THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL. DURING THE AD HOC GROUP’S DELIBERATIONS SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL, A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS HAD BEEN HEARD AND MANY OF THEM HAD RAISED ISSUES OUTSIDE THE PR IV IS IONS OF THE BILL.
IT IS THEREFORE THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS’ VIEW THAT THE TERMS CF THE MOTION SHOULD BE WIDE ENOUGH TO ENABLE THE SELECT COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER ALL THE PROBLEMS CONCERNING COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES AND NOT ONLY THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL.
SIR ROGER ENVISAGED THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD CONSIDER AND DRAW ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBMISSIONS AND MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE REPORT OF THE ROSKILL COMMITTEE ON FRAUD TRIALS WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED. HE HOPED THE SELECT COMMITTEE WOULD START ITS WORK IMMEDIATELY.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR ROGER SAID, WOULD BE INVITED TO APPOINT THE COMMITTEE UNDER STANDING ORDER 61(1). HE ADDED HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION.
+THE BILL IS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS OF THAT COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHAT SHOULD EE DONE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT HE ENVISAGED THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL WOULD REMAIN ADJOURNED AND WOULD NOT BE RESUMED ON MAY 15.
/3 .......
- - - - 0 --------
'EDNljDAy, APRIL 24, 1985
3
NE* DTC LEGISLATION EXPECTED
******
THE COMMISSIONER FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, MR ROBERT FELL TOLD THE HONG KONG DTC ASSOCIATION TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HE EXPECTED NEW LEGISLATION TO REDEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER AND THE AUDITOR.
AS TO THE ARGUMENT FOR A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME, MR FELL SAID A SUGGESTION FOR INTRODUCING A SCHEME AS A MARKETING OPERATION +MIGHT BE A WAY AHEAD.*
EARLY IN HIS LUNCH TIME ADDRESS, MR FELL REFERRED TO A REPORT ON HONG KONG’S BANKING SYSTEM BY TWO BANK OF ENGLAND CFFICIALS, A NECESSARILY CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT, PARTS OF *HICH WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND PARTS OF WHICH WOULD BE REJECTED.
TO ILLUSTRATE THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE REPORT, MR FELL GAVE TWO QUOTATIONS WHICH HE SAID WERE FUNDAMENTAL TO HIS OWN VIEWS ON WHAT WAS REQUIRED:
+WE BELIEVE, THAT IN THE INTERESTS OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ALIKE THE IDENTIFICATION OF BAD, IMPRUDENT OR INDEED FRAUDULENT MANAGEMENT MUST HENCEFORTH BE A MAJOR TASK OF SUPERVISION GENERALLY, A DUTY WHICH GOES FAR BEYOND ENSURING MORE TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE WITH THE ORDINANCES OR THE ADEQUACY OF PROVISIONS,* AND
+... THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSIONER ARE WIDER THAN ENFORCING THE SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION AND EXTEND TO A GENERAL DUTY TO ENSURE THAT ANY INSTITUTION AUTHORISED UNDER AN ORDINANCE IS BOTH SOUNDLY BASED AND PRUDENTLY MANAGED.*
MR FELL TOLD THE ASSOCIATION: +THE LESSON THE REGULATOR MUST ACCEPT IS THAT IN A FREE ECONOMY MARKET DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT WAIT THE WHIM OF THE REGULATOR. WHILE THE REGULATOR PONDERS, THE MARKET WILL FIND WAYS WITHIN THE PERMITTED LIMITS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE WORLD’S BUSINESS.*
HE SAID HONG KONG HAD DEVELOPED AS A MOST IMPORTANT BANKING CENTRE FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC. REGULATORS COULD NOT BE ALOOF FROM CHANGE AND MUST BE IN CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH BANKERS AND AUDITORS.
MR FELL ASKED: HOW DO WE MOULD A FRAMEWORK OF PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION?
THE FIRST TASK WAS TO COMPLETE A SURVEY OF THE INDUSTRY. WHAT WAS NEEDED WAS TO TRY TO SEE WHERE HONG KONG WAS LIKELY TO BE HEADING IN THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS. ENSURING HONG KONG’S CONTINUED AND HEALTHY GROWTH AS A FULLY ACCEPTED INTERNATIONAL CENTRE WAS THE MAINSPRING OF ALL EFFORTS.
/THE SECOND .......
Wf'iSD; , APRIL 24, 1985
THE SECOND TASK WAS TO ENSURE THE RIGHT ORGANISATION FOR THE JOB.
+THE INTERCONNECTION OF MARKETS BASED ON NEW FINANCIAL PRACTICE AND FOSTERED BY DEREGULATION SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR A DIFFERENT GROUPING OF THE SUPERVISORY AGENTS UNDER THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO ENSURE THAT WE KEEP PACE WITH EVENTS AND HAVE THE NECESSARY MINIMUM CO-ORDINATION, BUT THIS IS FOR OTHERS TO PONDER,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED: +MY IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS REQUIRED IN MY OWN OFF ICE.+
WHILE THE STRENGTH HAD BEEN THE EXAMINATION SYSTEM, THE WEAKNESS WAS IN THE NEXT STAGE AND IN FORMING COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM HUNDREDS OF EXAMINATIONS.
TWO STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO CHANGE THIS: STAFF WOULD BE BROUGHT TOGETHER IN ONE OFFICE HOPEFULLY BY THE AUTUMN, AND BY THE SAME TIME THE FIRST COMPUTER PROGRAMMES WOULD BE RUNNING.
MR FELL DID NOT ENVISION AN INCREASE IN STAFF, BUT RATHER A +THICKENING OF THE LAYER OF SENIOR STAFF TO DEAL WITH THE NECESSARY WORK HIGHLIGHTED BY EXAMINATION OR AUDIT.*
HE SAID: +THESE INTERNAL CHANGES WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CLIENTS ....... WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT
ANYTHING WE HAVE TO SAY GETS EFFECTIVELY INTO THE BANK’S CHAIN CF ACCOUNTABILITY.*
THE NEXT TASK WAS TO OVERHAUL THE EXISTING LEGISLATION. THERE WERE ANOMALIES IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCES, AS ONE WOULD EXPECT IN LEGISLATION WHICH HAD BEEN AMENDED MANY TIMES TO MEET PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES.
+A NEW CONSOLIDATION ORDINANCE WOULD BE A BENEFICIAL EXERCISE IN ITSELF,* SAID MR FELL. +BUT THE BASIS OF OUR THINKING WOULD BE PRIMARILY TO TREAT THE INDUSTRY IN THE ROUND, AS AN ENTITY, IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.*
HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME DEBATE THAT WIDER POWERS WERE NECESSARY, BUT ADDED: +l AM NOT SURE THAT THIS IS AT ALL THE CASE. MY PERSONAL AIM WOULD BE TO TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THE CENTRAL POWERS OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE AND APPLY THEM TO THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.*
ON APPEAL, HE SAID, THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL COULD CHANGE THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSIONER. THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL COULD ALSO MAKE ANY OTHER ORDER AS THOUGHT FIT. AND THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAD THE ULTIMATE SANCTION OF BEING ABLE TO REVOKE A LICENCE.
/♦I THINK.......
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
- 5 -
+ l THINK THAT THIS CONCEPT WHICH HAS BEEN ACCEPTED OVER THE YEARS WOULD GIVE ANY COMMISSIONER THE ESSENTIAL BACKBONE TO HIS POWERS,* HE SAID.
AS FOR THE GENERALITY OF THE ORDINANCE, MR FELL SAID THAT WHILE EVERY EVENTUALITY COULD NOT BE FORESEEN, HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PROVISION TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY BY PERMITTING ORDERS TO BE MADE, AS WELL AS +SOME SORT OF WAIVER PROVISION TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACT QUICKLY IN PROBLEM CASES.*
HE SAID: +ON ONE SPECIFIC AREA, I WOULD EXPECT THE NEW LEGISLATION TO REDEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER AND THE AUDITOR. THE FORM OF THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE OUTCOME OF TALKS WITH BANKS AND WITH THE SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS WHICH I CAN SAY THIS AFTERNOON ARE PROVING MOST FRUITFUL.*
+AT THIS STAGE, I SEE NO INSUPERABLE PROBLEM IN PROVIDING FOR THIS SORT OF RELATIONSHIP,* HE ADDED.
HE WENT ON: +ONE MATTER WHICH NEEDS UNIFORM TREATMENT IS INNER RESERVES, A CONCEPT WHICH I DO NOT SEE BEING CHANGED IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND WHICH DOES ALLOW ORDERLY ADJUSTMENT WITHOUT TOO FIERCE A SPOTLIGHT ON PERFORMANCE. BUT AS WE CONTINUE THE CONCEPT OF INNER RESERVES, AT LEAST, TRENDS MUST BE MADE CLEARER TO THE READER OF THE REPORT AND ACCOUNTS.*
IT WAS IN THIS CONTEXT - THAT THE DEPOSITOR DID NOT KNOW THE FULL PICTURE - THAT THE ARGUMENT HAD COME FOR A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME.
MR FELL SAID THE POINTS HE HAD RAISED WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO COPING WITH PROBLEMS PERCEIVED IN PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION IN HONG KONG AND WOULD +GIVE US A BETTER MECHANISM TO DEAL PROMPTLY WITH DIFFICULT CASES AS THEY ARISE FROM TIME TO TIME.*
HE SAID THE JOB WAS TO WORK WITH THE BANKS FOR THEIR GOOD AND FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN TO DRAGOON THEM.
+THAT IS THE WAY WE WILL APPROACH OUR NEWLY DEFINED RESPONSIBILITIES,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
6
REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS ******
THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (ELECTORAL SERVICES), ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH, MR LEE LAP-SUN, TODAY APPEALED TO EVERYONE ELIGIBLE TO REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO SIGN UP BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE ON MAY 6.
+THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN TO DEMONSTRATE HIS SUPPORT AND CONCERN FOR A TRADE OR PROFESSION IN PARTICULAR AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL,* HE SAID.
OF THE LATEST ESTIMATE OF ABOUT 75 OOO ELIGIBLE ELECTORS, 8 461 HAVE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS, ILLUSTRATED BY THE FOLLOWING BREAKDOWN:
ESTIMATED NO. OF
SIZE OF ELECTORATE APPLICATIONS TO-DAK
FUNCTIONAL
CONSTITUENCIES
COMMERCIAL 1 COMMERCIAL II INDUSTRIAL 1 INDUSTRIAL II FINANCIAL LABOUR SOCIAL SERVICES MEDICAL LEGAL TEACHING ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PLANNING ELECTORAL COLLEGE 2 650 86 6 000 422 800 97 3 000 158 140 19 380 55 154 14 4 300 196 2 185 201 52 340 6 787 3 660 290 432 136 /APPLICATION forms
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
APPLICATION FORMS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED THROUGH ALL REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS AND TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. +THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES. IF THERE IS ANY DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING AN APPLICATION FORM, AND IN CASE OF ENQUIRY, PLEASE RING THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION AT 5-270380 OR 5-270369,+ MR LEE SAID.
APPLICANTS ARE REMINDED THAT NO INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANISATION MAY BE ENROLLED IN MORE THAN ONE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY. +IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION IN MORE THAN ONE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, PLEASE MAKE YOUR CHOICE AND FILL IN ONE APPLICATION FORM ONLY,+ MR LEE ADDED.
HE ALSO REMINDED ALL THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE THAT THE ELECTORAL ROLL FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS THIS SEPTEMBER WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THE GENERAL ELECTORAL ROLL.
+IN OTHER WORDS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN THE DISTRICT BOARD OR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THEY MUST REGISTER AGAIN IN THE PRESENT EXERCISE IF THEY WISH TO PARTICIPATt IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS,+ MR LEE SAID.
-----o------
LADY YOUDE SEES NEOLITHIC POTTERY
* * * *
LADY YOUDE, PATRON OF THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING SAW SOME ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS BEFORE ATTENDING THE SOCIETY’S ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CLUB HOUSE IN HO MAN TIN.
THE FINDS, WHICH INCLUDED NEOLITHIC POTTERY, INCISED POTTERY AND COINS OF MORE RECENT PERIODS, WERE RECENTLY UNEARTHED IN MACAU BY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY.
LATER, LADY YOUDE WAS SHOWN A FILM ON THE EXCAVATION WORK AND LABORATORY EXAMINATION BY ARCHAEOLOGISTS.
THE HONG KONG ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, SET UP IN MAY 1967, AIMS AT BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE INTERESTED IN ARCHAEOLOGY. IT HAS A MEMBERSHIP OF 191.
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/8........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
8
MONETARY AFFAIRS CHIEF RETIRING
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MR DOUGLAS BLYE WILL BE RETIRING IN MARCH 1986 AFTER SERVING AS SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS FOR OVER NINE YEARS.
HE WILL THEN BE AGED 61 AND HAVE COMPLETED 30 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
MR BLYE’S SUCCESSOR AS SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS WILL BE DAVID NENDICK, CURRENTLY DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE BANKING DEPARTMENT CF THE BANK OF ENGLAND. MR NENDICK IS BEING SECONDED FROM THE BANK OF ENGLAND TO SERVE AS SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS FOR THREE YEARS, AFTER WHICH HE WILL RETURN TO LONDON. HE IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN SEPTEMBER FOR A PERIOD OF FAMILIARISATION.
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THE APPOINTMENT OF MR JOSEPH YAM CHI-KWONG TO BE A DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS. HE IS TAKING THE PLACE OF MR TONY LATTER, WHO RETURNED TO THE BANK CF ENGLAND EARLIER THIS MONTH ON COMPLETION OF HIS SECONDMENT TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
FOLLOWING ARE BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON MR BLYE, MR NENDICK AND MR YAM:
NR DOUGLAS BLYE, CMG, OBE, JP
AGED 60. AFTER HAVING BEEN APPOINTED AS A TREASURY COST ACCOUNTANT IN THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA IN 1955, MR BLYE JOINED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE AS A TREASURY INSPECTOR IN DECEMBER 1958. HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANT IN AUGUST 1961, TO DEPUTY ACCOUNTANT GENERAL IN FEBRUARY 1966, AND TO ACCOUNTANT GENERAL IN MARCH 1970. HE HAS BEEN THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS SINCE AUGUST 1976, AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT SUBSTANTIVE RANK OF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN APRIL 1977. MR BLYE WILL HAVE COMPLETED OVER 26 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND OVER 30 YEARS OF CROWN SERVICE ALTOGETHER, ON HIS RETIREMENT IN MARCH NEXT YEAR.
W DAVID NENDICK
AGED 52. MR NENDICK BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE BANK OF ENGLAND IN 1953 AND HAS WIDE-RANGING EXPERIENCE OF MANY AREAS CF THE BANK’S OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF CASHIER’S OFFICE AND THE ECONOMIC INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT. HE HAS BEEN DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE BANKING DEPARTMENT SINCE APRIL 1983.
/MR JOSEPH YAM .......
WEDNESDAY, APEIL 24, 1?85
- 9 -
!*R JOSEPH YAM CHI-KWONG
AGED 37. JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE IN MAY 1971 AS A STATISTICIAN, AND WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR STATISTICIAN IN DECEMBER 1977. FROM JULY 1979 TO OCTOBER 1982 MR YAM WAS A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, FOLLOWING WHICH HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE AND BECAME A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS. MR YAM HAS ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS ACTED FOR SHORT PERIODS AS DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS.
-------o----------
NO EFFECT SEEN HERE FROM U.S. LABEL RULES * * * * *
THE RECENTLY-AMENDED U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) REGULATIONS ON LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR TEXTILE AND APPAREL PRODUCTS HAD NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS ON HONG KONG EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
ALL IMPORTED GOODS MANUFACTURED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WERE ALREADY SUBJECT TO SIMILAR LABELLING REQUIREMENTS UNDER SEPARATE U.S. LEGISLATION, HE SAID.
THE U.S. FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION HAD PUBLISHED ON APRIL 17 THE REVISED REGULATIONS TO REQUIRE ALL U.S. DOMESTICALLY MANUFACTURED AND IMPORTED TEXTILE AND APPAREL PRODUCTS TO BE LABELLED WITH COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, HE SAID.
THIS NEW LEGISLATION WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF FTC REGULATIONS.
THE REVISED REGULATIONS REQUIRE:
A) DISCLOSURE OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN FOR U.S. DOMESTIC MANUFACTURED PRODUCT;
B) SPECIFIC LOCATION FOR ATTACHING THE ORIGIN LABEL;
C) ALL PRODUCTS (EXCEPT HOSIERY) AND PACKAGES TO BE INDIVIDUALLY LABELLED; AND
D) MAIL ORDER CATALOGUES AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO INDICATE THE ORIGIN OF THE PRODUCT UNDER DISPLAY.
COPIES OF COMMERCIAL INFORMATION CIRCULAR CONTAINING DETAILS CF THE FTC REGULATIONS WERE BEING SENT TO LOCAL EXPORTERS AND MANUFACTURERS, HE SAID.
------0-------
/10 .....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
10 -
HOUSING PRODUCTION EXCEEDS TARGET FOR FIFTH YEAR X * K * * *
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S PUBLIC HOUSING CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME HAS ONCE AGAIN ACHIEVED THE ANNUAL TARGET OF 35 000 RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS.
FOR THE FIFTH SUCCESSIVE YEAR, PRODUCTION EXCEEDED THIS TARGET AND TOTALLED 37 930 FLATS IN 1984-85, COMPRISING 26 354 RENTAL, 13 168 HOS AND 1 408 PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME FLATS.
DURING A TOUR OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS TO INSPECT CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR DAVID FORD, SAID:
♦WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THIS LEVEL OF PRODUCTION CAN BE MAINTAINED.*
HOWEVER, MR FORD SAID QUANTITY WAS NOT ENOUGH AND THE QUALITY CF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES MUST ALSO CONTINUE TO BE IMPROVED.
♦ALREADY ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES PROVIDED ARE MUCH BETTER AND THE QUALITY OF OUR BUILDINGS IS IMPROVING.
♦WE MUST NOT BE COMPLACENT, HOWEVER, AND MUST CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS OF RAISING OUR STANDARDS. WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE NOW BUILDING HOMES- FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. +
ACCOMPANIED BY SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIALS ON THE INSPECTION TOUR, MR FORD HAD A LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS OF THREE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S LATEST ESTATES - HIN KENG IN SHA TIN, HANG ON IN MA ON SHAN AND TIN PING IN FAN LING/SHEK WU HUI.
ALTOGETHER 25 MODERN HIGH-RISE DOMESTIC BLOCKS ARE BEING BUILT UNDER VARIOUS PHASES OF THE THREE PROJECTS.
THESE NEW BLOCKS WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 17 830 SELF-CONTAINED FLATS FOR ABOUT 80 000 PEOPLE WHEN FULLY COMPLETED BY 1987.
MR FORD ALSO TOURED KWONG FUK ESTATE IN TAI PO WHERE THREE NEW BLOCKS HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED BY USING SEMI-MECHANISED METHOD UNDER ITS THIRD, AND FINAL, PHASE.
TENANTS ARE NOW SIGNING UP FOR THEIR NEW HOMES IN THE ESTATE WHICH WILL BECOME A SELF-SUPPORTING ENTITY FOR 27 003 PEOPLE.
MR FORD LATER INSPECTED THREE NEW HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME BLOCKS AT CHOI PO COURT IN FAN LING/SHEK WU HUI WHERE FLAT-OWNERS OF THE 1 584 MODERN UNITS HAVE STARTED MOVING IN.
- - - - 0 -----------
/11 ........
W£DNS;DAY, APRIL 24, 1985
11
LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL FOR HIKERS OPENS * * *
THE HONG KONG TRAIL - A 5O-KILOMETRE HIKING TRAIL DESIGNED FOR THE YOUNG AND OLD - WAS JOINTLY OPENED THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON BY PROFESSOR L.B. THROWER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD AND DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN, DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES.
THIS IS THE THIRD LONG-DISTANCE HIKING TRAIL DEVELOPED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF COUNTRY PARK USERS. THE TWO OTHERS ARE THE LANTAU TRAIL AND THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL.
AT THE CEREMONY, PROFESSOR THROWER SAID THE OPENING OF THE HONG KONG TRAIL WAS FURTHER PUBLIC EVIDENCE THAT THE COUNTRY PARKS WERE BEING CONSTANTLY REVIEWED AND DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE INFORMAL OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR THE PEOPLE.
PROFESSOR THROWER, A FOUNDER MEMBER OF THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD, SAID HE AND OTHERS WHO WERE CONCERNED WITH CONSERVATION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE HAD LONG FELT THAT CONSERVATION AND RECREATION MUST PROCEED HAND-IN-HAND.
♦THE TRAIL ITSELF IS A LINEAR RECREATIONAL FACILITY WHICH PASSES THROUGH THE FINEST COUNTRYSIDE ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
+HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE VEGETATION ON EITHER SIDE OF THE TRAIL IS LARGELY UNTOUCHED AND BENEFITS FROM PROTECTIVE SERVICES SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE HABITATS FOR THE WILD-LIFE WHICH IS, IN TURN, PART OF THE RECREATIONAL RESOURCES,+ HE SAID.
PROFESSOR THROWER SAID THE TRAIL WOULD BE A SOURCE OF IMMENSE PLEASURE AND RELAXATION TO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
♦ONE THINKS FIRST OF THE TEEN-AGED AND YOUNG ADULTS. THE MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER PEOPLE WILL USE IT TOO AT A MORE LEISURELY PACE.+ HE SAID.
HONG KONG TRAIL, STARTING FROM THE PEAK AND ENDING AT TAI LONG WAN IN A WEST TO EAST DIRECTION, IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT SECTIONS OF VARYING LENGTHS. ALL SECTIONS ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
THE SHORTEST SECTION TAKES AN WALK THROUGH AND THE LONGEST ABOUT
IT TRAVERSES ALL FIVE COUNTRY RESERVOIRS ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
AVERAGE HIKER 1-1/2 HOURS TO THREE HOURS.
PARKS, AND PASSES BY THE FIVE
/A CvLCraFUL .......
ra®3SDiY APRIL 24. 1985
- 12 -
A COLOURFUL PAMPHLET, ILLUSTRATING THE HONG KONG TRAIL AND GIVING DETAILS OF ITS EIGHT SECTIONS WITH THE HELP OF A MAP TOGETHER WITH INFORMATION ON TRANSPORT FACILITIES, HAS BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE SPONSORSHIP OF CAFE-DE-CORAL FAST FOOD CHAIN.
THIS IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM ALL CAFE-DE-CORAL OUTLETS AND FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 12TH FLOOR, AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY PARKS VISITOR CENTRE AT ABERDEEN.
A MAP OF THE TRAIL TO THE SCALE OF 1:15 OOO IS AVAILABLE AT $10 A COPY FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT f€ADQUARTERS AND AT THE MAP SALES OFFICES OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IN MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AND AT NO. 382 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
-----o------
LIQUOR LICENCE REVOKED * * * *
THE LIQUOR LICENSING BOARD OF THE URBAN COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DECIDED TO REVOKE THE LIQUOR LICENCE OF THE GOOD 'WORLD NIGHT CLUB IN JORDAN ROAD, WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1 THIS YEAR.
THE DECISION WAS REACHED AT THE BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING TODAY AFTER HEARING EVIDENCE FROM THE POLICE THAT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS STAFF MEMBERS HAD BEEN CONVICTED OF 10 CFFENCES OF EITHER MANAGING OR ASSISTING TO MANAGE A VICE ESTABLISHMENT ON THE PREMISES.
AT THE SAME MEETING, THE BOARD ALSO DECIDED TO GRANT A SIX-MONTH LIQUOR LICENCE TO THE ANGUS GRILL ROOM LOUNGE IN TAK SHING STREET, YAU MA TEI, WITH A RIDER THAT NO LIQUOR SHOULD BE SOLD AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THE MEETING WAS CHAIRED BY MR PETER C.K. CHAN AND ATTENDED BY MR KWAN LIM-HO, MISS CECILIA YEUNG, MR SAMUEL WONG, MRS MARGARET LI AND MR FAN KAM-PING.
/13 ....
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
- 13 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
LAPEL BADGES FOR PRESS * * *
SPECIAL LAPEL BADGES FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA, WILL EE READY FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM FROM 4 PM TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
PERSONS COLLECTING THESE LAPEL BADGES MUST PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY AND OF THE ORGANISATIONS THEY REPRESENT.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES COVERING THE VISIT MUST WEAR THE LAPEL BADGES TO GAIN ACCESS TO OFFICIAL PRESS POSITIONS.
-----o------
EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS SEE ETV PRODUCTION
K X * *
EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WENT ON VISITS TODAY TO SEE HOW EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION PROGRAMMES ARE PRODUCED IN HONG KONG.
IN THEIR CALLS ON THE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND LATER THE TELEVISION PRODUCTION CENTRE OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG IN BROADCAST DRIVE, THEY LEARNED THAT ETV PROGRAMMES ARE BROADCAST TO SCHOOLS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY EVERY WEEK FOR PRIMARY THREE TO FORM THREE STUDENTS. SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDED CHINESE AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES, MATHEMATICS, SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE AND HEALTH EDUCATION.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS ON THE VISITS WERE MISS DEBRA CHOW, REV. G. FOLEY, MRS PEGGY LAM, MR ALBERT LI, MR TAM MAN-KWAN, TIMOTHY HA, MRS RITA FAN AND MR M. PAGLIARIA.
THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED BY MRS RUBY LAU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS) AND MR S.H. MAK, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION).
--------o -
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1?85
- 14 -
RECRUITS COMPLETE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TRAINING * * * *
EIGHTY-TWO CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECRUITS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ORIENTATION TRAINING COURSES WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES TODAY.
THEY RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATES FROM A SUPERINTENDENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR CHAN CHUN-YAN, AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
THE RECIPIENTS, COMPRISING 10 OFFICERS AND 72 ASSISTANT OFFICERS, PASSED THE EXAMINATION ON COMPLETION OF THE YEAR-LONG COURSES.
CONDUCTED BY THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, THE COURSES CONSISTED OF THREE STAGES AND WERE INTERSPERSED WITH TWO PERIODS OF FIELD TRAINING IN VARIOUS PENAL INSTITUTIONS. THEY WERE AIMED AT DEVELOPING THE TRAINEES LEADERSHIP SKILLS AS WELL AS AN UNDERSTANDING OF CRIME, THE DYNAMICS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS.
TODAY’S RECIPIENTS HAD ALSO PASSED TWO YEARS’ PROBATION PERIOD AND ARE NOW WORKING AT VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
-----o-----
MOBILE AIR QUALITY LAB A BIG HELP * * * *
THE NEW, MOBILE AIR QUALITY MONITORING LABORATORY WOULD GREATLY HELP THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO PROVIDE A BETTER INSIGHT INTO ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN HONG KONG, THE ACTING PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, MR FRED TROMP SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT A PRESS BRIEFING, HE SAID THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S MOBILE LABORATORY WOULD BE USED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND HONG KONG TO MONITOR AMBIENT AIR QUALITY, AUTOMATICALLY, DOWN TO MINUTE CONCENTRATIONS.
THE MOBILE LABORATORY WOULD AUGMENT THE MONITORING CAPABILITY OF THE EPA’S NETWORK OF SIX AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS WHICH ARE GENERALLY LOCATED ON THE ROOFTOPS OF BUILDINGS, HE SAID.
TO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION OF POLLUTION SOURCES, THERE WAS PROVISION TO MEASURE WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION, SOLAR RADIATION AND TEMPERATURE THROUGH THE USE OF A TELESCOPIC MAST WHICH COULD BE RAISED UP TO TEN METRES ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.
/DATA FBOM........
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
- 15 -
DATA FROM THE INSTRUMENTS WAS GATHERED ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS BY THE USE OF AN ELECTRONIC DATA LOGGER, WHICH STORED INFORMATION ON MAGNETIC TAPES, WHICH WERE PROCESSED AND ANALYSED BY A PDP II MINI-COMPUTER AT EPA HEADQUARTERS IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
THERE WAS ALSO PROVISION FOR REAL-TIME DATA DISPLAY AND ANALYSIS IN THE MOBILE LABORATORY ITSELF, MR TROMP SAID.
THE LABORATORY, HE SAID, COULD BE SENT AT SHORT NOTICE TO ALMOST ANY GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION IN THE URBAN AND RURAL AREAS OF HONG KONG.
THE LABORATORY WOULD BE USED FOR MEASUREMENT OF VEHICLE RELATED POLLUTION AT ROADSIDES, SPECIAL SHORT TERM STUDIES CF SPECIFIC LOCALITIES AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF PHOTOCHEMICAL POLLUTION, HE SAID.
IT WAS FIRST SENT EARLY THIS MONTH TO MEASURE EXISTING LEVELS OF AIR POLLUTION IN THE DEEP BAY AREA NEAR YUEN LONG, AS PART OF A COLLABORATIVE STUDY ON AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF THAT AREA BEING UNDERTAKEN WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BUREAU.
-----O------
PROMOTING TOURISM IN EASTERN DISTRICT
* * *
THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, ffiS MABEL TING, WILL GIVE A SPECIAL TALK ON THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM IN EASTERN DISTRICT TO EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED REORGANISATION OF THE MAXICAB SERVICE IN THE DISTRICT, THE RECENT FLOODING IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST, THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN SPACES AND THE THEME FOR THE SPECIAL OR COMMEMORATIVE POSTAGE STAMP ISSUES FOR 1987.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE ADOPTION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD STANDING ORDERS, THE SETTING UP OF FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES, THE SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS, THE DRAFT BUDGET FOR 1985-86, A PROGRESS REPORT ON DISTRICT PROJECTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WORK, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF A WORKING GROUP ON PRIVATE ROADS.
-----o------
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
- 16 -
CONTRACT SIGNING FOR COMPLEX
*****
A S1O5-MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE NEW LO WU STATION COMPLEX WILL EE SIGNED ON FRIDAY (APRIL 26) AT 3 PM AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM, MJRRAY BUILDING, 21/F, GARDEN ROAD.
THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, DR NIP KAM-FAN AND THE CHAIRMAN OF SHU I ON BUILDING CONTRACTORS LIMITED, -R VINCENT LO WILL SIGN THE CONTRACT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT.
--------o----------
ILLEGAL KWUN TONG STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED
* * * *
FORTY ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN KWUN TONG WERE DEMOLISHED IN A CLEARANCE OPERATION TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ABOUT HALF OF THE STRUCTURES, WHICH WERE LOCATED IN THE BACKLANES OF LUEN ON STREET WERE USED FOR COMMERCIAL OR STORAGE PURPOSES.
THE CLEARANCE OPERATION, PART OF A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME, WAS THE FIRST IN KWUN TONG SINCE BACKLANE CLEARANCES WERE SUSPENDED LAST JUNE FOR A REVIEW.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, 31 PEOPLE FROM 20 FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE WERE RE-HOUSED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, WHILE 12 OPERATORS MERE GRANTED EXGRAT I A ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR COMMERCIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
THE CLEARANCE OF BACKLANES WAS INITIATED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER 1983, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD.
SO FAR, MORE THAN 250 ILLEGAL BACKLANE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED UNDER THE OPERATION, LEAVING ABOUT 900 STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED IN THE EXERCISE.
0
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1985
- 17 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEET-THE-MEDIA
* * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR VICTOR LADD, WILL MEET THE MEDIA TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 4 PM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON STH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1985
CONTENTS PAGH NO,
ELECTIONS - IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT 1
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH ....................... 2
SIR PHILIP AT EASTERN BOARD MEETING ....................... 5
SOUTHERN BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND ALLOCATION ................. 5
GREATER DEMANDS SEEN ON SOCIAL WORKERS..................... 6
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION SURVEY UNDERWAY...................... 8
u.s. djvestors told about 'unique offer1 ................. 10
EMPLOYERS URGED TO SUBMIT RETURNS ........................ 1°
GOODS VEHICLE PARKING SITE OFFERED ....................... 11
new textile import form used ............................. 12
+THANK YOUf PLAQUE FOR CUSTOMS............................ 12
SCHOOLS QUIZ PUT ON TV TAPE .............................. 13
LAND EXECUTIVES GET CERTIFICATES ......................... 13
MORE URBCO PROJECTS COME ON STREAM........................ 14
OVER 86 600 ANTI-MOSQUITO INSPECTIONS DI FIRST QUARTER..
WATER CUT ..............................................
BRIDGE WORK............................................... 16
EARLY MCRNDIG ROAD CLOSURE................................ 1°
THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1985
1
ELECTIONS - IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
*******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN HONG KONG’S PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON, SIR EDWARD SAID THE PRIME PURPOSE OF HIS VISIT WAS TO BRIEF MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ON THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THE ELECTIONS.
+1 FOUND, AS I EXPECTED, A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THIS BOTH AMONG MINISTERS AND AMONG MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO ASKED ME QUITE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAY WE WERE GOING ABOUT |T,+ HE SAID.
GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS THREE-DAY TALKS IN LONDON, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD MET THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE, MR RICHARD LUCE, SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, AND A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WHO WERE INTERESTED PARTICULARLY IN HONG KONG.
SIR EDWARD SAID THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST IN THE SCORRI REPORT ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHICH CAME OUT LAST WEEK.
+1 MADE CLEAR THAT WE WELCOME ANY MEASURES WHICH CAN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES HERE.
+ AND I THINK IT WILL TAKE A CONCERTED AND COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT ON THE PART OF EVERYBODY CONCERNED — THAT IS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND PARTICULARLY THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES — IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT.
♦THAT REPORT IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION BOTH HERE IN HONG KONG AND IN LONDON, WHERE IT WILL BE FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO REPLY TO PARLI AMENT,+ HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD SAID HE ALSO HAD VERY GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE ON THE DANGERS OF ROTECTIONISM WHICH SEEMED TO BE RISING.
+1 MADE VERY CLEAR OUR INTERESTS AS A MAJOR TRADING TERRITORY IN RESISTING THAT TREND TOWARDS PROTECTIONISM.*
THE GOVERNOR ADDED THAT HE ALSO DISCUSSED THE PREPARATIONS BEING MADE FOR THE COMING INTO EFFECT OF THE SINO-BRITlSH AGREEMENT.
♦THAT INCLUDED, OF COURSE, THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, among other things,* he said.
/IS REPLY .......
-V saiY, Xi-xtLL ^2, 1965
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT REGARDING THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, SIR EDWARD SAID: +1 HAVE NOTHING NEW TO TELL YOU ON THAT. THE DISCUSSIONS ARE STILL GOING ON BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.*
HE ADDED THAT THE JLG WAS NOT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HIS VI SI T TO LONDON.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHEN THE JOINT DECLARATION WILL BE RATIFIED, HE SAID: +1 T HAS TO BE RATIFIED BEFORE THE 3OTH OF JUNE. BUT THE EXACT DATE HASN’T YET BEEN ANNOUNCED.+
ASKED ABOUT THE PRIME MINISTER’S OPINION ON THE IDEA OF INCLUDING A LOCAL CHINESE MEMBER ON THE JLG, SIR EDWARD REPLIED: +ALL I CAN TELL YOU AT THE MOMENT IS THAT ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE COMING INTO EFFECT OF THE AGREEMENT ARE STILL UNDER DISCUSSION AND OF COURSE I DON’T REVEAL THE CONTENT OF MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER.*
SIR EDWARD WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVEJ THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNGJ AND THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR ROGER LOBO.
--------o----------
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH * * *
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN MARCH 1985, AT $8 430 MILLION, DECREASED BY 20 PER CENT OR $2 072 MILLION COMPARED WITH MARCH 1984, WHILE THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 36 PRR C-NT OR $2 424 MILLION TO $9 078 MILLION, ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE CF TOTAL EXPORTS, AT $17 508 MILLION, WAS TWO PER CENT OR $352 MILLION HIGHER THAN A YEAR EARLIER.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS GREw BY 10 PER CENT OR $1 778 MILLION OVER MARCH 1984 TO REACH $19 915 MILLION.
AS THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS GREW AT A SLOWER RATE THAN tHAT OF IMPORTS, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, WIDENED TO 12 PER CENT IN MARCH 1985 FROM FIVE PER CENT IN MARCH 1984.
/PUTTING THE .......
THURSDAY, ARPIL 25, 1985
PUTTING THE MONTH’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985 WAS $54 449 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF $28 976 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS OF $25 473 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1984, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS GREW BY $8 612 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT, DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY $861 MILLION OR THREE PER CENT, AND RE-EXPORTS BY $7 751 MILLION OR 44 PER CENT. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS GREW BY $5 216 MILLION, OR 11 PER CENT, TO $54 OOO MILLION. AS THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS GREATER THAN THAT OF IMPORTS, THE VISIBLE TRADE ACCOUNT RECORDED A SURPLUS OF $449 MILLION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985.
COMMENTING ON THESE COMPARATIVE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH CONTINUED TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR, WHICH FELL IN THE SECOND HALF OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.
HE NOTED THAT WHILE THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS CONTINUED TO SLACKEN, THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS REMAINED STRONG. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE DECEMBER 1958, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS EXCEEDED THAT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH 1985 -
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH :-
MERCHANDISE: DOMESTIC EXPORTS s $ 8 430 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS
$ 9 078 MILLION
TOTAL EXPORTS
$17 508 MILLION
IMPORTS
TRADE BALANCE
$19 915 MILLION
$ 2 407 MILLION
(IN DEFICIT)
/COMPARATIVE FIGURES
THUBSDAY, APRIL 25, 1985
COMPARATIVE FIGURES - 4 -
LATEST 3 MONTHS JAN-MAR JAN-MAR INCREASE OR
— 1985 1984 DECREASE
4>MN. $MN. $MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 28 976 28 115 + 861 + 3.1
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (53.296) (61.3%)
RE-EXPORTS 25 473 17 722 +7 751 +43.7
TOTAL EXPORTS 54 449 45 837 +8 612 +13.8
IMPORTS 54 OOO 48 784 +5 216 + 10.7
TRADE BALANCE + 449 - 2 947 +3 396
MARCH MARCH INCREASE : or
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR 1985 1984 DECREASE
—————————————————— $MN. |MN. $MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 8 430 10 502 -2 072 -19.7
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (48.1%) (61.2%)
RE-EXPORTS 9 078 6 654 +2 424 +36.4
TOTAL EXPORTS 17 508 17 156 + 352 + 2.1
IMPORTS 19 915 18 137 +1 778 + 9.3
TRADE BALANCE - 2 407 981 -1 426
MARCH FEBRUARY INCREASE : or
LAST MONTH 1985 1985 DECREASE
————————— $MN. $MN. 8MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 8 430 9 380 - 950 -10.1
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (48.1%) (55.8%)
RE-EXPORTS 9 078 7 437 + 1 641 +22.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 17 508 16 817 + 691 + 4.1
IMPORTS 19 915 14 966 +4 949 +33.1
TRADE BALANCE - 2 407 + 1 851 -4 258
/LAST 12 .......
TffiJBSiu; .--SIL *■'?, 1>85
LAST 12 MONTHS APRIL 1984 TO MARCH 1985 APRIL 1983 TO MARCH 1984 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$MN. SMN. SMN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 138 797 113 892 +24 905 +21.9
RE-EXPORTS 91 256 62 864 +28 392 +45.2
TOTAL EXPORTS 230 053 176 756 +53 297 +30.2
IMPORTS 228 586 190 086 +38 500 +20.3
TRADE BALANCE + 1 467 -13 330 +14 797
--------0----------
SIR PHILIP AT EASTERN BOARD MEETING x * x
DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE
DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (THURSDAY) ATTENDED THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING CHAIRED BY ITS NEW CHAIRMAN, MR SHUM CHOI-SANG.
HE SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR LI MEMBERS ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, OF TOURISM IN THE DISTRICT.
STENING TO DISCUSSIONS BY BOARD INCLUDING A TALK ON THE PROMOTION
-----o------
SOUTHERN BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND ALLOCATION
* * X *
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE FORMATION OF COMMITTEES UNDER THE BOARD, AND THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS TO PUBLISH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANATOMY REPORT 1985, AS WELL AS FJ\DS F. -< THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR ACTIVITIES AND ANNUAL PROGRAMMES H.-THE DISTRICT’S RECREATION AND SPORTS COUNCIL AND ARTS AND CULTUre ASSOCIATION.
THuHSDAY, ,_?RIL --j, 1965
- 6 -
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE A PROGRESS REPORT ON OUTSTANDING ITEMS OF THE PREVIOUS DISTRICT BOARD AND liS COMMITTEES, AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FACILITIES ON ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD.
A PAPER ON PRIVATE ROADS, AND ANOTHER ON VARIOUS ISSUES OF CONCERN IN THE DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE TABLED. A REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD (1932-85) AND ITS COMMITTEES AND THE REPORT OF THE MEETINGS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WILL ALSO BE SUBMITTED AT THE MEETING.
THE BOARD WILL ALSO REVIEW THE +MEET THE PUBLIC+ AND THE •♦RESIDENTS’ SUGGESTIONS TO THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD* SCHEMES, IN WHICH RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO THE AUTHORITIES.
--------0-----------
GREATER DEMANDS SEEN ON SOCIAL WORKERS
******
THE DEMANDS ON SOCIAL WORKERS ARE BOUND TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS WILL THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN MEETING NEW AND CHANGING NEEDS IN SOCIETY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SHE WAS SPEAKING ON THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SOCIAL WORKERS AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
+FEW CAREERS CAN OFFER SUCH A RANGE OF OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL FULFILLMENT,* SHE SAID.
SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION WOULD CONTINUE TO ATTRACT HIGHLY MOTIVATED, ENERGETIC AND SELFLESS YOUNG PEOPLE INTO ITS RANKS.
REFERRING TO THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER AS +CARER,+ MRS CHAN SAID THAT IN THE SOCIAL WORK FIELD THE WORD +CARE+ COULD TAKE ON DIFFERENT MEANINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAS STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF MANY CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE EITHER BEEN ORPHANED OR ABANDONED BY THEIR NATURAL PARENTS OR WHOSE PARENTS CANNOT OR WILL NOT TAKE ADEQUATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PHYSICAL OR MORAL WELL-BEING.
/HO.'(EVER, THE...........
THURSDAY, 4-i'xtlb 198 9
- 7 -
HOWEvER, THE CONCEPT OF +CARE+ ALSO EMBRACED A +MORE PERSONAL INVOLVEMEN' IN THE WELFARE OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES,* MRS CHAN SAID.
SOCIAL WORKERS IN CHILD CARE CENTRES, CHILDREN’S HOMES AND HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY OR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED MUST NOT ONLY ENSURE THE BEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF PHYSICAL CARE, BUT MUST ALSO STRIVE, IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN IN CARE, TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE PROBLEMS OF ADJUSTMENT TO INSTITUTIONAL LIVING AND DEPRIVATION OF PARENTAL LOVE.
IN THE CASE OF VERY OLD PEOPLE, OR OF THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED WHO '-'AY FEEL THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, THE EMPHASIS IS TO ENRICH THEIR LIVES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGH ACTIVITY AND CONTINUING INVOLVEMENT WITH THEIR FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY.
CLOSELY RELATED TO THE ROLE OF +CARER+ WAS THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER AS +HELPER,* MRS CHAN SAID.
IN MANY AREAS OF WELFARE SERVICES, SHE SAID, INCREASING EMPHASIS WAS BEING PUT ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES TO HELP PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES AND CARRY ON COPING INDEPENDENTLY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
+THIS EMPHASIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE FACE OF INCREASING “RESSURES UPON THE FAMILY WITH THE ATTENDANT PROBLEMS OF MARITAL BREAKDOWNS AND SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES,* SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT WAS ALSO VITAL FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THE DISABLED LIVING ON THEIR OWN OR IN NEED OF HELP DURING THE DAY WHEN OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS WERE AT WORK.
SHE SAID THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, BOTH PRACTICAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WAS REQUIRED.
TURNING TO THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER AS AN +ENABLER,* M’S CHAN SAID THAT THIS ROLE WAS ASSUMING GROWING IMPORTANCE AS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROBLEMS HE WAS FACING INCREASED AND IN THE LIGHT OF RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS.
+MANY OF THE CASES HANDLED BY SOCIAL WORKERS INVOLVE A NUMBER CF PROBLEMS AND, IN SOME CASES, THE WORKER CAN DO LITTLE MORE THAN TO OFFER GUIDANCE ON THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HIS CLIENTS TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFICULTIES,* SHE SAID.
ANOTHER ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS WAS THAT OF +CUSTODIANS+ OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THE DIRECTOR SAID.
TRAINED SOCIAL WORKES IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SERVE THE COURTS IN MANY AREAS STATUTORY WORK LIKE PROBATION.
- '3TAL 'iCttiCHL.'...
\;.uasD> , ape;. 45» 1567
social workers are also deployed in the residential training OF 'OUNG OFFENDERS AND OF CERTAIN GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ^HO ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A PERIOD OF RESIDENTIAL SUPERVISION UNDER THE TERMS OF A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER.
ON THE EMERGING ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER AS A +CO-ORDINATORS,+ f-RS CHAN SAID THAT SOCIAL WORKERS NOW OFTEN WORKED CLOSELY AS A TEAM WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
+THIS IS PARTICULARLY SO IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION SERVICES WHERE MANY SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND ADULTS INVOLVE INPUTS FROM A RANGE OF SKILLED STAFF INCLUDING PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND NURSES,+ SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS WERE ALSO PLAYING AN INCREASING ROLE IN WORK WITH MENTAL PATIENTS IN.HOSPITALS AND IN THE AFTERCARE AND REHABILITATION OF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS.
IN MANY INSTANCES, SHE WENT ON, THE SOCIAL WORKER WAS EXPECTED TO FILL THE ROLE OF +GO-BETWEEN.+ HE WOULD BE EXPECTED TO EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF TREATMENT TO THE PATIENT AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO CO-OPERATE WITH IT AND TO INVOLVE THE FAMILY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PROVIDE THE CONTINUING SUPPORT NEEDED BY THE PATIENT.
-----0------
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION SURVEY UNDERWAY
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONDUCTING A SURVEY CF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION TO COLLECT DATA ON 1934.
THE SURVEY IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY AND REPRESENTS PART OF A CONTINUOUS PROGRAMME TO COLLECT ECONOMIC STATISTICS ON THE STRUCTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
+THE AIM OF THE SURVEY IS TO OBTAIN DATA FOR UPDATING THE ESTIMATES OF THE RELEVANT SECTORS’ CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG’S GPOSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AND TO ASCERTAIN THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CF DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES,+ HE SAID.
+RESULTS OF THE SURVEY WILL BE USEFUL TO THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS STATISTICAL USERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC,+ HE ADDED.
ABOUT 7 500 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE ENUMERATED IN THE SECTORS OF MANUFACTURING, MINING AND QUARRYING, AND ELECTRICITY, GAS AND wATER.
/TNFvaJUTIO’r SOUGHT.........
TEVBSD..1, APS1L i'5. 1985
- 9 -
INFORMATION SOUGHT IN THE SURVEY INCLUDES TYPE OF OWNERSHIP, COUNTRY OR ORIGIN OF INVESTMENT, FLOOR AREA, EMPLOYMENT, MAN-HOURS WORKED, COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES (I.E. WAGES, SALARIES AND OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS), CONTRACT AND COMMISSION WORK, PURCHASES OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, OTHER EXPENSES, SALES AND WORK DONE, OTHER RECEIPTS, STOCKS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THE SURVEY IS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (ANNUAL SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION) ORDER 1984, WHICH WAS MADE UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 316) AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NO I ICE NO. 15 IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF JANUARY 13, 1984.
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE BEING SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY TO THE ESTABLISHMENTS CONCERNED. MANAGEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF JULY 1985.
UPON REQUEST, OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT MAY VISIT ESTABLISHMENTS AND ASSIST IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE. THESE OFFICERS WILL CARRY GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS WHILST ON DUTY.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPEALED TO MANAGEMENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES PROMPTLY AND TO CO-OPERATE WITH OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, THUS FULFILLING THEIR LEGAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THE COMMISSIONER STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD ONLY BE USED IN AN AGGREGATE FORM FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AUDITED ACCOUNTS WERE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION RELATING TO INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS FIGURES BASED ON PRELIMINARY ACCOUNTS OR ESTIMATES WHICH ARE CORRECT TO THE BEST OF THP RESPONDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION OF RETURNS. THIS APPROACH IS NECESSARY TO AVOID THE DELAY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE RESULT FROM WAITING FOR AUDITED ACCOUNTS.
- - 0-------------
iHURSD :, APRIL 25, 1965
10
U S. INVESTORS TOLD ABOUT ’UNIQUE OFFER’
OFFER A UNIQUE SERVICE
HONG KONG WAS PERFECTLY PLACED TO
TO FOREIGN BUSINESSMEN SEEKING TO ESTABLISH CONTACTS WITH CHINA FOR THE FIRST TIME AS THE TERRITORY HAD A LONG HISTORY OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA, THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY
SAID.
H^ WAS ADDRESSING THE HONG KONG BAY AREA ASSOCIATION IN SAN FRANC'SCO TODAY (THURSDAY).
MR YAXLEY IS CURRENTLY IN SAN FRANCISCO AS PART OF HIS M3NTH-LO:'3 PROMOTIONAL TOUR TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES WHICH STARTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH.
THE DIRECTOR ALSO HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OFFICIALS OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND VISITED THE SILICO.NIX INC. IN SILICON VALLEY.
SILICONIX IS A LEADING HIGH-TECHNOLOGY COMPANY MANUFACTURING ADVANCED SEMI-CONDUCTOR DEVICES. THE COMPANY HAS HAD A SUBSTANTIAL MANUFACTURING OPERATION IN HONG KONG FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
MP YAXLEY ALSO VISITED HIS DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
E IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON SUNDAY.
--------o ----------
EMPLOYERS URGED TO SUBMIT RETURNS
* * X
EMPLOYERS ARE REMINDED TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE RETURN OF REMUNERATION AND PENSIONS BEFORE APRIL 30.
MORE THAN 58 000 EMPLOYER’S RETURNS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1985 HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO EMPLOYERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
+EMPLOYERS IN HONG KONG ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE US ACCURATE_ INFORMATION CONCERNING THEIR EMPLOYEES AND PARTICULARS OF EMPLOYEES’ INCOME INCLUDING SALARY, COMMISSION, BONUS, ALL OTHER REWARDS, ALLOWANCES OR PERQUISITES, ETC.,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN NED “-.AT FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE COMPLETED RETURNS aITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD IS AN OFFENCE AND MAY RESULT IN THE IMPOSITION ENALTIES.
/hkavy paw/nss....
THU HSU. J , ADR1L
1985
-i£,.VY PENALTIES MAY EE IMPOSED ON ANY EMPLOYER WHO MAKES INCORRECT RETURN WITH A FRAUDULENT INTENT TO EVADE TAX, OR TO ASSIST ANY OTHER PERSON TO EVADE TAX.
ANY EMPLOYER WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED THE RETURN FORMS SHOULD WRITE TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, G.P.O. BOX 132 OR TELEPHONE 5-79592030.
EMPLOYERS, WHEN FILLING THE RETURN, ARE ADVISED TO READ AND FOLLOW THE ENCLOSED NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS.
IF THEY HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES, THEY SHOULD WRITE TO OR CALL AT THE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER MENTIONED ABOVE.
-----0------
GOODS VEHICLE PARKING SITE OFFERED * * X *
NINE MONTHS’ TENANCY OF A 4 325-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI PAK TIN STREET AND LEI MUK ROAD, KWAI CHUNG, IS BEING OFFERED BY TENDER BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THE SITE IS FOR FEE PAYING PUBLIC PARKING OF GOODS VEHICLES, EXCEPT CONTAINER TRACTORS AND TRAILERS.
TENDER MUST BE SUBMITTED NOT LATER THAN NOON ON MAY 10, 1985.
TENDER FORM, NOTICE AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN, r. FLOOR TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK BUILDING, 174-208 CAS1LE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES? THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, SURVEY DIVISION, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD. HONG KONG AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOwLOON.
0 --------
THU..SD . ^PRIl 25, 1985
- 12 -
NEW TEXTILE IMPORT FORM USED * * * *
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED A REVISED
-OR" LICE vE (TEXTILES) FORM TRA 23 FOR APPLICATIONS COVERING IMPORTS OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS.
THE REVISED FORM WILL PROVIDE A SPACE AT THE TOP RIGHT-HAND CORNER FOR THE PAYMENT OF APPLICATION FEE OF HK$2O PER APPLICATION, . ilCH IS TO BE PAID IN THE FORM OF ADHESIVE POSTAGE STAMPS OR ’■'PRESSED POSTAGE STAMPS.
HOWEVER, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, APPLICATIONS FOR IMPORT I ICENCE COVERING IMPORTS OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS ON EXISTING FORM iRA 23 WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE REVISED LICENCE FORMS ARE ON SALE AT $12 PER PAD AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES:
(A) THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, G/F, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
(B) TRADE DEPARTMENT, OCEAN CENTRE, G/F, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
(C) TRADE DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG OFFICE, 1/F, ASIAN HOUSE, 1 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
----0------
+THANK YOU+ PLAQUE FOR CUSTOMS
*****
THE HEAD OF THE TRADE INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, MR JOHN HOWARD, WILL RECEIVE A PLAQUE AND A
■JNER FROM THE TRADEMARK OWNER AND LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR OF +PUMA+ FOR THE EFFORTS BEING DONE AGAINST COUNTERFEITS.
A PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW FRIDAY) AT THE BUREAU’S HEADQUARTERS ON 5/F, HENNESSY CE’TRE, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
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THURS
APRIL 25, 1985
- 13 -
SCHOOLS QUIZ PUT ON TV TAPE * * * * *
THE INTER-SCHOOL ACADEMIC QUIZ COMPETITION WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM 27 SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN PRODUCED INTO A TELEVISION SERIES FOR SCREENING.
THE STUDENTS WERE QUIZZED ON GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND ACADEMIC MATTERS, AS WELL AS NEWS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS SUBJECTS, SUCH AS GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, LABOUR WELFARE AND OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND ROTARY INTERNATIONAL 345, THE QUIZ WAS THE FINAL PROGRAMME OF THE 1984-85 HONG KONG YOUTH CULTURAL AND ARTS COMPETITIONS SPONSORED BY CNTA.
+IT WAS HOPED THAT THE TV QUIZ WOULD HELP PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG CHILDREN AND ENRICH THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS SO AS TO HELP THEM ADAPT TO CHANGING TIMES,+ A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO HIGHLIGHT THE TV SHOW, A MEMBER OF EITHER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OR THE URBAN COUNCIL APPEARED ON EACH OF THE PROGRAMMES TO PUT QUESTIONS TO THE STUDENTS ON
CIVIC EDUCATION.
THE 13-PART QUIZ SHOW WILL BE AIRED EVERY SUNDAY ON ATV CH INESE~CHANNEL FROM 8.30 PM TO 9 PM STARTING APRIL 28 AND ON TVB JADE EVERY SATURDAY FROM 4.30 PM TO 5 PM STARTING MAY 4.
-----o-----
LAND EXECUTIVES GET CERTIFICATES
*****
THIRTY-NINE LAND EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING THREE WOMEN, TODAY (THURSDAY) RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FROM THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LANDS, MR PATRICK WARD, UPON COMPLETION OF A TWO-YEAR COURSE IN LAND ADMINISTRATION.
SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, MR WARD SAID THAT THE CERTIFICATE WAS A WELL-DESERVED AWARD FOR ALL THE HARD WORK WHICH THE LAND EXECUTIVES HAD PUT IN WHILE ATTENDING THE COURSE AS IT REQUIRED A GREAT DEAL OF DETERMINATION, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND LONG HOURS OF STUDY.
HE SAID THAT WHAT THEY HAD ACHIEVED WOULD STAND THEM IN GOOD STEAD IN THEIR FUTURE CAREER.
PAPT-TIkS........
THURSL APRIL
1985
tjz -‘ART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSE IS JOINTLY ORGANISED Bf L'L'DS DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
IT PPC. £3 FORMAL TRAINING IN LAND ADM!NlSTRATI ON TO Y-RECP: ~'J LAND EXECUTIVES. SUBJECTS COVERED INCLUDE Lactic! ROCEDURE OF LOCAL SERVICES; LAND SURVEYING M v-AP I n'TcRPRETAT I ON ; VALUATION OF LAND AND BUILDINGS;
RELATE’TO LAND ADMINISTRATION; BUILDING CONSTRUCTION; tiT USE Ju DEVELOPMENT; ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT;
AND ECONOMICS.
1!jr- Tup COURSE STARTED IN 1974, A TOTAL OF 219 SERVING LAND EXECUTIVES^ INCLUDING THE PRESENT 39, HAVE COMPLETED IT SUCCESSFULLY AND ANOTHER 12 ARE ATTENDING IT.
- 0
MORE URBCO PROJECTS COME ON STREAM
* * *
THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WITNESSED THE COMPLETION OF 12 PROJECTS UNDER THE URBAN COUNCIL’S HUGE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME.
THESE PROJECTS, COSTING SOME $21 MILLION, PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS.
AMONG THE COMPLETIONS WERE A TwO-STOREY COOKED-FOOD CENTRE IN TSUN YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG, A TEMPORARY MARKET IN MONG KOK ROAD AND A JOGGING AND FITNESS TRACK AT MAGAZINE GAP ROAD SERVICE RESERVOIR.
OTHER COMMUNITY FACILITIES COMPLETED DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW WERE A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT MOON STREET (WAN CHAI), AN EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT MANSION STREET (NORTH POINT), A PUBLIC TOILET AT THE NEW SHAM SHU I PO BUS AND FERRY CONCOURSE, A PUBLIC TOILET IN CHUN WAH ROAD AND A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT YUET WAH STREET (BOTH IN KWUN TONG), AND THE REDEVELOPMENT CF THE PORTLAND STREET PUBLIC TOILET AND BATHHOUSE (MONG
THE REDEVELOPMENT
KOK).
IN ADDITION, A TEMPORARY RECREATION GROUND AT CHUN SING STREET (WESTERN), A REST GARDEN IN KO CHIU ROAD (KWUN TONG) AND A SITTING-OUT AREA AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND N;AR THE AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE (SOUTHERN) WERE ALSO COMPLETED THUS FURTHER WIDENING THE SCOPE OF THE EXTENSIVE RANGE OF SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES NO* PROVIDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL.
- 0
TaUHSDA., x V.'i. 1985
15 -
OVER 8r ANTl-MOSQUITO INSPECTIONS IN FIRST QUARTER XXX
AS PART OF ITS CONTINUING EFFORTS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO EREEDING THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S DISTRICT PEST CONTROL ST.\c- INSPECTED 86 639 HOUSES AND 11 468 BUILDING SITES AND OPEN SPACES IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
AS A RESULT, 1 425 BREEDING PLACES WERE FOUND AND ACTION TAKEN TO ERADICATE THESE SOURCES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 45 COMPLAINTS OF MOSQUITO BREEDING PLACES WERE RECEIVED RESULTING IN THE ISSUE OF 20 SUMMONSES AGAINST THE OFFENDERS.
MEANWHILE, DISTRICT PEST CONTROL STAFF POISONED 7 223 RODENTS AND TRAPPED SOME 5 409 RODENTS BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH THIS YEAR.
SOME 619 COMPLAINTS OF RODENT INFESTATION WERE ALSO RECEIVED.
AND IN A BID TO ELIMINATE RODENTS, 167 BLOCK DISINFESTATIONS AND 144 HOLE-BAITING TREATMENTS wERE CARRIED OUT.
-----0------
WATER CUT * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR NINE HOURS FROM 9 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES IN WONG CHUK HANG, AP LEI CHAU AND SHUM WAN, INCLUDING 1-9 AND 2-12 SHOUSON HILL ROAD.
- 0
THURS: , K- L 25, 1985
16
BRIDGE ■’RK
* * *
-OR ' r-.- ONE-HOUR PERIODS ON SUNDAY (APRIL 28), TSI NG Yl BRIDGE WIlL BE CPEN . TRAFFIC AT INTERVALS OF FIVE MINUTES ONLY.
THESE. ;m-:-HOUR PE IODS V ILL START FROM 12 MIDNIGHT, 6.30 AM AND 3 PM.
THIS IS TO ENABLE CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT INVESTIGATIVE WORK.
--------o----------
EARLY MORNING ROAD CLOSURE W H X .4 & -4
THE KWUN TONG ROAD VEHICULAR UNDERPASS, UNDER THE KWUN TONG ‘ASS "WIT RAILWAY STATION, WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 2.01 AM TO 6 AM ON SUNDAY (APRIL 28) TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE
WORK.
DURING CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL EE DIVERTED TO USE THE GROUND LEVEL CARRIAGEWAYS OF KWUN TONG ROAD.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK/MACAU RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTORY ......................... 1
MACAU GOVERNOR ARRIVES FOR ONE-DAY VISIT ................... 1
MACAU VISITORS TOUR SHA TIN ..............................
MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA VISITS PO LEUNG KUK AND TEA WARE MUSEUM 3
MACAU GOVERNOR LEAVES ...................................... 4
GOVT APPOINTMENTS .......................................... 4
UMELCO ENTERTAIN XINHUA TO DINNER........................... 6
PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS .................. 7
APPEAL TO REGISTER FOR LEGCO POLLS ......................... 9
LATEST APPLICATION FIGURES ................................ 10
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MARCH 1985 ..................... 11
DORWARD CALLS FOR ACTION aGaINST COUNTERFEITERS ........... 13
GOVT DETERMINED TO WIPE OUT COUNTERFEITING ................ 14
GOVT PLANS TO REDUCE LEASING .............................. 15
APPOINTMENTS TO MTR BOARD ANNOUNCED........................ 16
MORE TUBERCULOSIS CaSES REPORTED LAST YEAR................. 17
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NSV STATION COMPLEX .................. 18
NINE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN RAIDS ................. 19
I.D. CARD REMINDER FOR WOMEN .............................. 20
FIREMEN REMINDED TO BE COURTEOUS, UNDERSTANDING ........... 20
EVENING COURSES IN TECHNICAL TRAINING OFFERED ............. 21
NEW OFFICES FOR LICENSING SECTION ........................ 22
FUNDS OFFERED FOR CIVIC PROJECTS .......................... 22
ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR BOARD MEMBERS ....................... 2 3
STUDENTS ATTEND SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ........... 24
URBCO BACKS PERFORMING COMPANIES .......................... 24
FRESH, SALT WATER WORKS .................................... 25 '
ROAD STILL CLOSED.......................................... 26
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 1 -
t
hk/macAu relationship satisfactory * * * *
THE PRACTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU WAS A VERY SATISFACTORY ONE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE MACAU FERRY PIER WHEN SEEING OFF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM E COSTA.
SIR EDWARD SAID TODAY’S VISIT HAD GIVEN HIM AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRIEF THE MACAU GOVERNOR ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.
♦ IN PARTICULAR WE HAVE COVERED THE ECONOMY AND THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE QUESTIONS AND MATTERS OF THAT KIND, AND ALSO THE RULES WE ARE MAKING ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.
+AND WE HAD SOME USEFUL DISCUSSIONS ON QUESTIONS OF COMMON CONCERN, AND THESE HAVE INCLUDED OF COURSE INTERNATIONAL TRADE QUESTIONS AND THE PRACTICAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MACAU WHICH WE AGREED WAS A VERY SATISFACTORY ONE.
+SO WE HAD A USEFUL DAY TOGETHER AND IT HAS BEEN A GREAT PLEASURE FOR US TO HAVE THEM HERE,+ SIR EDWARD SAID, POINTING OUT THAT HE REMEMBERED VERY wARMLY HIS LAST VISIT TO MACAU.
- - 0 -----------
MACAU GOVERNOR ARRIVES FOR ONE-DAY VISIT
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM E COSTA ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT.
THEY WERE WELCOMED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND LADY YOUDE.
ALSO GREETING THEM AT THE MACAU FERRY PIER WERE THE CONSUL-GENERAL OF PORTUGAL, MR NUNO DA CUNHA E TAVORA LORENA; THE CONSUL-GENERAL OF THE PHILIPPINES AND DOYEN OF THE MACAU CONSULAR CORPS, MRS FELICIDAD BENGZON GONZALES; THE BRITISH CONSUL-GENERAL AT MACAU, MR C.C.W. ADAMS; AND THE DIRECTOR CF PROTOCOL, SIR JOHN CURLE.
THE OFFICIAL PARTY THEN DROVE TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHERE REAR ADM ALMEIDA E COSTA IS BEING BRIEFED THIS MORNING BY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.
IN THE MEANTIME, MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE, HAS GONE TO VISIT THE PO LEUNG KUK AND THE FLAGSTAFF HOUSE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE.
EARLIER, A MACAU PRESS CORPS, TOGETHER WITH OFFICIALS FROM THE MACAU GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, ARRIVED TO COVER THE ONE-DAY VISIT.
------o-------
/2........
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985.
2
MACAU VISITORS TOUR SHA TIN *****
M4n,™E GOVERNOR OF MACAU REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM E COSTA THIS (FRIDAY} AFTERNOON VISITED A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX AND A GOVERNMENT PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IN THE FAST DEVELOPING NEW TOWN OF SHA TIN.
ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE- THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO- AND THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, THEY FIRST WENT TO SHA TIN CITY ONE WHERE THEY VISITED THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE AND A MOCK-UP FLAT.
THE VISITORS WERE TOLD THAT THE PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 52 BLOCKS. AT PRESENT, 28 BLOCKS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR SOME 27 OOO PEOPLE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BOUGHT 80 FLATS IN THE ESTATE TO PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 480 ELDERLY PERSONS AGED 60 AND OVER. THESE ELDERLY PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY FEE OF $198 IF THEY ARE SINGLE. THE FEE FOR A COUPLE IS $300.
THE VISITING PARTY THEN MOVED ON TO LUNG HANG ESTATE, WHICH IS THE EIGHTH AND NEWEST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, AND TOURED ITS COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.
BUILT IN STAGES AND COMPLETED LAST YEAR, THE ESTATE COMPRISES 12 DOMESTIC BLOCKS, INCLUDING SIX BLOCKS BUILT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME. IT HAS A TOTAL OF 4 367 RENTAL UNITS AND 1 424 HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS, PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR SOME 31 400 PEOPLE.
A FULL RANGE OF WELFARE FACILITIES IS PROVIDED IN THE ESTATE, INCLUDING A COMMUNITY CENTRE, A HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY, A STUDY ROOM, A CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED, A CHILD AND YOUTH CENTRE AND A NURSERY. RECREATIONAL FACILITIES INCLUDE TWO BADMINTON COURTS, THREE SITTING-OUT AREAS, FOUR BASKETBALL COURTS, A SKATING RINK, A FOOTBALL PITCH, AND A CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA.
BEFORE LEAVING, THE MACAU GOVERNOR AND MADAM E COSTA WENT TO A FLAT ON THE 6TH FLOOR OF WING SAM HOUSE TO VISIT A FAMILY WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THE ESTATE SINCE THE COMPLETION OF ITS FIRST PHASE IN OCTOBER 1983.
AT HOME TO WELCOME THE DISTINGUISHED VISITORS WERE W LO YUK-KWONG, MRS LO AND THEIR EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON, WAI-LEUNG.
THE LO FAMILY ARE OCCUPYING A 25 SQUARE-METRE FLAT, AT A MONTHLY RENTAL OF $405.
-----o-----
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 3 -
MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA VISITS PO LEUNG KUK AND TEA WARE MUSEUM * * * *
MADAM ALMEIDA E COSTA, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE, SPENT THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING VISITING THE PO LEUNG KUK AND THE FLAGSTAFF HOUSE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE.
THEY WERE MET ON ARRIVAL AT THE PO LEUNG KUK’S PREMISES IN CAUSEWAY BAY BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MR RONNIE WONG MAN-CHIU.
AFTER BEING BRIEFED BY MR WONG ON THE KUK’S HISTORY AND SERVICES, MADAM E COSTA AND LADY YOUDE WERE SHOWN AROUND THE PREMISES.
THEY VISITED THE BABIES WARD WHICH PROVIDES CARE FACILITIES FOR BABIES AWAITING ADOPTION- THE DAY CRECHE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN-THE NURSERY SCHOOL FOR FOUR-TO-SIX-YEAR-OLDS- AND DORMITORIES FOR CHILDREN.
THEY ALSO TOURED THE SHELTERED WORKSHOP WHICH PROVIDES VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
THE PO LEUNG KUK, FOUNDED IN 1878, WAS ORIGINALLY AIMED AT SUPPRESSING ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG GIRLS AND TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF SUCH CASES. OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS DEVELOPED INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE VOLUNTARY AGENCY, PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE CHILD CARE, REHABILITATION, EDUCATION, RECREATION, MEDICAL, AND SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THEIR VISIT TO THE KUK, MADAM E COSTA AND LADY YOUDE PROCEEDED TO THE FLAGSTAFF HOUSE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE IN VICTORIA BARRACKS.
THEY WERE MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF ART, MR LAWRENCE TAM, AND THE ASSISTANT CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE, MR K.C. HO.
THE PARTY THEN TOURED THE MUSEUM AND SAW AN EXHIBITION ON -CHINESE TEA DRINKING*, WHICH INTRODUCES VARIOUS STYLES IN MAKING TEA BEVERAGES PRACTISED IN CHINA AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN HISTORY.
THE MUSEUM OF TEA WARE, CONVERTED FROM THE FORMER OFFICE AND RESIDENCE OF THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, IS THE FIRST MUSEUM IN HONG KONG WHICH SPECIALISES IN THE COLLECTION, STUDY AND DISPLAY OF TEA AND TEA WARE.
/OPBiJiD IN ........
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
OPENED IN 1984. THE MUSEUM FEATURES AN INFORMATIVE AND INTERESTING DISPLAY ON THE HISTORY OF CHINESE TEA WARE OVER THE PAST 1 400 YEARS, COVERING THE MAJOR PERIOD OF CHINESE CERAMIC HISTORY FROM THE TANG DYNASTY (618-907) TO THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
AMONG ITS EXHIBITS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE COLLECTION OF YIXING TEA WARE IN THE WORLD.
AFTER THE MUSEUM VISIT, MADAM E COSTA AND LADY YOUDE RETURNcD TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHERE THEY JOINED REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND SIR EDWARD YOUDE FOR LUNCH.
-----o------
MACAU GOVERNOR LEAVES * * * * *
THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU, REAR ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA AND MADAM E COSTA, RETURNED TO MACAU THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING AFTER AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG.
THEY WERE SEEN OFF AT THE MACAU FERRY PIER BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND LADY YOUDE.
ALSO PRESENT TO SAY FAREWELL TO THEM WERE THE CONSUL-GENERAL CF PORTUGAL, MR NUNO DA CUNHA E TAVORA LORENA; THE CONSUL-GENERAL CF THE PHILIPPINES AND DOYEN OF THE MACAU CONSULAR CORPS, MRS FELICIDAD BENGZON GONZALES; THE BRITISH CONSUL-GENERAL AT MACAU, MR C.C.W. ADAMS; AND THE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, SIR JOHN CURLE.
--------0---------
GOVT APPOINTMENTS *****
IT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MR MARTIN ROWLANDS WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE IN MID-AUGUST THIS YEAR. MR ROWLANDS HAS BEEN SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS AND WILL HAVE SERVED WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR 33 YEARS.
HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED AS SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE LATER IN THE YEAR BY MR DAVID FORD, WHO IS CURRENTLY SECRETARY FOR HOUSING.
MR T.H. BARMA, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, WILL ACT AS SECRETARY FROM AUGUST UNTIL MR FORD TAKES OVER.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THESE OFFICERS FOLLOW:
/BIOGRAPHICAL NOTKS........
raiDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
5
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
MR MARTIN ROWLANDS, CBE, JP
AGED 59. MR ROWLANDS JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A CADET OFFICER CLASS II IN OCTOBER 1952. HE SERVED INITIALLY IN THE (THEN) RESETTLEMENT DEPARTMENT AND AS CHIEF STAFF OFFICER OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES. 4
HE SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, AND ALSO SERVED FOR SUBSTANTIAL PERIODS AT SENIOR LEVELS IN THE (THEN) COLONIAL SECRETARIAT AND THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. IN DECEMBER 1974 MR ROWLANDS BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION AND SERVED IN THIS CAPACITY FOR OVER THREE YEARS.
HE HAS BEEN THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE SINCE MARCH 1978 AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF SECRETARY, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN OCTOBER 1979. ON HIS RETIREMENT MR ROWLANDS WILL HAVE SERVED WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR 33 YEARS AND WILL BE 60 YEARS OLD.
MR DAVID FORD, LVO, OBE, JP
AGED 50. MR FORD JOINED THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES IN JUNE 1972, AND WAS APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES IN SEPTEMBER 1972.
AFTER A TWO YEAR SECONDMENT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT HE RETURNED TO HONG KONG AS SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION IN JANUARY 1979. HE THEN SERVED AS COMMISSIONER, LONDON OFFICE BETWEEN JULY 1980 AND DECEMBER 1981. HE WAS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF HOUSING IN JULY 1983 AND SECRETARY FOR HOUSING IN FEBRUARY 1985.
MR FORD WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE A IN AUGUST 1981.
MR T.H. BARMA, JP
AGED 52. MR BARMA JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE AS AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER IN JULY 1967, AND BECAME AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER IN AUGUST 1968. HE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE PARTICULARLY IN THE (FORMER) HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, FINANCE BRANCH, AND POST OFFICE WHERE HE WAS DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL.
MR BARMA HAS BEEN THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE IN CHARGE OF APPOINTMENTS SINCE MARCH 1984 AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B IN APRIL 1982.
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/6......
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
UMELCO ENTERTAIN XINHUA TO DINNER
******
IT IS HOPED THAT A PRESS REPORT THAT THE HONG KONG BASIC LAV/ DRAFTING COMMITTEE WILL INCLUDE UMELCO MEMBERS IS ACCURATE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
SIR SZE-YUEN WAS SPEAKING AT A DINNER HE AND OTHER UMELCO MEMBERS GAVE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF XINHUA NEWS AGENCY, MR XU JIATUN AND HIS +DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES*.
HE SAID: + IN THE ON THE FUTURE OF HONG THE RECENT SESSION OF THOSE RELATED TO HONG
LIGHT OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION KONG, WE HAVE FOLLOWED THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS AND PARTICULARLY KONG WITH MUCH INTEREST.
+IT WAS REPORTED IN THE PRESS THAT THE HONG KONG BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE WOULD INCLUDE ABOUT 15 TO 20 HONG KONG PEOPLE, OF WHICH A NUMBER WOULD BE FROM UMELCO.
+ IT IS HOPED THAT THIS PRESS REPORT IS ACCURATE, LIKE SO MANY IN THE PAST, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.*
SIR SZE-YUEN RECALLED THAT UMELCO HAD BEEN ENTERTAINED TO DINNER BY XINHUA SIX WEEKS AGO AND SAID HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE VERY GLAD TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF RECIPROCATING THE HOSPITALITY.
+ THIS KIND OF SOCIAL CONTACT, IN A RELAXED AND AMICABLE ATMOSPHERE, ENCOURAGES THE FREE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, HELPS TO IMPROVE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND CAN BRING ABOUT A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN XINHUA NEWS AGENCY AND UMELCO,* HE SAID.
+AS WE SHARE THE SAME OBJECTIVE OF PRESERVING HONG KONG’S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, THESE GATHERINGS ARE THEREFORE VERY USEFUL INDEED,* HE ADDED.
SIR SZE-YUEN AND THE OTHER UMELCO MEMBERS DRANK A TOAST TO THE HEALTH OF MR XU AND THE DISTINGUISHED GUESTS FROM-XINHUA AS WELL AS TO +THE CONTINUAL PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG*.
0 -------
/7 .......
FRIDAY, APRIL L_, 1965
- 7 -
PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS ******
SIX MEN AND TWO WOMEN, ALL ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND AVERAGING 43 YEARS OF AGE, HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE 24-MEMBER PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THEY INCLUDED TWO EDUCATORS, TWO MERCHANTS, ONE LAWYER, ONE ENGINEER, ONE DOCTOR AND ONE HOUSEWIFE. FOUR OF THEM WERE ALSO FORMER NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
THE EIGHT NEW APPOINTEES WILL JOIN THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL. THREE MORE MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK AFTER IT HAS HELD ITS ELECTION AT THE END OF MAY.
THE REST OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP WILL COMPRISE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE NINE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK -NAMELY ITS CHAIRMAN AND TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN, WHO ARE, AT PRESENT, NR LAU WONG-FAT, MR LIU CHING-LEUNG AND MR TSANG LIN.
THE EIGHT NEWLY APPOINTED MEMBERS ARE:
- MRS CHAN HO ON-NEI, 40, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE SOUTH KWAI CHUNG YIN NGA I SOCIETY AND A TYPICAL HOUSEWIFE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED MUCH OF HER SPARE TIME TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES;
- MR WILLIAM CHAU CHUN-WING, 31, A MERCHANT AND A FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL;
- MR CARLOS CHEUNG HON-KAU, 46, A CONSULTING CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD;
- MR CHONG KAM-NING, 40, A MERCHANT AND FORMER MEMBER OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD;
- DR RICHARD HO MAN-WUI, 38, A LECTURER IN CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG;
- MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, 38, A SOLICITOR WHO HOLDS OFFICE IN SEVERAL WOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS;
- MR NATHAN MA NING-HEI, 53, PRINCIPAL OF THE YUEN LONG LUTHERAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FORMER MEMBER Or THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD;
- DR PANG HOr-TUE , 41, A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER AN! FORMER MEMBER OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD;
/THE PROVISIONAL .......
ifiUUI, A?HIL c.>, 1985
8 -
THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WAS SET UP ON APRIL 1, 1985 TO ADVISE THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE WIDE RAhlGE OF MUNICIPAL, MCWEATIOM .AND CULTURE SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. IT WILL HOLD ITS INAUGURAL MEETING ON MAY 8 AND ITS FIRST BUSINESS NEETING ON MAY 15.
BUT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN TSUEN WAN IN JULY, THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL HOLD ALL ITS MEETINGS AT THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT TASK OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL IS TO ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON THE PLANNING, INAUGURATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL ON APRIL 1, 1986. THE COUNCIL WILL ALSO THEN BE FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS AS A STATUTORY BODY AND HAVE A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF 36 BY THE ADDITION OF 12 ELECTED MEMBERS.
THE ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NINE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL WAS COMPLETED ON APRIL 22. THOSE WHO WERE ELECTED ARE:
- MR TANG NAI-MAN (YUEN LONG);
- MR TANG PUI-TAT (TAI PO) ;
- MR CHEUNG KUEN (NORTH);
- MR FONG LOI ( ISLANDS);
- MR LAM KIN-MING (KWAI CHUNG/TSING YI);
- MR WAI HON-LEUNG (SHA TIN);
- MR HO SUN-KUEN (TUEN MUN);
- MR WAN YUET-KAU (SAI KUNG);
- MR CHAN LAU-FONG (TSUEN WAN).
- - - - Q ------------
FRIDAY, ~pRIL
1985
- 9 -
APPEAL TO REGISTER FOR LEGCO POLLS * * * M
THE GOVERNMENT WILL DIRECT MORE APPEALS TO ELIGIBLE ELECTORS IN THE COMING LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO URGE THEM TO REGISTER BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE OF MAY 6, 1985.
The APPEALS INCLUDE RADIO AND TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST (API’S) AND NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENTS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTER A ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON TODAY.
MR TSAO DREW ATTENTION TO THE SLOW RESPONSE IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, SUCH AS THE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND MEDICAL CONSTITUENCIES.
THERE COULD BE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THIS* ONE WAS THE TIME TAKEN BY SOME ORGANISATIONS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TO DISTRIBUTE REGISTRATION FORMS TO THEIR MEMBERS. MR TSAO REITERATED HOWEVER THAT ELIGIBLE ELECTORS COULD COLLECT REGISTRATION FORMS FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE IN THEIR OWN TIME AND AT THEIR OWN CONVENIENCE.
HE NOTED THAT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATION FORMS RECEIVED FROM MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WAS ENCOURAGING. BY THE END OF TODAY, 226 HAD SUBMITTED THEIR APPLICATIONS.
ALTHOUGH ELIGIBLE ELECTORS COULD MAKE USE OF THE LATE REGISTRATION PERIOD TO SEND IN THEIR FORMS, MR TSAO EXPLAINED THAT BY THEN, THERE WOULD NOT BE SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ANY CORRECTIONS IF ERRORS WERE FOUND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS.
+THE OUTCOME OF THIS REGISTRATION EXERCISE IS ANYBODY’S GUESS AS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SEATS ARE FILLED BY ELECTION,+ MR TSAO SAID.
BUT THE RESPONSE OF THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IS REVIEWED IN 1987, HE SAID.
- 0 - -
/1O........
FRIDAY, APR I _ 26, H35
10 latest application figures *****
LATEST STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ESTIMATED SIZE OF ELECTORATE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
COMMERCIAL 1 2 650 165
COMMERCIAL II 6 000 635
INDUSTRIAL 1 800 122
INDUSTRIAL II 3 000 307
FINANCIAL 143 30
LABOUR 380 101
SOCIAL SERVICES 154 26
MEDICAL 4 300 477
LEGAL 2 185 244
TEACHING 52 340 11 947
ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PLANNING 3 660 713
ELECTORAL COLLEGE 432 226
TOTAL: 14 993
(13 768 AS AT NOON TODAY)
- 0 - -
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1935
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR MARCH 1985 X X X X X X
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) ROSE 3Y 4.1 PER CENT AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) BY 4.4 PER CENT BETWEEN MARCH 1984 AND MARCH 1935, ACCORDING TO FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE CPI (A) AND CPI (B) FOR MARCH 1935 WERE 159.3 AND 159.1 RESPECTIVELY, OR 6.4 POINTS AND 6.7 POINTS RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THOSE FOR MARCH 1984. COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1985 AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON IS AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, CPI(A) INCREASED BY 1.4 POINTS OR 0.9 PER CENT AND CPI(B), BY 1.1 POINTS OR 0.7 PER CENT.
THE AVERAGE CPI(A) AND AVERAGE CPI(B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1985, AT 156.2 AND 156.1 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 6.3 PER CENT AND 6.7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGES FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED MARCH 1984.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED MARCH 1985, BOTH THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI(A) AND CPI(B) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.2 PER CENT EACH MONTH.
DURING MARCH, FOOD PRICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES, WERE HIGHER. CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES ALSO WENT UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, HAIRDRESSING CHARGES WERE LOWER AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE CPI(A) AND CPI(B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1979-80 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE CPI(A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN Si 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH, AND THE CPl(B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN S3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME.
THE INDEXES FOR MARCH 1985 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITYSERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR FEBRUARY 1985 AND MARCH 1984.
(OCTOBER 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE = 100)
SECTION MAR 84 CPI (A) CPI(B)
FEB 85 MAR 85 MAR 84 FEB 85 MAR 85
FOODSTUFFS 154.4 155.6 156.8 154.7 156.5 157.6
HOUSING 142.1 153.3 153.4 142.8 152.8 152.9
/FUEL AND
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 12 -
FUEL AND LI GHT 148.8 146.8 146.8 148.3 146.7 146.7
ALCOHOLI C DRI NKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 207.8 209.3 231.0 200.3 201.6 221.4
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 150.5 161.4 164.9 150.5 161.9 166.2
DURABLE GOODS 124.2 123.8 123.9 127.4 128.3 128.5
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 149.1 150.3 150.3 146.6 146.2 146.2
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 167.7 175.1 181.1 169.8 177.0 181.9
SERVICES 164.7 182.6 180.0 163.2 178.5 176.1
ALL ITEMS 152.9 157.9 159.3 152.4 158.0 159.1
COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1985, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY 1.2 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND 1.1 POINTS IN CPI(B). THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND SALT-WATER FISH, AND THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES ROSE. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF AERATED WATER ALSO WENT UP AFTER DUTIES ON NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WERE INTRODUCED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH FRUIT AND PORK DECREASED. THE EFFECT OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSI GNI Fl CANT.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) ROSE BY 21.7 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND 19.8 POINTS IN CPI(B), REFLECTING THE IMPACT OF THE INCREASES IN THE DUTIES ON IMPORTED CIGARETTES AND TOBACCO AND ON BEER AND NON-EUROPEAN TYPE WINES AND SPIRITS EFFECTED AT THE END OF FEBRUARY.
HIGHER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING PUSHED UP THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR BY 3.5 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND 4.3 POINTS IN CPI(B).
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES WENT UP BY 6.0 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND 4.9 POINTS IN CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF THE INCREASES IN BUS FARES, DRIVING AND VEHICLE LICENCE FEES, AND GASOLINE PRICES.
HOWEVER, THE INDEX FOR SERVICES DECREASED BY 2.6 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND 2.4 POINTS IN CPI(B) DUE TO LOWER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING, PACKAGE TOURS AND ADMISSION TO NIGHT CLUBS AND DISCOTHEQUES AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
/PRICjS JiOViMiNTs........
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1?85
- 13 -
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
(FIGURES PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE DERIVED FROM CPI FIGURES TO TWO DECIMAL PLACES).
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR MARCH 1985, AVAILABLE AT S3 A COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG, OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, ROOM 1904. 19TH FLOOR, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG= OR FROM THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, DUDDELL STREET, HONG KONG FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.
-----0------
DORWARD CALLS FOR ACTION AGAINST COUNTERFEITERS * * * *
THE REAL CULPRIT IN COUNTERFEITING OF CONSUMER GOODS IS OFTEN THE BUYER IN COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES, RATHER THAN THE PRODUCER IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR HONG KONG COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN NEW YORK, MR WILLIAM DORWARD, SAID YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-COUNTERFEITI NG COALITION (IACC) IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, MR DORWARD SAID THAT IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES, THE COUNTERFEITING SCHEME WAS INSTIGATED BY A DISTRIBUTOR OR IMPORTER IN THE UNITED STATES, WHO THEN PERSUADED A MANUFACTURER IN ANOTHER COUNTRY TO PRODUCE THE GOODS.
MR DORWARD SAID THE REMEDY FOR COUNTERFEITING DID NOT LIE IN INDISCRIMINATELY PLACING THE BLAME ON FOREIGNERS WHO ARE PRESUMED TO BE PRODUCING THE COUNTERFEITS, NOR IN THREATS OF TRADE SANCTIONS.
+THE REMEDIES ARE MUCH MORE TO THE POINT,+ HE SAID. +THESE LIE LARGELY, I SUGGEST, IN EDUCATION. EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC, EDUCATION OF THE LEGISLATORS AND EDUCATION OF THE COURTS. THEY ALSO LIE IN SENSIBLE AND ACTIVE PROTECTION OF SELF INTERESTS BY COMPANIES AFFECTED. AND THEY LIE IN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.+
/1'DB.NDiG TO ..........
FRIDAY, A?RIL 26, 1985
- 14 -
TURNING TO HONG KONG’S RECORD IN COMBATING COUNTERFEITING, DORWARD POINTED OUT THAT BETWEEN 1978 AND 1984, INVESTIGATIONS OF COUNTERFEITING CASES GREW FOUR-FOLD TO ALMOST 9OO, WHILE PROSECUTIONS ROSE BY EIGHT TIMES TO MORE THAN 400. DURING THAT PERIOD, 43 PRISON SENTENCES WERE IMPOSED.
HE SAID THAT TRADE ESTIMATES IN 1973 SHOWED MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF MUSIC TAPES AND RECORDS SOLD IN HONG KONG WERE COUNTERFEIT. BY 1978, AFTER SEIZURES OF HALF A MILLION ITEMS AND PROSECUTION OF 36 MANUFACTURERS, THE ILLICIT TRADE HAD ALL BUT VANISHED.
+TODAY AT LEAST 99 PER CENT OF THE RECORDINGS SOLD ARE GENUINE. SIMILAR SUCCESSES HAVE NIPPED VIDEO PIRACY MORE OR LESS IN THE BUD AND A SPECIAL PLAQUE FROM THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ACKNOWLEDGES THIS EFFORT,+ HE SAID.
MR DORWARD ALSO SAID HONG KONG CUSTOMS HAD RECEIVED TWO GOLD RECORD AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR EFFORTS AGAINST COUNTERFEITING ONE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRODUCERS OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS, AND THE OTHER FROM THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.
-----0------
GOVT DETERMINED TO WIPE OUT COUNTERFEITING *******
THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO ERADICATE COUNTERFEITING AND THE TRADE IN COUNTERFEIT GOODS FROM BOTH THE LOCAL MARKET AND THE IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS, TRADEMARK OWNERS AND LEGITIMATE TRADERS, MR JOHN HOWARD, HEAD OF THE TRADE INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE URGED TRADEMARK OWNERS TO GIVE THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION IN THIS ASPECT.
MR HOWARD WAS SPEAKING AFTER HE RECEIVED A PLAQUE AND A BANNER FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE WEST GERMAN FIRM PUMA FAR EAST LTD., MR ROLF H. STOCKHORST, AND THE GENERAL MANAGER OF HWA KAY THAI DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD., MR CHARLES S.K. LEUNG RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE BUREAU’S SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AGAINST COUNTERFEIT GOODS INFRINGING THE +PUMA+ TRADEMARK.
IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, OFFICERS OF THE BUREAU CARRIED OUT 268 OPERATIONS AGAINST COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISE AND SEIZED GOODS WORTH ABOUT &4 MILLION.
/ONri HUNLkKD •••••••
FfiUUY, APRIL 26, 198?
ONE HUNDRED AND SlXTY-oIX CASES HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED AND TOTAL FINES IMPOSED AMOUNTED TO $868 003.
FOUR DEFENDANTS WERE GIVEN JAIL SENTENCES RANGING FROM SIX WEEKS TO THREE MONTHS. THE FORFEITED GOODS WERE VALUED AT $1.7 MILLION.
SINCE 1984, THE BUREAU HAD ON 28 OCCASIONS SEIZED OVER 8 000 PIECES OF FAKE GARMENTS WORTH ABOUT $158 000 BEARING THE +PUMA+ TRADEMARK.
FOURTEEN OF THESE CASES HAD BEEN PROSECUTED WITH FINES TOTALLING $64 250. ABOUT $30 000 WORTH OF GARMENTS HAD BEEN FORFEITED BY THE COURTS.
THE REMAINING 14 CASES ARE PENDING PROSECUTION.
--------0 ---------
GOVT PLANS TO REDUCE LEASING
* * * *
THE MAIN PLANK OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY IS TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE UPON LEASING AND THEREBY REDUCE THE BURDEN OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH, MR TSAO SAID THAT A SUBSTANTIAL OFFICE BUILDING PROGRAMME WAS IN HAND WHICH SHOULD BRING ABOUT 250 000 SQUARE METRES OF SPACE ON STREAM OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO.
HE SAID THAT WHILE COST REDUCTION WAS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IN THE OFFICE BUILDING PROGRAMME, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONCERNED TOO WITH RATIONALISING ACCOMMODATION.
+WE WANT TO SEE THE HEADQUARTERS OF INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS HOUSED UNDER ONE SINGLE ROOF, SO THAT THEY ARE EASIER TO MANAGE AS A COHERENT WHOLE.
+AND WE WANT TO SEE A CENTRAL HEADQUARTERS IN EACH DISTRICT OF THE URBAN AREA AND NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE. A CENTRAL AND READILY ACCESSIBLE HEADQUARTERS WILL PROVIDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FOCUS FOR THE PROVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES, FACILITATE CO-ORDINATION AND PLANNING ON A DISTRICT BASIS AND PROVIDE A NATURAL HOME FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD,+ MR TSAO SAID.
/ON i'Hjf.................
raiv- , APRIL 26, 1985
ON THE QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT QUARTERS, MR TSAO SAID THAT THE OBJECTIVE TOO WAS TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON LEASING. HE NOTED THAT THE POLICY OF CIVIL SERVICE ZERO GROWTH! THE POPULARITY OF THE HOME PURCHASE SCHEME, AND THE COMPLETION OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AND JOINT VENTURE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS HAD RESULTED IN A DECLINE IN THE DEMAND FOR QUARTERS.
+IT NOW LOOKS AS IF WE SHALL BE ABLE TO GIVE UP AROUND 330 LEASED QUARTERS IN 1985-86 - THIS REPRESENTS A SAVING OF AROUND $30-40 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR. ON PRESENT PROJECTIONS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE UP A SIMILAR AND PERHAPS EVEN LARGER NUMBER OF LEASES THE FOLLOWING YEAR,* MR TSAO SAID.
HE CITED SOME STATISTICS TO HIGHLIGHT GOVERNMENT’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF PROPERTY. LEAVING ASIDE SPECIALIST BUILDING SUCH AS HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, FIRE STATIONS AND THE LIKE THE GOVERNMENT OCCUPIES MORE THAN 620 000 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE SPACE, WHICH IS ABOUT THE AREA OF 80 FOOTBALL PITCHES.
AS FOR QUARTERS, THERE ARE SOME 17 500 DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS OCCUPIED MAINLY BY JUNIOR STAFF OF THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES AND BY OFFICERS WHO FOR ONE REASON OR THE OTHER HAVE TO LIVE NEAR THEIR JOBS. ALSO THERE ARE ABOUT 3 000 NON-DEPARTMENTAL QUARTERS FOR EXPATRIATE OFFICERS AND LOCAL OFFICERS WHO ARE ON OR ABOVE POINT 48 OF THE MASTER PAY SCALE.
- 0 -
APPOINTMENTS TO MTR BOARD ANNOUNCED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR YEUNG PO-KWAN AND HAS RE-APPOINTED MR OSWALD CHEUNG AND MR G.M. MACWHINNIE TO THE BOARD OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION FOR A PERIOD CF TWO YEARS FROM MAY 1, 1985.
MR YEUNG PO-KWAN IS REPLACING MISS LYDIA DUNN, WHO HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD SINCE 1979. MR YEUNG IS AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. HE CURRENTLY SERVES ON A NUMBER OF PUBLIC BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, WHICH INCLUDES THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD AND CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS.
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY MR WILFRID NEWTON, ARE MR W.C.L. BROWN, MR C.H. TUNG, D.W.A. BL YE (SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS), THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION.
- 0 - -
/17 •
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 17 -
MORE TUBERCULOSIS CASES REPORTED LAST YEAR * * * *
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS OF TUBERCULOSIS HAS INCREASED IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR WHILE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS HAS FALLEN, SAID DR K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION OF WHICH HE IS THE PRESIDENT.
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS, THE TOTAL NOTIFICATIONS FOR TUBERCULOSIS HAD INCREASED FROM 7 301 IN 1983 TO 7 843 IN 1984 AND THE NOTIFICATION RATE FROM 137.4 TO 146.2 PER 100 000 POPULATION.
+TUBERCULOSIS REMAINS AN IMPORTANT DISEASE IN HONG KONG DESPITE THE CONTINUED DILIGENCE AND A DYNAMIC PROGRAMME IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST IT,+ DR THONG SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE INCREASE IN NOTIFICATION WAS DUE TO THREE FACTORS INCLUDING AN INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE DISEASE, AN INCREASED RESPONSE TO CASE FINDING MEASURES AND THE MOVEMENT OF POPULATION FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE REGION WITH HIGHER INCIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS.
DESPITE THE INCREASE IN NOTIFICATION. THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM TUBERCULOSIS CONTINUED TO FALL FROM 446 IN 1983 TO 420 IN 1984. THE DEATH RATE HAD ALSO FALLEN FROM 8.4 TO 7.8 PER 100 000 POPULATION.
+THIS HAS SHOWN THAT THE DISEASE IS CURABLE AND HAS REFLECTED THE EFFICACY OF THE DRUG TREATMENT REGIME IN HONG KONG,+ DR THONG SAID.
TURNING TO LUNG CANCER, DR THONG STRESSED THAT MORE RESEARCH INTO WAYS TO IMPROVE THERAPY IS STILL NECESSARY AS THE NUMBER OF LUNG CANCER CASES HAS NOT LESSENED.
LAST YEAR, LUNG CANCER HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 2 128 PEOPLE, AN INCREASE OF 126 PEOPLE WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 1983.
DR THONG FELT THAT IF SMOKING COULD BE PROGRESSIVELY REDUCED, THE OCCURRENCE OF LUNG CANCER WOULD CERTAINLY DECLINE.
+IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO DISCOURAGE ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS FROM STARTING TO SMOKE,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN WAS STARTED THREE YEARS AGO, THERE HAD BEEN A DEFINITE REDUCTION IN SMOKERS AND IN CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION.
/as ksjgarbs..........
FfilDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 18 -
AS REGARDS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, DR THONG NOTED THAT THE DISEASE, WHICH IS ALSO ON AN INCREASING TREND, IS THE NO. 2 LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN HONG KONG.
IN 1969, IT CAUSED 15.1 DEATHS PER 100 000 POPULATION, AND THE FIGURE HAD RISEN TO 44.4 PER 100 000 POPULATION IN 1983.
DR THONG ALSO SPOKE ON THE CARDIAC SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC BY THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL.
+THE KWOK TEK SENG HEART CENTRE AT THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL FUNCTIONS WELL AND PROVIDES THE COMMUNITY WITH CARDIAC CATHETERISATION AND OPEN HEART OPERATION 24 HOURS A DAY,+ HE SAID.
REFERRAL CASES ARE FROM ALL PARTS OF HONG KONG AND ALSO SOME COUNTRIES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.
FROM 1982 TO 1984, 52 CORONARY BYPASS OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED AT THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL WITH NO MORTALITY.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, A TOTAL OF 1 708 OPEN HEART OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED AT THE HOSPITAL. OUT OF THESE, 792 PATIENTS WHO WERE SUFFERING FROM RHEUMATIC VALVULAR DISEASE NEEDED VALVULAR SURGERY.
THE OVERALL DEATH RATE FOR THOSE WHO UNDERWENT OPEN HEART OPERATIONS DURING THIS PERIOD WAS BELOW EIGHT PER CENT AND 90 PER CENT OF THOSE SO OPERATED AFTER DISCHARGE WERE ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVE LIFE, DR THONG SAID.
-----o------
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NEW STATION COMPLEX
* * * *
A $105 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW LO wU STATION COMPLEX HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, DR NIP KAM-FAN, AND MR VINCENT LO, CHAIRMAN OF SHU I ON BUILDING CONTRACTORS LIMITED.
WORK ON THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TERMINAL BUILDING, SUBWAYS, PLATFORM AND CANOPIES AND ALL ASSOCIATED SERV ICES.
/THE tehmtnat. .........
fRIDAY, APBIL 26, 1985
- 19 -
THE TERMINAL BUILDING WILL COVER AN AREA OF ABOUT HALF A HECTARE. IT WILL PROVIDE OFFICE SPACE FOR THE IMMIGRATION. CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENTS, THE POLICE AS WELL AS FOR THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION.
ON PARTIAL COMPLETION IN EARLY 1987, DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL PASSENGERS WILL BE PROCESSED ON TWO DIFFERENT FLOORS.
WITH 44 IMMIGRATION CHECK COUNTERS AT EACH OF THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALLS, THE STATION WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE SOME 5000 PASSENGERS PER HOUR IN EACH DIRECTION.
THE EXISTING TEMPORARY STATION FACILITIES, WILL ALSO BE DEMOLISHED AFTER THE NEW BUILDING IS COMMISSIONED.
UNDER A PREVIOUS CONTRACT, THE FOUNDATION AND THE STRUCTURAL STEEL FRAME OF THE NEW TERMINAL BUILDING HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AT A COST OF $20 MILLION. THE PRESENT CONTRACTOR WILL TAKE OVER THE COMPLETED STEEL FRAME AND WOULD BE ABLE TO START THE STRUCTURAL AND BUILDERS WORK AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
0 --------
NINE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED IN RAIDS
* * * *
NINE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA WERE ARRESTED IN A SERItb CF RAIDS CARRIED OUT BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST TWO DAYS.
THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, COMPRISING SIX MEN AND THREE WOMEN, wERE AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 40.
THE OPERATION BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 24) WHEN A PARTY CF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS RAIDED A SCRAP PAPER BAILING FACTORY IN WESTERN DISTRICT AND ARRESTED THREE MALE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
IN FOLLOW-UP RAIDS, THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER SCRAP PAPER BAILING FACTORY IN THE SAME DISTRICT, A PREMISES IN CHOI WAN ESTATE IN KOWLOON AND A BUTCHER SHOP IN YUEN LONG AND ARRESTED THE OTHERS.
THREE OF THE NINE PERSONS ARRESTED WERE FOUND TO BE IN POSSESSION OF HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS RELATING TO OTHER PERSONS.
ALL NINE ARE BEING DETAINED FOR ENQUIRIES. THEIR EMPLOYERS AND SOME RELATIVES INVOLVED ARE ALSO BEING INVESTIGATED FOR SUSPECTED AIDING AND ABETTING OFFENCES.
-----0------
AO ....
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1935
20
I.D. CARD REMINDER FOR WOMEN
* K * *
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT 330 000 OLD IDENTITY CARDS BELONGING TO WOMEN BORN BETWEEN 1947 AND 1954 WILL CEASE TO BE LEGAL DOCUMENTS AS FROM MAY 5.
THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH BATCH OF OLD I.D. CARDS TO BE DECLARED INVALID SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE RE-ISSUE SCHEME.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT OVER 99-PER CENT OF THE WOMEN IN THESE AGE GROUPS HAD ALREADY OBTAINED NEW I.D. CARDS.
THOSE WOMEN WHO MISSED THEIR TURN HAD A LAST CHANCE TO APPLY NOW. HOWEVER, APPLICATION MUST BE MADE BEFORE THE INVALIDATION DATE, HE SAID.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR OLD I.D. CARDS AND CALL AT ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY.
HOLDERS OF OLD I.D. CARDS WILL SUFFER A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE AFTER THE INVALIDATION DATE. FOR INSTANCE, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A HONG KONG RE-ENTRY PERMIT WITH THEIR OLD I.D. CARDS AFTER THE INVALIDATION DATE.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW I.D. CARD WITHIN THE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN A GOVERNOR’S ORDER WAS AN OFFENCE. DEFAULTERS ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND A MAXIMUM FINE CF $3 000.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WOULD BE NO AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
♦ONCE DETECTED, THEY WILL BE REPATRIATED IMMEDIATELY,* HE SAID.
-----0------
FIREMEN REMINDED TO BE COURTEOUS, UNDERSTANDING * * * *
THE ACTING CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, REMINDED A GROUP OF NEWLY GRADUATED UNDERSTANDING, PARTICULARLY TO THOSE
MR KEN HODGKINS, TODAY (FRIDAY) FIREMEN TO BE COURTEOUS AND
IN DISTRESS.
+YOU ARE A SERVANT OF THE PUBLIC, A PUBLIC WHO LOOKS UP
10 YOU WHO TRUSTS YOU, AND CALLS UPON YOUR PROFESSIONAL AB IL TY IN TIMES OF NEED AND DISTRESS,+ MR HODGKINS SAID WHEN ADDRESSING A PASSING OUT PARADE OF THREE SQUADS OFF I REMEN AT THE Fl RE SERVICES PAT HEUNG TRAINING SCHOOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/+T0DAY IS .......
FEIDAY, APRIL 2b, 19&>
- 21 -
+TODAY IS ONLY THE ’REAL FIREMAN’S WORLD’, UNTIL THE DAY YOU LEAVE
START OF YOUR TRAINING IN THE AND YOUR TRAINING WILL CONTINUE THE SERVICE,* HE SAID.
LATER, MR HODGKINS FIREMAN LEE PING-KEE.
PRESENTED THE BEST RECRUIT AWARD TO
----0----
EVENING COURSES IN TECHNICAL TRAINING OFFERED
* * * *
THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES UNDER THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL ARE NOW INVITING APPLICATION FOR PART-TIME EVENING COURSES DUE TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
THE MORRISON HILL, KWAI CHUNG, KWUN TONG, HAKING WONG AND LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WILL OFFER 110 PART-TIME EVENING COURSES IN 13 DISCIPLINES IN THE 1985-86 ACADEMIC YEAR TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
THE COURSES OFFERED ARE MAINLY AT CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN LEVELS, PROVIDING ONE TO THREE YEARS COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WORKING IN THE INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL AND SERVICE SECTORS.
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND LECTURES ONE TO FOUR EVENINGS A WEEK.
THE 13 DISCIPLINES ARE: HOTEL-KEEPING AND TOURISM STUDIES, COMMERCIAL STUDIES, CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, NECHANICAL ENGINEERING, GENERAL STUDIES, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY, PRINTING, TEXTILE INDUSTRIES, CLOTHING INDUSTRIES, MARINE AND FABRICATION, DESIGN AND MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINEERING.
FOURTEEN NEW COURSES WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE COMING SESSION, WITH MOST OF THEM IN THE CONSTRUCTION DISCIPLINE AT CRAFT LEVEL.
NEW TECHNICIAN COURSES SUCH AS PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE IN ENGINEERING SURVEYING AND CERTIFICATE IN MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANCY WILL BE OFFERED AS WELL.
DETAILS OF THE PART-TIME EVENING COURSES WILL BE ADVERTISED IN TOMORROW’S (SATURDAY) PAPERS. APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND DISTRICT OFFICES DURING OFFICE HOURS.
CLOSING DATE OF APPLICATION IS MAY 11 (SATURDAY).
FORM 5 STUDENTS SITTING FOR THE 1985 H.K.C.E. EXAMINATION MAY ALSO APPLY.
-----0-----
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
NEW OFFICES FOR LICENSING SECTION
******
FOLLOWING THE REORGANISATION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, ITS LICENSING SECTION WILL BE SEPARATED INTO HONG KONG ISLAND AND KOWLOON REGIONS AS FROM WEDNESDAY (MAY
FROM THEN, ALL APPLICATIONS FOR LIQUOR, ENTERTAINMENT, AMUSEMENT AND GENERAL LICENCES IN KOWLOON REGION WILL BE HANDLED BY THE KOWLOON LICENSING SECTION AT ROOM 309, USD DEPOT, 148 SAI YEE STREET (3-948955 AND 3-956846), AND THOSE FOR ON HONG KONG ISLAND BY THE HONG KONG LICENSING SECTION, 3/F, TANG LUNG CHAU MARKET BUILDING, 59 JARDINE’S BAZAAR, CAUSEWAY BAY (5-7954194 AND 5-7954219).
A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE AIM WAS TO SPEED UP LICENSING PROCESSES.
HE ALSO REMINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES MUST HAVE A LICENCE ISSUED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL: BAKERY, COLD STORE, COMMERCIAL BATH HOUSE, FACTORY CANTEEN, FOOD FACTORY, FRESH PROVISION SHOP, FROZEN CONFECTION FACTORY, FUNERAL PARLOUR, GENERAL RESTAURANT, LIGHT REFRESHMENT RESTAURANT, MARINE RESTAURANT, MILK FACTORY, OFFENSIVE TRADES, SIU MEI AND LO MEI SHOP, SWIMMING POOL, UNDERTAKER AND TEMPORARY FOOD FACTORY.
+THE COUNCIL IS ALSO THE AUTHORITY FOR LIQUOR (INCLUDING CLUB LIQUOR LICENCE), PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT, PUBLIC BILLIARD SALOON, PUBLIC BOWLING ALLEY, PUBLIC TABLE TENNIS SALOON AND PUBLIC SKATING RINK LICENCES,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
PAMPHLETS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR VARIOUS LICENCES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TWO LICENSING SECTIONS.
- _ 0 - -
FUNDS OFFERED FOR CIVIC PROJECTS * * * *
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN EASTERN CAN NOW APPLY TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD FOR FUNDS TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
+THERE IS NO SET LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT TO BE GRANTED, ALTHOUGH APPLICATIONS WILL BE VETTED BY THE BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND THE AMOUNT, IF APPROVED, WILL DEPEND ON THE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
/+FOR iMTEHTAIHJffiNT,
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1985
- 23 -
+FOR ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND FESTIVE ACTIVITIES, HOPE ORGANISERS Vm ILL BEAR PART OF THE COSTS.
+THOSE WISHING TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO ORGANISE FUNCTIONS BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER, SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SECRETARIAT BEFORE MAY 20,+ HE SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AT 880-886 KING’S ROAD, THE CAUSEWAY BAY SUB-OFFICE AT 9-11 WING HING STREET, THE SHAU KEI WAN SUB-OFFICE AT 243 SHAU KEI WAN ROAD, AND THE CHAI WAN SUB-OFFICE AT BLOCK 2, HING WAH ESTATE.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING BY THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT IN JUNE.
-----0------
ORIENTATION SEMINAR FOR BOARD MEMBERS
* * * *
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL ATTEND A SEMINAR TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE SEMINAR WILL BEGIN AT 9 AM WITH A BRIEFING BY A CHINESE UNIVERSITY LECTURER, MR ANDREW WONG, WHO WILL SPEAK ON THE ROLE CF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY.
ANOTHER GUEST SPEAKER, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MISS MARIA TAM WILL TALK ABOUT THE ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS IN THE PRESENT POLITICAL SYSTEM.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A DISCUSSION SESSION ON EFFECTIVE MEETING TECHNIQUES.
THE SEMINAR IS THE SECOND OF A TWO-PART ORIENTATION PROGRAMME ARRANGED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO ACQUAINT THE NEW DISTRICT BOARD NEMBERS WITH THE BOARD’S MODE OF OPERATION.
-------0 - - - -
/24.......
FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1935 .
24
STUDENTS ATTEND SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING * * * *
ABOUT 100 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TODAY (FRIDAY) ATTENDED THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
THE VISIT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, AS PART OF A CIVIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE THE IYY THEME OF +PARTICI PAT ION, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE+.
THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD MOVED THE VENUE OF ITS MEETING TO THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL SO THAT IT WOULD ACCOMMODATE A LARGER AUDIENCE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IYY CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE SAID ABOUT 15 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT WERE INVITED TO SEND STUDENTS TO THE MEETING.
+THE COMMITTEE VALUES THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS AND MANY OF OUR ACTIVITIES ARE EITHER JOINTLY ORGANISED WITH SCHOOLS OR AIMED PARTICULARLY AT STUDENTS,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT IYY ACTIVITIES IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT AIMED AT PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
+APART FROM THE DB VISIT, A YOUTH TRAINING CAMP ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WAS ORGANISED IN MARCH AND THERE ARE PLANS TO PRODUCE A TEACHING KIT ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION LATER IN THE YEAR.+
+A SOCIAL SERVICE AWARD SCHEME AND A NUMBER OF OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE ALSO BEING LINED UP FOR YOUTHS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT,* HE ADDED.
-----0------
URBCO BACKS PERFORMING COMPANIES
* * * *
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE URBAN COUNCIL’S POLICY TO PROMOTE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMING COMPANIES IN HONG KONG, URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEK SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR CHEONG-LEEN WAS SPEAKING AT A RECEPTION GIVEN FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE COUNCIL IN HONOUR OF ITS FOUR PERFORMING COMPANIES — THE HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE, THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY AND THE HONG KONG CHORUS.
/Ha' NOTED......
WRIDAY, APRIL 1985
HE NOTED THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE PLANNING, EITHER JOINTLY OR INDIVIDUALLY, A NUMBER OF CULTURAL PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. THESE INCLUDE THE TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURAL CENTRE, CIVIC CENTRES IN THE URBAN AREA AND TWO TOWN HALLS IN SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN.
UPON COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS, THERE WILL BE MARKED IMPROVEMENT, IN TERMS OF BOTH QUALITY AND QUANTITY, IN THE PERFORMING VENUES FOR LOCAL CULTURAL GROUPS AND THE COUNCIL’S COMPANIES, TO THE BENEFIT OF THE AUDIENCE.
TURNING TO THE COUNCIL’S PERFORMING COMPANIES, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THEY HAVE ACHIEVED HIGH ARTISTIC STANDARDS AND ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY PRAISE FROM THE MEDIA AND CULTURAL CIRCLES, HE ADDED.
THE COMPANIES OWE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS NOT ONLY TO THEIR MEMBERS BUT ALSO TO THOSE WORKING BACKSTAGE, SUCH AS THE ADVISERS, COMPOSERS, CONDUCTORS, DIRECTORS, DESIGNERS, SCRIPT-WRITERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS, THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAIRMAN SAID.
HE APPEALED TO THE COMPANIES TO CONTINUE WITH THEIR GOOD WORK SO AS TO ENRICH HONG KONG’S CULTURAL LIFE.
-----0------
FRESH, SALT WATER WORKS
* * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN WAN CHAI WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (APRIL 29) FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY FENWICK STREET,JOHNSTON ROAD, FLEMING ROAD AND LOCKHART ROAD, INCLUDING HOUSE NOS. 1-31 AND 93-149 OF THOMSON ROAD AND 25-61 AND 183-211 OF JOHNSTON ROAD.
ON THE SAME DAY, SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN NORTH POINT AND CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE SUSPENDED BETWEEN 10 AM AND 3 PM ALSO FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES IN BRAEMAR nILL ROAD CLOUD VIE'.* POAD, TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD AND YUE KING RCaD, INCLUDING LAI TAK TSUEN.
- 0 ---------
FRIDAY, APRIL 2t. 198p
- 26 -
ROAD STILL CLOSED * * * *
SUNG CHI STREET AT ITS JUNCTION wI TH BAILEY STREET WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSED FOR ANOTHER TWO MONTHS FOR SEWER REPAIR WORKS.
MOTORISTS GOING TO SUNG CHI STREET SHOULD USE HOK YUEN STREET.
-----0-----
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, APRIL 2?, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE HO.
GOVT WORKING TO KEEP TERRITORY STABLE, PROSPEROUS............... 1
HIGHWAY LINK MARKS COMPLETION OF CORRIDOR PROJECT .............. 2
LATEST FIGURES ON ELECTOR REGISTRATION ......................... 3
PROGRAMME EDUCATES PUBLIC ON MENTAL HEALTH ..................... 4
SE.VERS FOR TREATMENT PLANT..................................... 5
ANOTHER COOKED-FOOD MARKET READY TO OPEN IN KTON TONG........ 5
SPONSORSHIP FOR YOUTH CONFERENCE ............................... 6
TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER.......................... 7
FAMILY DAY FOR TAI PO RESIDENTS ................................ 8
YIN NGAI SOCIETY TO HOLD INAUGURATION CEREMONY ................. 8
YOUTHS TO STAGE DANCE SHOW ..................................... 9
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ........................................... 9
SALT WARER CUT ................................................. 9
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 198
1
GOVT WORKING TO KEEP TERRITORY STABLE, PROSPEROUS ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS TO ASSURE THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY IN THE LEADUP TO THE RESUMPTION OF SOVEREIGNTY BY CHINA IN 1997, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, DESIGNATE, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID IN WASHINGTON YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD WORK TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE J7 THE TERRITORY AND TO ENSURE A WELL-REGULATED BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
+THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM IS TO RETAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF BOTH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG SO AS TO tNSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION TO CHINESE SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997 + HE SA ID. 9
ADDED THAT HE EXPECTED the basic structure of the future HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION TO BE IN PLACE BY 1994 OR 1995.
TURNING TO THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA WHICH WOULD RETURN HONG KONG TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC, MR AKERS-JONES oAlD: +RATIF I CAT I ON OF IT BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS MARKS THE SUCCESSFUL AND SENSIBLE SOLUTION OF A SEEMINGLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEM. THE RATIFICATION WILL MAKE 1985 A MOMtNTOUS YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG’S DEVELOPING RELATIONS a I TH CHINA WERE ONE OF THE REMARKABLE FEATURES OF RECENT YEARS. •LMOST TOTAL ISOLATION HAD GIVEN WAY TO COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT LINKS, AND MORE THAN TWENTY MILLION VISITORS FROM HONG KONG TRAVEL TO CHINA EACH YEAR.
LOOKING TO FUTURE LINKS, MR AKERS-JONES SAID: +HONG KONG Is WELL PLACED IN THE PACIFIC ON CHINA’S COAST, MIDWAY BETWEEN THc GREAT MARKETS OF THE WORLD AND WITH AN EXCELLENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY EXPANDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINKS WITH OTHER CHINESE CITIES.*
™IS PUT H0NG K0NG *ITHIN EASY REACH OF A THIRD OF THE WORLD S POPULATION IN CHINA AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, HE SAID.
--------o----------
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
2
HIGHWAY LINK MARKS COMPLETION OF CORRIDOR PROJECT *****
THE FINAL SECTION OF HIGHWAY WHICH WILL LINK SHAU KEI WAN WITH CHAI WAN AND MARK THE COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT THAT SHOULD GO AHEAD UNIMPEDED, AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (EASTERN), DR SIMON VICKERS, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
HE SAID THE PROJECT WAS IMPORTANT TO THE POPULATION OF CHAI WAN, AS THE RESIDENTS COULD NOT CONTINUE TO RELY SOLELY ON ONLY ONE PROPER ROAD ACCESS.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG SHAU KEI WAN MACHINERY TRADERS’ ASSOCIATION, HE SAID: +IN JULY, THIS YEAR, THE +SHAU KEI WAN BY-PASS+ SECTION AND A SECTION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR FROM HENG FA CHUEN TO CHAI WAN WILL BE COMPLETED.+
AT PRESENT, THE IEC STRETCHES FROM CAUSEWAY BAY TO TAI KOO SHING, BUT WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE SHAU KEI WAN BY-PASS, TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE DISTRICT WILL IMPROVE CONSIDERABLY.
+WE WILL HAVE AN ALMOST COMPLETE MAJOR HIGHWAY BUT WITH A MISSING SECTION THROUGH THE A KUNG NGAM HEADLAND,+ HE ADDED.
♦THE MISSING SECTION OF THE IEC HIGHWAY PASSES THROUGH THE A KUNG NGAM HEADLAND AND THE LYEMUN BARRACKS, WHICH MUST BE DEVELOPED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
♦THE IEC IS ONE OF THE MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE MAJOR TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT PROBLEMS, AND PROVIDE QUICK ACCESS TO IMPORTANT FACILITIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
♦ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME OBSTACLES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MISSING SECTION, IT IS HOPED THAT BY 1988, THE IEC TO CHAI WAN COULD BE OPENED,+ DR VICKERS SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE CO-OPERATION OF BOAT BUILDERS AND WORKSHOP OPERATORS IN THE A KUNG NGAM AREA WAS IMPORTANT SO THAT WORK COULD START ON TIME NEXT YEAR.
DR VICKERS SAID THAT ALTHOUGH ACTIVE AND USEFUL TRADES HAD PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, HEY OFTEN OCCUPIED LAND UNDER TEMPORARY LICENCES WHICH THEY MUST RETURN TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR PUBLIC USE.
♦THEY COULD, IF THEY WISH, FIND ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE TERRITORY TO CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS, SUCH AS IN TAI PO OR JSING Yl,+ DR VICKERS SAID.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
3
LATEST FIGURES ON ELECTOR REGISTRATION *****
LATEST STATISTICS ON REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ARE THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND AS FOLLOWS:
ESTIMATED SIZE OF ELECTORATE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
COMMERCIAL 1 2 650 179
COMMERCIAL II 6 000 883
INDUSTRIAL 1 800 125
INDUSTRIAL II 3 000 340
FINANCIAL 140 35
LABOUR 380 108
SOCIAL SERVICES 154 29
MEDICAL 4 300 511
LEGAL 2 185 248
TEACHING 52 340 ♦ 12 531
ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PLANNING 3 660 747
ELECTORAL COLLEGE 432 237
TOTAL 15 973
-----o------
/4........
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
- 4 -
PROGRAMME EDUCATES PUBLIC ON MENTAL HEALTH ******
THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION (COMPERE) IS IMPLEMENTING A PUBLICITY PROGRAMME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF RENTAL ILLNESS.
♦EFFORTS ARE BEING INTENSIFIED AT DISTRICT LEVEL AND IN LONG-TERM EDUCATION TO ENSURE THAT A POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH FESSAGE IS BROUGHT HOME TO VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE COMMUNITY,* A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS, TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMMES, FEATURE ARTICLES, PRESS INTERVIEWS, AND PRINTED MATERIALS ARE USED TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS.
TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS FEATURED THE TOPIC IN A NUMBER OF POPULAR PROGRAMMES.
IN ADDITION, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S HALF-WAY HOUSE SCHEME APPEARED IN THE DISTRICT NEWSPAPERS IN SHA TIN, TAI PO, TSUEN WAN, SHAM SHU I PO, MONG KOK, YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI, CENTRAL AND WESTERN, WAN CHAI, EASTERN, KOWLOON CITY AND KWUN TONG.
+WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MASS MEDIA, WE AIM TO IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING ON MATTERS CONCERNING MENTAL HEALTH,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SUCH EFFORTS ARE MAINTAINED SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD AND MORE READILY ACCEPTED,* HE ADDED.
TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ON MENTAL HEALTH, A WORKING GROUP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY COMPERE TO ARRANGE THE PRODUCTION CF A SERIES OF FACT SHEETS AND AN EXPLANATORY BOOKLET TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE REHABILITATION SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.
THE PUBLICITY PROGRAMME IS BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY SEMINARS, TALKS AND EXHIBITIONS HELD AT DISTRICT LEVEL. THE FIRST MAJOR EXHIBITION ON MENTAL HEALTH WAS HELD AT SHA TIN IN JANUARY AND TWO MORE ARE BEING HELD AT TUEN MUN AND TAI PO. A FURTHER DISPLAY IS BEING PLANNED FOR KWAI CHUNG IN MAY.
TWO OPEN FORUMS HAVE SO FAR BEEN HELD FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT. THE LATEST ONE WAS HELD AT VICTORIA PARK EARLIER THIS MONTH.
VISITS HAVE BEEN AND ARE BEING ARRANGED TO FAMILIARISE LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH HALF-WAY HOUSES. THERE WILL ALSO BE SHOWS OF A VIDEO FILM ABOUT THE SCHEME THREE TIMES A DAY IN MAY AT SHA KOK COMMUNITY HALL, LUNG HANG ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL AND SUN TIN WAI COMMUNITY HALL. THESE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY TALKS AND GROUP DISCUSSIONS.
------0 - - - -
/5......
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
5
SEWERS FOR TREATMENT PLANT *****
ABOUT 3 800 METRES OF SEWERS ARE TO BE CONSTRUCTED CONNECTING PAK KONG, SHA KOK MEI AND SAI KUNG TOWN TO A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT PLANNED FOR TUI MIN HOI.
THE PROJECT, PART OF THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAI KUNG AREA, WILL ALSO INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF RISING MAINS AND THREE PUMPING STATIONS AT PAK KONG, SAI KUNG TOWN AND TUI MIN HOI.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A SUBMARINE SEWER WHICH WILL CROSS SAI KUNG HOI FROM THE OLD PART OF SAI KUNG TOWN TO TUI MIN HOI.
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT, WORK OF WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START IN AUGUST THIS YEAR AND TAKE ABOUT 16 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-----o-----
ANOTHER COOKED-FOOD MARKET READY TO OPEN IN KWUN TONG * * *
THE LUNCH PROBLEMS OF WORKERS IN THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL AREA WILL BE EASED WITH THE OPENING OF ANOTHER URBAN COUNCIL COOKED-FOOD MARKET ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 1).
THE PURPOSE-BUILT COOKED-FOOD MARKET IS LOCATED AT TSUN YIP STREET AND IS THE SECOND TO BE OPENED IN THE DISTRICT THIS YEAR. THE FIRST ONE WAS THE KWUN TONG FERRY CONCOURSE COOKED-FOOD MARKET WHICH WENT INTO OPERATION IN JANUARY.
BUILT AT A COST OF $10.4 MILLION, THE TWO-STOREY COOKED-FOOD MARKET ACCOMMODATES 56 STALLS WITH A REST GARDEN ON THE ROOF-TOP.
THIS BRINGS TO FOUR THE NUMBER OF COOKED-FOOD MARKETS PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL IN KWUN TONG.
A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO RELIEVE WORKERS’ LUNCH PROBLEMS, THE COUNCIL HAD EARLIER ALLOCATED SITES AS COOKED-FOOD BAZAARS TO ENABLE LICENSED COOKED-FOOD HAWKERS TO CARRY OUT THEIR BUSINESS AND ISSUED LICENCES TO FOUR FAST FOOD VEHICLES TO OPERATE AT HOW MING LANE AND TSUN YIP LANE.
+WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE COOKED-FOOD MARKETS, MANY STALL-HOLDERS OPERATING AT THE COOKED-FOOD BAZAARS HAVE BEEN RESITED INTO THESE MARKETS WHICH PROVIDE A BETTER EATING ENVIRONMENT FOR CUSTOMERS,* SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
/+AT HtESOJT........
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
6
+AT PRESENT ONLY TWO COOKED-FOOD BAZAARS ARE STILL IN OPERATION IN KWUN TONG AND THE LICENCES OF ALL FOUR FAST FOOD VEHICLES WILL BE CANCELLED WHEN THE TSUN YIP COOKED-FOOD MARKET COMES INTO OPERATION NEXT MONTH.
+HOWEVER, THE LICENSEES OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN INVITED TO CONTINUE THEIR BUSINESS IN THE NEW COOKED-FOOD MARKET,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
IN ADDITION TO THE COOKED-FOOD MARKETS AND THE BAZAARS, THERE ARE SOME 80 LICENSED FACTORY CANTEENS, FIVE LICENSED RESTAURANTS AND ONE LICENSED FOOD FACTORY IN KWUN TONG.
+IN VIEW OF THE INCREASE IN PROPER EATING FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, STAFF OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP OPERATIONS AGAINST UNLICENSED COOKED-FOOD HAWKERS IN KWUN TONG,+ ADDED THE SPOKESMAN.
- - 0------------
SPONSORSHIP FOR YOUTH CONFERENCE
*****
A COMMERCIAL ORGANISATION TODAY (SATURDAY) MADE A DONATION TO THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTu YEAR (CCCIYY) TO SUPPORT THE CONFERENCE ON +YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE* TO BE HELD EARLY NEXT WEEK.
DURING A BRIEF CEREMONY, MRS SELINA CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE CCCIYY WAS PRESENTED WITH A $100 000 CHEQUE BY DR PHILIP KWOK, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WING ON (HOLDINGS) LTD.
THE CONFERENCE, ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE CCCIYY TO CELEBRATE THE YOUTH YEAR, WILL BE HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY CF HONG KONG BETWEEN APRIL 29 AND MAY 1.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CCCIYY, MRS SELINA CHOW, AND VICE-CHAIRMAN CF THE CCCIYY, SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION MR DONALD LIAO, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
OVER 100 POLICY MAKERS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, YOUTH ORGANISATIONS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WILL GET TOGETHER TO ASSESS THE EXISTING YOUTH POLICIES AND PROVISION.
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE THREE MAIN AREAS, NAMELY, -OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH+, +YOUTH AND ENVIRONMENT*, AND +YOUTH GUIDANCE AND SERVICES*.
THE CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE CONFERENCE WILL BE COMPILED INTO A PRELIMINARY REPORT AND PASSED ONTO THE SECOND STAGE OF THE CONFERENCE TO BE DISCUSSED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM YOUTH ORGANISATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN JULY.
0 --------
/7
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1935
7
TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE TO OPEN IN OCTOBER * * * * *
BOOKING FOR THE TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE, WHICH WILL BECOME THE FOCUS OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT WHEN IT OPENS IN OCTOBER, WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM NEXT MONTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
ADVANCE BOOKING APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CIVIC CENTRE OFFICE IN TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL BUT THE EARLIEST PUBLIC BOOKING DATE WILL BE IN OCTOBER.
THE CENTRE IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF ON CHEONG ROAD AND ON PONG ROAD AND CLOSE TO THE TAI PO GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL. IT IS WELL SERVED BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
THE CENTRE COMPRISES AN AUDITORIUM WITH 880 SEATS AND A REHEARSAL ROOM.
THE AIR-CONDITIONED AUDITORIUM HAS A 300-SQUARE METRE STAGE WHICH CAN SEAT UP TO 80 MUSICIANS AND 100 SINGERS ON ITS CHOIR PLATFORM. IT IS SUITABLE FOR STAGING A WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CHINESE OPERA, PLAYS, VARIETY SHOWS, ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS AND CEREMONIAL FUNCTIONS.
THE REHEARSAL ROOM HAS AN AREA OF 120 SQUARE METRES. EQUIPPED WITH FULL-LENGTH WALL-MOUNTED MIRRORS, PRACTICE BARS AND SPRUNG FLOORING, IT IS CONSIDERED IDEAL FOR THE PURPOSE OF DANCE TRAINING AND PRACTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE USED AS A VENUE FOR MEETINGS AND SEMINARS.
A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONING PROGRAMMES WILL BE STAGED AT THE CENTRE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER PRIOR TO ITS OFFICIAL OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 28.
+THE CENTRE WILL BE MANAGED BY THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH A VIEW TO ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE DEPARTMENT HAS PLANS TO STAGE CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES AT THE CIVIC CENTRE ON A REGULAR BASIS.*
THE BASIC HIRING CHARGE OF THE AUDITORIUM FOR A PERFORMANCE NOT EXCEEDING FOUR HOURS IS $2 500 WHILE THE REHEARSAL ROOM IS CHARGED AT AN HOURLY RATE OF $60, THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF HIRE BEING TWO HOURS.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS MAY HIRE THE FACILITIES AT REDUCED RATES.
ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CIVIC CENTRES OFFICE (0-4937463) IN THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL OF RSD.
-----o------
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
- 8 -
FAMILY DAY FOR TAI PO RESIDENTS * * *
A FAMILY DAY AND A MENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION WILL BE ORGANISED FOR TAI PO RESIDENTS TOMORROW (SUNDAY) ON THE PODIUM OF KWONG FUK ESTATE’S COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.
THE EVENT, STARTING FROM 2 PM AND LASTING UNTIL 6 PM, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THREE VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.
IT AIMS TO PROMOTE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND TO AROUSE RESIDENTS’ AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUDING HALF-WAY HOUSES.
THERE WILL BE AN OPENING CEREMONY, TO BE JOINTLY PERFORMED BY TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, HONG KONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, HONG KONG MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
THE MENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION WILL MOVE TO THE KWONG FUK COMMUNITY HALL ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.
-----0------
YIN NGAI SOCIETY TO HOLD INAUGURATION CEREMONY X X X X
THE YAU MA TEI YIN NGAI SOCIETY (NORTH AND SOUTH) WILL ITS INAUGURATION CEREMONY TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE H^NRY COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 2.30 PM.
HOLD LEONG
IN THE PAST YEAR, activities LIKE PICNICS CHILDREN’S COMPETITIONS
the society had organised a series of , VISITS TO the elderly, cooking and FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
officiating the ceremony will be the assistant district OFFICER, MISS SUSAN LOK, YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN MR YIP WAH AND THE DISTRICT’S POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICER, MR NG CHUN-FAI.
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/9........
- 9 -
SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1985
A
YOUTHS TO STAGE DANCE SHOW * * * *
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT’S ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AND THE SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE WILL STAGE A CHORAL AND DANCE PERFORMANCt NEXT MONTH TO MARK THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR.
THE VARIETY SHOW, SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD, WILL BE HELD AT THE SCHOOL HALL OF THE SKH CHI NAM PRIMARY SCHOOL IN CHI FU FA YUEN AT 2.30 PM ON MAY 11 (SATURDAY).
IT WILL FEATURE SINGING, DANCING AND INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCES BY THE HONG KONG CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND A NUMBER OF STUDENT GROUPS FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
FREE TICKETS ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, ARE AVAILABL AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE ABERDEEN KAIFONG ASSOCIATION’ COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRE, THE TOLL COLLECTION BOOTH OF THE CHI FU FA YUEN VISITORS’ CARPARK AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AT LEI CHAK HOUSE, AP LEI CHAU ESTATE.
r«i
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS MM*
ALL PARKING SPACES ON TSUEN KWAI STREET IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 30) FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
MEANWHILE, YEE SHUN STREET BETWEEN CHAI WAN ROAD AND YEE FUNG STREET WILL BE REROUTED FROM ONE-WAY TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FROM 10.30 AM ON TUESDAY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
SALT WATER CUT M M M
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS ON TUESDAY
KOWLOON AND CHAI WAN a ILL (APRIL 33) FOR MAINS WOK.;.
HUNG HOM, TO KwA wAN
IN KOWLOON SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN KOWLOON CITY LOK FU, FUNG WONG VILLAGE, TSZ WAN SHAN, KAI TAis, KOWLOON TONG* HAMMER HILL, DIAMOND HILL, WANG TAU^HOM, TUNG TAU TSUEN AND WONG TAI SIN WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR A8 HOURS FRO- 13 AM.
IN CHAI WAN, SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES WILL BE STOPPED BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 3.30 PM.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DIRECTOR OF LANDS RETURNS FROM PEKING ....................... 1
832M PAID OUT IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASES ..................... 1
UC FURTHER CONSULTS DISTRICT BOARDS ON URBAN PROJECTS .......
ACTION TAKEN AGAINST PARKING SPACE MISUSE.................... 4
REPORT ON ENERGY STATISTICS OUT ............................. 6
REMINDER ON REFLECTIVE PLATES ............................... 7
WARNING AGAINST MUDDY WHEELS ................................ 7
PICNIC TREAT FOR SCHEME WINNERS ............................. 8
OPENING HOURS OF BOWLING GREENS TO BE EXTENDED............... 8
PLAYGROUND KIOSK OFFERED .................................... 9
KING'S ROAD TO GET FIVE MORE FOOTBRIDGES..................... 9
ROAD WORKS TO LAST FOUR MONTHS .............................. 1°
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS LIFTED........................... 1°
TAPS OFF IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT ............................... 1°
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
1
DIRECTOR OF LANDS RETURNS FROM PEKING X * X
THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, MR JOHN TODD, RETURNED TO HONG KONG TODAY (APRIL 28) AFTER A THREE-DAY VISIT TO PEKING.
WHILE IN PEKING MR TODD HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH CHINESE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON PREPARATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ARRANGEMENTS IN ANNEX III TO THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION. THE ANNEX, WHICH CONCERNS LAND LEASES IN HONG KONG, WILL COME INTO EFFECT UPON RATIFICATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
MR TODD SAID HIS DISCUSSIONS IN PEKING WERE +PURELY TECHNICAL* AND WERE CONCERNED MAINLY WITH ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE EXTENSION OF A NUMBER OF NON-RENEWABLE LEASES WHICH ARE DUE TO EXPIRE TOWARDS THE END OF JUNE.
HE SAID THAT THE DISCUSSIONS WERE ENTIRELY SATISFACTORY.
-------o----------
S32M PAID OUT IN TRAFFIC * * *
ACCIDENT CASES
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT ABOUT $32 MILLION TO HELP TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS LAST YEAR.
THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME (TAVA) ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT DURING THE YEAR, 5916 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED AS AGAINST 6 607 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+THE DECREASE MAY BE DUE TO THE DROP IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASUALTIES REPORTED BY THE POLICE,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RATE OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS REMAINED AS HIGH AS 90 PER CENT IN THE YEAR.
REFERRING TO THREE BUS ACCIDENTS WHICH OCCURRED AT SHA TIN AND ON LANTAU ISLAND IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID STAFF OF THE TAVA SECTION VISITED THE INJURED IN HOSPITAL SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENTS TO HELP THEM GET CASH ASSISTANCE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
/THS NO-/AULT .......
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
2
THE NO-FAULT SCHEME IS NOT MEANS-TESTED. EE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
APPLICATIONS MUST THE ACCIDENT, WHICH
ANY PERSON INJURED ASSISTANCE IF HE OBTAINS
DOCTOR.
N A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IS ELIGIBLE FOR THREE DAYS SICK LEAVE FROM A REGISTERED
UNDER THE SCHEME. THE MAXIMUM LEVEL FOR DEATH GRANT INVOLVING THE LOSS OF THE SOLE WAGE-EARNER IS $38 500 AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR INJURY GRANT IS $660 FOR THREE DAYS OF SICK LEAVE.
ENQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE SWD S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION, ON THE FIRST FLOOR, VICTORIA CENTRE, 15 WATSON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, OR BY CALLING
5-7023A2.
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UC FURTHER CONSULTS .DISTRICT BOARDS ON URBAN PROJECTS
X X X X
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY START ANOTHER ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS WITH ALL 10 URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE URBAN COUNCIL’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
STARTING FROM THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD ON THURSDAY (MAY 2), SENIOR OFFICERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONSULT EACH DISTRICT BOARD ON THE PROPOSED PRIORITIES TO BE GIVEN TO PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICTS.
+THIS CONSULTATION EXERCISE, FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1983, IS AIMED AT FOSTERING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BY DB MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S WORK AND SERVICES, + SAID A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN.
+ IT WILL ALSO GIVE THE COUNCIL AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT A BETTER IDEA OF THE NEEDS AND PRIORITIES FOR UC FACILITIES AS THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS NOW SEE THEM.+
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE WORKS PROGRAMME FOR EACH DISTRICT, PROJECTS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES.
/THOSE ALREADY .......
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
THOSE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR BEING TENDERED FOR ARE CLASSIFIED AS +COMMITTED+. THE SECOND CATEGORY IS ♦READY-*- SINCE THE PROJECT LAYOUT PLANS AND COST ESTIMATES HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL AND DETAILED WORKING DRAWINGS AND TENDER DOCUMENTS ARE UNDER PREPARATION.
FARTHER DOWN THE LIST ARE PROJECTS UNDER + ADVANCED PLANNING-*- FOR WHICH LAYOUT PLANS ARE UNDER PREPARATION. FINALLY, UNDER THE +PRELI MI N ARY PLANNING-*- CATEGORY ARE PROJECTS THE SCOPE OF WHICH IS UNDER CONSIDERATION, SITE DETAILS ARE BEING ASCERTAINED OR THE SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION IS UNDER PREPARATION.
EXCEPT FOR THE +READY+ PROJECTS, EACH ITEM IS TENTATIVELY GIVEN A + HIGH+, +MEDIUM+ OR + LOW+ PRIORITY.
♦THE DEPARTMENT’S PLANNERS HAVE PAINSTAKINGLY APPRAISED THESE PROJECTS BEFORE GIVING THEM A PRIORITY RATING RELATIVE TO OTHER PROJECTS IN THE SAME CATEGORY,-*- SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
♦ HOWEVER, IF MEMBERS OF A PARTICULAR DISTRICT BOARD ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOUR OF ONE PROJECT IN THEIR DISTRICT BEING STARTED BEFORE ANOTHER WHICH HAS REACHED THE SAME STAGE OF PLANNING, WE WILL WHEREVER POSSIBLE MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR WISHES.
♦BUT IT MUST BE NOTED THAT, TO TAKE AN EXTREME EXAMPLE, A HIGH-PRIORITY PROJECT WHICH IS ONLY IN A PRELIMINARY STAGE OF PLANNING COULD NOT SUDDENLY BE PUSHED FORWARD FOR IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE A LONG LEAD TIME IS NORMALLY REQUIRED BY EACH PROJECT.
♦THE AMOUNT OF LEAD TIME REQUIRED DEPENDS ON THE TYPE AND SCALE OF THE PROJECT WHICH HAD TO BE TAKEN FROM THE PRELIMINARY STAGE OF DRAWING UP THE SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THEN THE PREPARATION OF LAYOUT PLANS, COST ESTIMATES, DETAILED WORKING DRAWINGS AND TENDER DOCUMENTS, TO THE GAZETTING AND LETTING OF CONTRACTS, AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH TO THE STAGE WHERE CONSTRUCTION WORK ACTUALLY STARTS ON SI TE.+
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR A LIST OF MINOR WORKS PROJECTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR STARTING DATES, IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE DISTRICT WORKS PROGRAMME IN ORDER’TO GIVE BOARD MEMBERS A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF UC DEVELOPMENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
BUT NO CONSULTATION ON THEIR PRIORITY IS REQUIRED SINCE THEIR LOW COST AND RELATIVELY SHORT PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION TIME RENDER THE ALLOCATION OF PRIORITIES UNNECESSARY.
/AFTER THE
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
AFTER THE VIEWS OF ALL TEN DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE BEEN SOUGHT, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL ANALYSE THEM CAREFULLY TO PRODUCE A DRAFT FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME TAKING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA INTO CONSIDERATION:
+ SITE AVAILABILITY
+ DEVELOPMENT CONSTRAINT
+ EXISTING LEVEL OF PROVISION OF THE TYPE OF
FACILITY IN THE DISTRICT AND
+ VIEWS PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED BY URBAN
COUNCILLORS, DB MEMBERS AND OTHER INTERESTED BODI ES.
THE DRAFT CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME WILL THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. SUBJECT TO THE COUNCIL’S RATIFICATION, THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE INFORMED OF THE FINALISED DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THEIR DI STRI CTS.
+ THIS CONSULTATIVE PROCESS WITH DISTRICT BOARDS HAS BEEN WORKING VERY WELL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF COUNCIL PROJECTS IN URBAN AREAS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THROUGH COMMENTS AND OTHER FEEDBACK FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS, WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS ABOUT THE NEEDS OF SPECIFIC DISTRICTS AND THE TYPES OF FACILITIES BEST SUITED FOR DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, WE BELIEVE THE PROCESS WILL ALSO DRIVE HOME TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS THE CONSTRAINTS AND COMPLICATIONS INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VERY WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY, SPORTS, CULTURAL AND OTHER PROJECTS INVOLVED,* HE ADDED.
-----0------
ACTION TAKEN AGAINST PARKING SPACE MISUSE
******
A TOTAL OF 255 CASES OF CARPARKING SPACES MISUSED FOR INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND STORAGE PURPOSES WAS DETECTED LAST YEAR WITH ACTION TAKEN BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT’S LAND CONTROL STAFF.
IN MOST CASES, SUCH A BREACH IN LEASE CONDITIONS WAS SATISFACTORILY RECTIFIED AFTER WARNINGS ISSUED TO THE REGISTERED Owner of the premises.
/irobaicNG to........
SUNDAY, APHID 28, 1?85
- 5 -
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT ON LAND CONTROL, 1984 WAS A YEAR OF CONSOLIDATION AS FAR AS LEASE ENFORCEMENT WORK WAS CONCERNED WITH MOST DISTRICTS REPORTING A GATHERING MOMENTUM OF WORK DONE.
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IN APRIL 1982, EACH OF THE FOUR URBAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES AND EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES HAS SET UP ITS OWN LEASE ENFORCEMENT TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING ACTION AGAINST BREACHES CF CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN A LEASE.
THERE ARE A VARIETY OF BREACHES BUT MOST ARE BREACHES OF THE USER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS OPERATION OF INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS I; RESIDENTIAL OR NON-1NDUSTRI AL BUILDINGS, MISUSE OF CARPARKING SPACES IN INDUSTRIAL OR RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS AND VILLAGE-TYPE RESIDENTIAL HOUSES.
LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION IS NECESSARY TO ELIMINATE NUISANCE, HAZARDS, CONGESTION OF ACCESS ROADS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY SUCH BREACHES.
LESSEES ARE ADVISED TO PURGE THE BREACHES, FAILING WHICH ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN INCLUDING THE RE-ENTRY OF THE PROPERTY TO THE CROWN OR VESTING OF THE RELEVANT INTEREST Or A PROPERTY IN THE COLONIAL TREASURER INCORPORATED.
UPON RE-ENTRY OR VESTING, THE LANDOWNER LOSES ALL HIS RIGHTS AND INTEREST ON THE PROPERTY. HOWEVER, HE MAY, WITHIN SIX MONTHS CF RE-ENTRY OR VESTING, PETITION THE GOVERNOR OR APPLY TO THE HIGH COURT FOR RELIEF AGAINST THE ACTION TAKEN.
BUT THIS WILL ONLY BE GRANTED PROVIDED THE LANDOWNER RECTIFIES THE BREACH, PAYS THE OUTSTANDING CROWN DUES AND A PENALTY AND MEETS ANY OTHER TERMS REQUIRED OF HIM.
LAND CONTROL STAFF OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE INSPECTION OF ALL NEWLY-COMPLETED BUILDINGS TO CHECK FOR BREACHES. POSTERS ARE DISPLAYED IN THESE BUILDINGS AND OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO OBSERVE AND COMPLY WITH LEASE CONDITIONS.
DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ALSO TAKE ACTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS AND UNAUTHORISED USES OF CARPORTS IN A NUMBER OF HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL AREAS. RESULT IN THESE CASES HAS BEEN SATISFACTORY AS MOST OWNERS RECTIFY THE BREACHES AFTER THEY RECEIVE WARNING LETTERS.
DURING THE YEAR, A TOTAL OF 4 873 CASES WERE DEALT WITH -1 915 CASES BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND 2 95o DETECTED AND/OR REPORTED WITHIN THE YEAR.
/OF TH£S£ .......
SuNIu APRIL 28, 1985
6 -
OF THESE CASES. LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS TAKEN AND COMPLETED IN 923 CASES, OF WHICH 857 BREACHES (ALMOST 93 PER CENT) WERE RECTIFIED BY THE OWNERS AFTER WARNING.
IN 31 CASES, ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WERE DEMOLISHED BY LANDS DEPARTMENT CONTRACTORS WHILE 54 PRIVATE PROPERTIES WERE RE-ENTERED AND/OR VESTED. ANOTHER 1 157 CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ACTION UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, EMPHASIS WOULD BE PLACED ON NEW BUILDINGS ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE NEW TOWNS AS LEASE ENFORCEMENT WORK CONTINUED TO PREVENT THE UNAUTHORISED USE OF PRIVATE LAND AND BUILDINGS.
-----0------
REPORT ON ENERGY STATISTICS OUT
K X X X * X
A STATISTICAL REPORT ENTITLED +HONG KONG ENERGY STATISTICS, 1974-1934+ HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE REPORT HAD BEEN PREPARED IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY SUPPLIES TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMY AND IN RESPONSE TO THE INTEREST EXPRESSED BOTH WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND AMONG THE PUBLIC ON ENERGY STATISTICS.
THE REPORT CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE PRICES, STORAGE CAPACITY, IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS OF OIL PRODUCTS? THE CONSUMPTION, PRODUCTION .AND TARIFF CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS AND STATISTICS ON THE IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS OF COAL AND CHARCOAL.
ANNUAL DATA FOR MOST OF THESE STATISTICS FROM 1974 TO 1984 ARE INCLUDED, WHILE QUARTERLY FIGURES FOR THE MOST RECENT TWO YEARS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SOME OF THE DATA.
ENERGY STATISTICS PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE, SUCH AS FUEL IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS, ARE ALSO PRESENTED IN THE REPORT.
THE REPORT IS NOW ON SALE AT $7 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER AT 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
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/7........
SUNDA APRIL 28, 1985
- 7 -
REMINDER ON REFLECTIVE PLATES * * * *
PUBLICITY POSTERS ARE BEING PUT UP TO REMIND VEHICLE OWNERS TO FIT REFLECTIVE NUMBER PLATES TO THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE JUNE 1, 1985.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS, ALL VEHICLES MUST BE FITTED WITH A FRONT WHITE REFLECTIVE PLATE AND A REAR YELLOW REFLECTIVE PLATE BY THAT DAY.
+CAR OWNERS SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR REFLECTIVE NUMBER PLATES ARE OF AN APPROVED TYPE, WHICH BEARS THE SPECIFICATION NUMBER BSAU 145 (A) AND THE NAME OR TRADEMARK OF THE MANUFACTURER. THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-259494 WHEN IN DOUBT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT IS A FINE OF $2 OOO.+
-----0------
WARNING AGAINST MUDDY WHEELS * * * *
LORRY DRIVERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE TODAY REMINDED CF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO WASH THE WHEELS OF THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE LEAVING CONSTRUCTION SITES SO AS TO AVOID CARRYING ANY MUD ONTO PUBLIC STREETS.
THE REMINDER CAME FROM THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AFTER A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WAS FINED $750 IN THE TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY FOR THE OFFENCE.
THE OFFENCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 AND SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RSD POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC CLEANSING AND PREVENTION OF NUISANCES (NEW TERRITORIES) REGULATIONS, IF THE DRIVER OF THE OFFENDING VEHICLES WAS NOT CAUGHT AT THE SITE, THE REGISTERED OWNER OR HIRER OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OFFENCE.
DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, HE SAID, 96 PEOPLE WERE CONVICTED OF THE OFFENCE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES RESULTING IN A TOTAL FINE OF $43 350.
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/8........
Sl >9A :.?IL 28, 1985
- 8 -
PICNIC TREAT FOR SCHEME WINNERS X * K *
1984/85 CLEAN AND TODAY (SUNDAY) AT
TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY WINNERS OF THE GREEN SCHEME WERE TREATED TO A FREE PICNIC CHEUNG SHEUNG IN SAI KUNG.
THESE WINNERS WERE DRAWN FROM AMONG 732 PARTIC IWHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED STAGE I AND STAGE I I OF THE SCHEME AT A LUCKY DRAW LAST WEEK.
THE DAY’S PROGRAMME INCLUDED A WALK FROM HOI HA TO CHEUNG SHEUNG, A PICNIC LUNCH AND ORGANISED GAMES THAT WERE SPECIALLY DESIGNED ROUND THE THEME OF COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION.
STAGE I OF THE SCHEME INVOLVED LITTER-PICKING IN 12 DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS BETWEEN DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND FEBRUARY THIS YEAR.
DURING THE SECOND STAGE, EACH PARTICIPANT WAS REQUIRED TO PLANT A TREE IN ONE OF THE SIX DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS DURING TH_ EASTER HOLIDAYS OR ON THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY.
THE WINNERS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY MEMBERS OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN SCHEME WORKING GROUP AT TODAY’S PICNIC.
-----o-----
OPENING HOURS OF BOWLING GREENS TO BE EXTENDED
KXX
TO PROMOTE THE USAGE OF THE TWO BOWLING GREENS AT VICTORIA PARK, THE URBAN COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO EXTEND THEIR OPENING HOURS AS FROM WEDNESDAY (MAY 1).
THE GREENS WILL NOW BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC FROM 12 NOON TO DUSK ON WEEKDAYS, EXCEPT FOR THURSDAY WHEN THE GREENS WILL BE CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE. AT PRESENT THE TWO GREENS ARE OPENED BETWEEN 4.30 P.M. AND DUSK.
THE OPENING HOURS ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED, I.E. FROM 8 A.M. TO DUSK.
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/9
SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 1985
- 9 -
PLAYGROUND KIOSK OFFERED
*****
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE OPERATION OF A REFRESHMENT KIOSK AT THE HING FONG ROAD PLAYGROUND IN KWAI CHUNG.
THE HING FONG ROAD PLAYGROUND IS A MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL VENUE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTH KWAI CHUNG AND THE NEARBY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SA ID.
FACILITIES AT THE PLAYGROUND INCLUDE TWO HARD-SURFACED MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND A SMALL LANDSCAPED REST GARDEN.
THE THREE-YEAR CONTRACT STARTS FROM AUGUST 1.
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE RSD ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 166-174 HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG.
THEY MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX LOCATED AT THE RSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE (AUSTIN CENTRE), 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE BEFORE 9 AM ON MAY 31.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE TENDERS CAN BE MADE AT THE KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE RSD ON TELEPHONE 0-210266.
-----o------
KING’S ROAD TO GET FIVE MORE FOOTBRIDGES
* * *
FIVE FOOTBRIDGES ARE TO BE BUILT ALONG KING’S ROAD IN NORTH POINT AND QUARRY BAY.
THEY WILL SPAN KING’S ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH NORTH POINT ROAD, TIN CHIU STREET, JAVA ROAD, PAN HOI STREET AND MOUNT PARKER ROAD.
THESE FOOTBRIDGES ARE PART OF THE NINE TO BE BUILT IN THESE WO AREAS.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN JULY AND TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT.
THE DEADLINE IS NOON ON FRIDAY, MAY 24. LATE TENDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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/10 .....
SU AY, APRIL 28, 1985
ROAD WORKS TO LAST FOUR MONTHS * * * *
I KOK ROAD AND CHEUNG YEE (MAY 1) FOR FOUR MONTHS TO
CHEUNG LAI STREET BETWEEN LAI CH STREET WILL BE CLOSED FROM WEDNESDAY FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
niioiNc TMF ri OSURE KMB ROUTES 52 AND 60 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LAI CHI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG MOU STREET, CHEUNG SHUN STREET AND CHEUNG LAI STREET ON THEIR KOWLOON BOUND JOURNEYS.
MOTORISTS ON EASTBOUND LAI CHI KOK ROAD HEADING FOR CHEUNG LAI STREET WILL BE DIVERTED TO USE EITHER CHEUNG MOU STREET OR TAI NAN WEST STREET.
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS LIFTED
*****
FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 1), THE URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS ON THE WESTERN CARRIAGEWAY OF REDDER STREET BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAMc JUNCTION WILL BE LIFTED, FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF ROAD WORKS.
- - 0 -
TAPS OFF IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT *****
CRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 1) FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES IN BLACK’S LINK, 137-141 'WONG NAI CHUNG GA? ROAD. 1-3 REPULSE BAY ROAD AND 3 AND 2A-8 DEEP ..ATER AY RO D.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
HK'S ATTRACTIONS OUTLINED IN NEW YORK........................... 1
SIR EDWARD MEETS JIANGSU GOVERNOR .............................. 3
YOUTHS ROLE IN 'NEW CHALLENGE' STRESSED ........................ 4
BANK GOVERNORS MEET ............................................ 5
APPLICATIONS FOR ELECTOR REGISTRATION .......................... 6
SURVEYS ® BUILDING AND CONSTRUCT!® ............................. 7
CONTRACT FOR TUEN MUN MAGISTRACY SIGNED ........................ 8
JURY LIST TO BE POSTED ......................................... 9
BOARD MEMBERS SEE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ................... 9
PRIZES FOR PHOTO C®T3ST WINNERS ............................... 10
TENDERS INVITED TO RUN VELODROME, KIOSK ...................... 10
WATER STORAGE FIGURES ......................................... 11
WATER CUT...................................................... 11
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1985
HK’S ATTRACTIONS OUTLINED IN NEW YORK * * * * *
HONG KONG OFFERED SERIOUS ATTRACTIONS FOR ANYONE WITH AN INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPING STRENGTH AND IMPORTANCE OF THE PACIFIC REGION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, DESIGNATE, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID IN NEW YORK TODAY.
MR AKERS-JONES, WHO IS IN THE COURSE OF VISITS TO HONG KONG’S OVERSEAS OFFICES, WAS ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ASIA SOCIETY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS WITHIN EASY REACH OF ABOUT A THIRD OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION, HAD A STABLE ENVIRONMENT AND A FUTURE ASSURED BY AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED AGREEMENT.
♦AS A RESULT OF THE AGREEMENT, HONG KONG ITSELF IS NO LONGER GROPING IN THE DARK, UNCERTAIN OF ITS FUTURE, LIVING FROM DAY TO DAY, EARNING ITSELF THE CAPTION ’BORROWED PLACE, BORROWED TIME’,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
THE TASK BEFORE HONG KONG, HE SAID, WAS TO EQUIP ITSELF IN EVERY SPHERE OF ACTIVITY BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 SO AS FAITHFULLY AND SINCERELY TO IMPLEMENT THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND ITS EXTREMELY DETAILED PROVISIONS, AND TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM ITS PRESENT STATUS INTO THAT OF A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND TO SECURE THE LIVELIHOOD OF ITS PEOPLE, HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THERE ARE 12 YEARS TO ACHIEVE THIS, MR AKERS-JONES SA IDs
♦THIS IS THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG.
+1 AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FRIENDS, THIS REMARKABLE AND UNIQUE ENTERPRISE WILL SUCCEED AND WILL BE AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.*
HE SAID THAT AS EARLY AS 1983, HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS HAD BEGUN THEIR OWN ROAD TO RECOVERY IN RESPONSE TO DEMAND IN OVERSEAS MARKETS, BY A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN PRODUCTION AND EXPORTS, UNDAUNTED BY THE 1982 WORLD RECESSION AND THE INITIAL NERVOUSNESS OF INVESTORS OVER THE NEGOTIATIONS ON ITS FUTURE.
THE STABLE EXCHANGE RATE ACHIEVED BY LINKING THE HONG KONG DOLLAR TO THE UNITED STATES DOLLAR IN THE AUTUMN OF THAT YEAR ALSO ASSISTED IN THE DRAMATIC RECOVERY OF THE ECONOMY, HE SAID.
♦AND AS WE MOVED TOWARDS THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGREEMENT IN 1984, NEW INVESTMENT IN PLANT AND MACHINERY AND IMPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS GREW BY OVER 20 PER CENT.
/+H0NG KONG........
ML. . APRIL 29, 1985 •
2
+HONG KONG HAS THEREFORE GOT OVER AN UNDERSTANDABLE BOUT OF NERVOUSNESS AND IS REQUIPPING FOR FUTURE GROWTH,* HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THE ENVIRONMENT AGAINST WHICH BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS AND INVESTMENT ARE MADE WAS ALSO BEING MODIFIED, IE SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS ONCE AGAIN TAKING THE LEAD.
+ IN A FEW MONTHS AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE WILL EE ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG WHICH WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE PACIFIC REGION.
+RECENT LEGISLATION HAS ALSO LED TO AN EXPANSION OF THE INSURANCE AND RE-INSURANCE INDUSTRY BECAUSE OF THIS RELIABLE ENVIRONMENT, AND WELL OVER HALF OF THE 282 INSURANCE COMPANIES OPERATING IN HONG KONG ARE FROM OVERSEAS,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
PLANS FOR INVESTMENT IN THE PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT HOUSING AND OTHER SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES, TO PROVIDE LAND FOR NEW INDUSTRIES, TO DEVELOP THE PORT AND AIRPORT WERE COMPREHENSIVE AND WERE BEING +PURSUED WITH DETERMINATION, VIGOUR AND INTENSITY OF EFFORT*.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AN EXTENSION OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY SYSTEM WOULD BE COMPLETED IN A FEW WEEKS’ TIME, A SECOND CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WAS PLANNED FOR COMPLETION BEFORE THE END OF THE DECADE, AND WORK WAS EXPECTED TO START TO EXTEND THE CONTAINER PORT, WHICH WAS ALREADY THIRD IN THE WORLD’S LEAGUE.
+AT ANY TIME IN HONG KONG THERE IS HOUSING FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND A STEADY STREAM OF CONTRACTS BEING LET ENSURES THAT THIS PROGRAMME WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS THERE IS A HOUSING PROBLEM IN HONG KONG,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
+CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY,* HE SAID, SUMMED UP THE HONG KONG SITUATION, THOUGH THE WORDS MOST USED TO DESCRIBE HONG KONG'S FUTURE WERE +STABILITY AND PROSPERITY*..
THE FACT WAS, AND THOSE WHO KNEW HONG KONG WOULD AGREE, THAT +STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG INCLUDE EXCITEMENT AND EXHILARATION, AND INCORPORATE CHANGE, CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY*.
+OUR OBJECT IS TO STEER A STEADY AND STABLE COURSE, BUT IN ORDER TO CONTAIN OUR AMBITION FOR PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN A MOMENTUM OF GROWTH AND PACE OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH NEVER FAILS TO SURPRISE OUR VISITORS, WHO, RETURNING AFTER A BRIEF ABSENCE, LOOK FOR FAMILIAR LANDMARKS AND FIND THEM GONE, BUT WHO THEN CANNOT FAIL TO BE IMPRESSED BY THE CHANGES THEY SEE AROUND THEM,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
/SPEAKING of .......
UOND, . , APRIL 29, 1985
- 3 -
SPEAKING OF THE CHANGES IN THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG, HE SAID: +1985 IS A WATERSHED IN OUR POLITICAL LIFE.+
THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL, BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, HAVE BEEN SEPARATELY ENDORSED AND RATIFIED, BEARING THE SIGNATURES OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES.
THIS WAS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE, INDICATING THE SERIOUS INTENTION AND IMPORTANCE WHICH BOTH GOVERNMENTS ATTACH TO THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE UNDERLYING ASSURANCE THAT ITS TERMS WILL BE FAITHFULLY MAINTAINED AND IMPLEMENTED.
+AS A DOCUMENT, THE AGREEMENT IS NO VAGUE DECLARATION OF INTENT. IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL OF THE LIFE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL ENJOY AFTER 1997, THEIR LEGAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND THEIR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE. IT SPEAKS IN FIRM PHRASES ABOUT THEIR LIFE-STYLE, LANGUAGE, RELIGION AND SO FORTH. IT IS A UNIQUE AGREEMENT, COVERING A UNIQUE SITUATION,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
- - - - 0 ---------
SIR EDWARD MEETS JIANGSU GOVERNOR * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND LADY YOUDE GAVE A LUNCH TODAY (MONDAY), IN HONOUR OF MME GU XIULIAN, GOVERNOR OF JIANGSU PROVINCE, WHO IS VISITING HONG KONG ON HER WAY BACK TO JIANGSU FROM A VISIT TO WESTERN EUROPE.
THE GOVERNOR AND MME GU HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION BEFORE LUNCH, AT WHICH DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG AND JIANGSU PROVINCE, AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR SIR EDWARD AND LADY YOUDE’S FORTHCOMING VISITS TO JIANGSU WERE DISCUSSED.
MME GU WAS ACCOMPANIED BY MR ZHENG LIANG YU, DIRECTOR OF THE JIANGSU PROVINCE FOREIGN AFFAIRS BUREAU, AND BY MR LI CHUWEN AND MR JI SHAOXIANG OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY HONG KONG BRANCH.
MISS LYDIA DUNN, MR ALLEN LEE, MR ERIC HO AND MR JOHN BOYD, WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THE LUNCH.
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/4
MONDA A3RIL 29, 1985
- 4 -
YOUTHS RuLE IN ’NEW CHALLENGE' STRESSED
******
GREATER ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUTH AT A TIME WHEN HONG KONG IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO MEET NEW CHALLENGES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR CONFERENCE ON +YOUTH POLICIES IN PERSPECTIVE+. JOINTLY OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WAS MRS SELINA CHOW, CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR (CCCIYY).
THE THREE-DAY CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WITH MORE THAN 80 REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART.
THE CONFERENCE, FEATURING THE SLOGAN! +OUR YOUTH, OUR FUTURE*, IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE CCCIYY TO PROMOTE THE IYY THEMES OF +PARTICIPATION+ AND +DEVELOPMENT+.
MR LIAO SAID: +THE UNITED NATIONS ADOPTED 'PARTICIPATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE’ AS THE THEME FOR THE 1985 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR. THE THEME VERY CLEARLY INDICATES THE PROPER ATTITUDE TO LIFE FOR YOUTH. IT ALSO REFLECTS WHAT THE COMMUNITY EXPECTS CF ITS YOUNG PEOPLE.
+OUR YOUTH IS OUR FUTURE. WE ARE AT THE MOMENT ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HONG KONG, AND IN SO DOING WE SHOULD CERTAINLY NOT OVERLOOK THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUTH.
+THERE ARE ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN 2.2 MILLION YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 25, WHICH REPRESENTS 41.4 PER CENT OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION. OF THESE, 62 PER CENT ARE WORKING YOUTH, WHICH IS ABOUT 32 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL LABOUR FORCE. THESE PEOPLE PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG. OUR FUTURE IN FACT DEPENDS ON OUR YOUTH.*
MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM IN FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT WAS WELL SUMMED UP IN THE IYY SLOGAN — TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND TO PROMOTE PEACE.
HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE RATIO OF YOUTH TAKING PART IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS HAD STEADILY INCREASED OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.
+YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS IS A FAIRLY RECENT TREND, AND IT TIES IN WELL WITH LONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT HE SAID.
/citing the .......
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1985
5
CITING THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AS AN EXAMPLE, MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT OF THE 501 CANDIDATES, 60 WERE BETWEEN THE AGES CF 21 AND 30, AND 10.8 PER CENT OF THE ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS WERE UNDER 30. IN ADDITION, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ALSO WORKED VERY HARD BEHIND THE SCENES AS ELECTION AGENTS.
MR LIAO SAID: +SUCH ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THE SHORT PERIOD CF THE FORMATION OF DISTRICT BOARDS ARE SOMETHING THAT THE PEOPLE CF HONG KONG CAN BE PROUD OF. HOWEVER, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE EVEN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVELY ENGAGING THEMSELVES IN KNOWING AND CARING ABOUT THE SOCIETY AND IN SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH A VIEW TO BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE.+
MR LIAO DISCLOSED THAT HE WAS ALSO CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY CF ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON YOUTH AFFAIRS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME. YOUTH AFFAIRS AND ACTIVITIES COMMITTEES WOULD ALSO BE SET UP UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARDS. WHILE THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BROAD OUTLINE AND THEME OF EACH YEAR’S ACTIVITIES, THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
HE SAID: +THIS PROPOSAL IS ONLY IN A CONCEPTUAL STAGE, AND I HOPE THAT THE PARTICIPANTS OF THIS CONFERENCE WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.+
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CCCIYY, MRS SELINA CHOW, POINTED OUT IN HER WELCOME SPEECH THAT THE CONFERENCE WAS BEING HELD IN TWO PARTS. THE SECOND PART WOULD BE CONDUCTED IN JULY TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY YOUTH, TO RESPOND TO THE DISCUSSIONS. THEY WOULD HAVE AMPLE TIME TO DEBATE ON, AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO, THE REPORT OF THE FIRST PART OF THE CONFERENCE.
+AT THE END OF THE TWO-PART CONFERENCE, THE COMMITTEE WILL PUBLISH A REPORT WHICH WILL INCLUDE THOSE PROPOSALS THAT ARE CONSIDERED WORTH PRESENTING TO THE PARTIES CONCERNED. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS REPORT WILL BE USEFUL FOR DEVISING FUTURE POLICIES ON YOUTH,+ SHE SAID.
-----0------
BANK GOVERNORS MEET
X * * X
MR D.W.A. BLYE, SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, LEAVES HONG KONG FOR BANGKOK TODAY (MONDAY) TO ATTEND THE 18TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO MAY 2.
ALSO IN THE HONG KONG DELEGATION ARE MR THOMAS SHARR, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS AND MR GARY YEUNG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS.
THE GROUP WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON MAY 2 AND MR BLYE WILL PROCEED ON LEAVE ON MAY 3.
-----0------
/6........
1
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1935
- 6 -
APPLICATIONS FOR ELECTOR REGISTRATION
*****
LATEST STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ARE AS FOLLOWS: ESTIMATED NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS
SIZE OF ELECTORATE
FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES
COMMERCIAL 1 2 650 210
COMMERCIAL II 6 000 912
INDUSTRIAL 1 800 135
INDUSTRIAL II 3 000 430
FINANCIAL 140 40
LABOUR 380 139
SOCIAL SERVICES 154 33
MEDICAL 4 300 721
LEGAL 2 185 280
TEACHING ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, 52 340 14 641
SURVEYING AND PLANNING 3 660 930
ELECTORAL COLLEGE 441 TOTAL: o- 268 18 739
/7 ........
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1935
- 7 -
SURVEYS ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION ******
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS NOW CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS FOR THE YEAR 1984.
THE SURVEY IS AN ANNUAL ENQUIRY WITH THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING STATISTICS FOR ASCERTAINING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT, FOR STUDYING THE COST STRUCTURE, OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTPUT LEVELS OF DIFFERENT TRADES IN THE SECTOR, AND FOR ANALYSING THE COST AND OUTPUT IN CONSTRUCTION AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
ABOUT 5 200 ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING TRADES WILL BE ENUMERATED IN THE SURVEY, COMPRISING A FULL COVERAGE OF THE PROMINENT CONCERNS AND A RANDOM SAMPLE OF THE SMALLER ESTABLISHMENTS:-
* BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION;
* REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT;
* ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND PROJECT ENGINEERING; AND
* REAL ESTATE LEASING, BROKERAGE AND MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT.
STATISTICS COLLECTED IN THE SURVEY ARE REQUIRED BY BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISES IN THE FORMULATION OF THEIR DECISIONS.
A DIFFERENT VERSION OF THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS USED FOR EACH OF THE FOUR DIFFERENT TRADES CATEGORIES. WHERE APPLICABLE, PROJECT RETURNS TO OBTAIN DATA ON INDIVIDUAL CONSTRUCTION SITES AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED.
INFORMATION SOUGHT IN THE SURVEY INCLUDES: THE TYPE OF OWNERSHIP; NUMBER OF DIRECT EMPLOYEES; COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES; CONSUMPTION OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES FOR CONSTRUCTION; PAYMENTS FOR SUB-CONTRACT WORK; OPERATING EXPENSES; VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED; VALUE OF PROPERTY UNDER DEVELOPMENT AND ITS ASSOCIATED PROJECT OUTLAYS (INCLUDING LAND VALUE); OTHER FORMS OF BUSINESS RECEIPTS; CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BY THE ESTABLISHMENTS SURVEYED AND FLOOR AREA OCCUPIED FOR BUSINESS OPERATION.
THE SURVEY IS CONDUCTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS (ANNUAL SURVEY OF BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE SECTORS) ORDER 1984, WHICH WAS MADE UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 316) AND ISSUED AS LEGAL NOTICE NO. 14 IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF JANUARY 13, 1984.
/SUHVEY QUESTIONNAIRES........
MONDAY, APBIL 29, 1985
8
SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ARE SENT BY RECORDED DELIVERY TO THE ESTABLISHMENTS CONCERNED. MANAGEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF JULY.
UPON REQUEST, CENSUS OFFICERS MAY VISIT ESTABLISHMENTS TO ASSIST IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPEALED TO MANAGEMENTS TO RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES PROMPTLY AND TO CO-OPERATE WITH CENSUS OFFICERS IN THE COURSE OF ENUMERATION HENCE FULFILLING A LEGAL AS WELL AS SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
HE STRESSED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD ONLY BE USED IN AGGREGATE FORM FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES, AUDITED ACCOUNTS WERE NOT ESSENTIAL FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION RELATING 10 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ACCEPTS FIGURES BASED ON PRELIMINARY ACCOUNTS OR ESTIMATIONS WHICH ARE CORRECT TO THE BEST OF THE RESPONDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION CF RETURNS. THIS APPROACH IS NECESSARY TO AVOID THE DELAY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE RESULT FROM WAITING FOR AUDITED ACCOUNTS.
-----Q_-----
CONTRACT FOR TUEN MUN MAGISTRACY SIGNED
******
A S38-MILLI0N CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NINE-STOREY MAGISTRACY BUILDING IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WAS SIGNED.
IT WAS SIGNED AT THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S OFFICl BY CHIEF ARCHITECT, MR K.M. TSENG AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOBISHIMA CORPORATION.
THE MAGISTRACY BUILDING WITH EIGHT COURT ROOMS WILL OCCUPY 15 820 SQUARE METRES AT THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF TUEN MUN CULTURAL COMPLEX.
ON COMPLETION, IN ABOUT TwO YEARS’ TIME, THE BUILDING WILL FORM AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CULTURAL COMPLEX.
MO DA' , ■■ R iL 29, 1985
q
JURY LIST BE POSTED - - *
A FURTHER LIST Or CC 'MON JURORS WILL BE POSTED ON THE NO: ICE BOARD OF THE SUPR '< COURT .UILDING AT 38 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG ON MAY 3, The ACTING REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT, MR COLIN JAMES PERRI OR, ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY).
THIS LIST WILL REMAIN POSTED FOR 14 DAYS DURING WHICH PERIOD ANY PERSON MAY APPLY BY NOTICE IN WRITING TO THE REGISTRAR ENQUIRING THAT HIS NAME OR THE NAME OF SOME OTHER PERSON BE POSTED 0 REMOVED UPON CAUSE DULY ASSIGNED IN SUCH NOTICE.
THE REGISTRAR SHALL IN HIS DISCRETION, POST OR REMOVE SUCH I. ME ACCORDINGLY AND SHALL IF NECESSARY ALTER THE LIST.
--------0----------
BOARD MEMBERS SEE PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
* * * X
TWENTY-SIX MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD TODAY UPDATED THEMSELVES ON THE DEVELOPMENT ON PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE IR OWN DISTRICT.
ACCOMPANIED BY SENIOR HOUSING OFFICIALS, THEY TOURED KWUN TONG (TSUI PING ROAD) ESTATE WHERE REDEVELOPMENT WORKS WERE WELL UNDERWAY TO UPGRADE LIVING CONDITIONS FOR TENANTS.
THE GROUP THEN VISITED LOK WAH ESTATE AND THE ADJOINING HOME OWNERSHIP LOK NGA COURT LOOKING AT NEWLY-COMPLETED BLOCKS AND OTHER FACILITIES. THE TWO ESTATES WILL PROVIDE MODERN HOMES FOR 45 033 PEOPLE WHEN FULLY COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR.
THE VISIT WAS AMONG A SERIES DESIGNED TO ENABLE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO SEE FOR THE SEL S THE LATEST PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR OWN DI cl ICTS.
0
AR n_ 29 1985
-IZF.S FOR • .TO Cl TEST WINNERS - * h -
•JINS-RS OF T - h.DUST-IA_ SAFETY PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION’ ORGANISED BY T-'E LABOUR ADV IS Y BOARD’S COMMITTEE C I DUST - L SAFETY AND ACCIDE T EVE’TIC ILL RECEIVE PRIZES at A PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 11 AM ON .»ED:'ESDAY (MAY 1) AT THE M IN CONCOURSE OF THE OCEAN TER.. INAL, TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR DARWIN CHE’’, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, .ILL OrFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
A FIVE-DAY EXHIBITION OF THE WINNING PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE FELD AFTER THE PRIZE PRESENTATION.
THE COMPETITION, CO-ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE SING TAO NEWSPAPER LTD., *AS AIMED AT PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
- - 0 - -
TENDERS INVITED TO RID VELODROME, KIOSK r. * X
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS INVITING TENDERS FOR T-E HIRING OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES AND THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT THE ABERDEEN VELODROME.
THE 1.04-HECTARE VELODROME IS SITUATED NEXT TO THE ABERDEEN INDOOR GAMES HALL IN «DNG CHUK HANG.
SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE GIVEN A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT FROM THE DATE OF CONTRACT SIGNING. AT PRESENT, THE VELODROME AND THE KIOSK CARRY A MONTHLY RENTAL OF $1 030.
’ENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE ’ 203, ABERDEE -I' ROAD, 4TH FLOOR, HONG KONG (5-5- 09-).
CA' ETED TENDER Fr- ' . MUST BE SUBMITTED IN DUPLICATE ■A-, - J;-; HAND TENDER BOX AT THE U“ SERVICE,
- : ,E- t 0 C ■ 12TH ’LOO.-, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
* ES ( wING ._ EET, BE^O^E A. ON
av n/. -no A AD. r'.TlAMS u/ I 'AT PP
■ DAY, rP < 1985
11
. TORAGE FIGURES
st \ X
'".‘-.AGE IN HONG KONG’S EO . - .'0 I RS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 57.' PER CENT OF CAPAC:TY 338.594 MILLION CUjIC I^TRES.
THIS Ti Z LAST ' EAR T E -r '-".'0 IPS CONTAINED tgi.104 MILL ION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, RE- £Z£ .71 .i co.4 PER CEN. C.- CAPACITY.
-----o------
WATER CUT M *
-RESU '* TER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN CAUSEWAY BAY '. ILL BE TURNED OFF FORSEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MAY 2) rOP. LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY LOCKHART ROAD, CANAL ROAD EAST, HENNESSY ROAD AND EAST POINT ROAD.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
TUESDAY,’ APRIL JO, 1985
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PORNOGRAPHY CONTROL DILEMMA NOTED ............................ 1
•PROTECTIONISM - A SELF-INFLICTED HANDICAP' .................. 3
REPORT SHOWS CMB ACTING ON PROPOSALS ......................... 5
LEGCO SET FOR BUSY DAY.............................-.......... 6
FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CIVIL SERVICE PAY RISE ......... 7
CONTROL OVER VACATED SQUATTER STRUCTURES TIGHTENED............ 9
LATEST APPLICATION FIGURES ................................... 10
NEED SEEN FOR 'NEW BREED' IN ELECTRONICS ..................... 11
URBAN COUNCIL'S +GREEN+ LETTER DAYS .......................... 12
EMPLOYERS REMINDED TO KEEP WAGE RECORDS ...................... 1^+
MEET-THE-MEDIA ............................................... 15
NEW PLAYGROUND FOR WONG TAI SIN .............................. 15
CLOSURE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES SOUGHT ......................... 16
SEMINAR PROMOTES BETTER SERVICE, COURTESY .................... 16
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TORN DOWN ................................. 17
BOARD WANTS PUBLIC SESSION ON AIR ............................ 1*
BOARD CHAIRMAN ELECTED ....................................... 18
TOPPING-OUT OF NEW WORKSHOP AT PIK UK ........................ 18
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ...................................... 19
BURST WATER MAIN DISRUPTS TRAFFIC ..........................-• 19
TEN-HOUR ROAD CLOSURE ........................................ 20
TRAFFIC CHANGES .............................................. 20
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
1
PORNOGRAPHY CONTROL DILEMMA NOTED
* * * *
EXISTING CONTROLS ON OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS WERE NOT NECESSARILY EITHER THE BEST OR THE MOST EFFECTIVE, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY.
WEAKNESSES INCLUDED LIMITED MANPOWER RESOURCES FOR ENFORCEMENT, PROBLEMS OF INTERPRETATION, NEWS STANDS BEING SCATTERED ALL OVER THE TERRITORY AND A LENGTHY PROSECUTION PROCESS, MR TSAO SAID AT THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT +THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA*.
+ BY ALL MEANS LET US HAVE A PROTECTIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK.
+BUT LET US NOT SUBSTITUTE THE HEAVY HAND OF LAW FOR THE FREE EXERCISE OF OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. HOWEVER MUCH WE MAY DESIRE THE ELIMINATION OF PORNOGRAPHY, WE MUST BEWARE CF ESTABLISHING A MACHINERY FOR ITS CONTROL WHICH IS LIABLE TO ABUSE,* MR TSAO SAID.
MR TSAO SAID THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA WAS OBVIOUSLY A CONTENTIOUS SUBJECT. THE SETTING OF STANDARDS WOULD ALWAYS BE A MATTER OF SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT WITH SOME PEOPLE ARGUING THAT EVEN MODEST CONSTRAINTS WERE AN INFRINGEMENT OF PERSONAL LIBERTY AND ARTISTIC LICENCE, WHILE OTHERS INVOKED TRADITIONAL MORALITY AND LEVELLED ACCUSATIONS OF ENCOURAGED PERMISSIVENESS AND PROMISCUITY.
+THE FUNDAMENTAL DILEMMA IS THE SAME,* HE SAID. +HOW TO ESTABLISH CONTROLS WHICH ALLOW MAXIMUM FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND YET MINIMISE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ABUSE AND, THEREFORE, HARM.*
THERE WAS ALSO THE PROBLEM, PERHAPS UNIQUE TO HONG KONG, CF ENSURING THAT EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES CORRECTLY INTERPRETED CONTEMPORARY CHINESE COMMUNITY STANDARDS.
ANOTHER MAJOR AREA OF CONCERN WAS THE LENGTHY PROSECUTION PROCESS. MANY MONTHS COULD LAPSE BETWEEN A DECISION TO PROSECUTE AND A JUDGEMENT THAT A PUBLICATION MUST CEASE.
/+IN THE .......
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 1985
- 2
+ IN THE INTERIM SUBSEQUENT ISSUES OF THE SAME PUBLICATION MAY STILL BE SOLD FREELY IN THE MARKET,* HE SAID.
TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS, MR TSAO SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING SETTING UP AN OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS TRIBUNAL.
♦ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD SUCH TRIBUNALS EXIST. THE TRIBUNAL COULD WORK IN SUCH A WAY THAT PUBLICATIONS CAN EITHER BE SUBMITTED VOLUNTARILY BY PUBLISHERS FOR SCRUTINY BEFORE ISSUE OR BE REFERRED BY THE COURTS OR THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A RULING AFTER PUBLICATION,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO FILM CENSORSHIP, MR TSAO SAID THE PRESENT SYSTEM ENFORCED BY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY RELIED ON BOTH A PUBLIC ADVISORY GROUP AND PUBLIC OPINION SURVEYS.
NEVERTHELESS, THERE WERE STILL WEAKNESSES.
THERE WAS NO DISTINCTION AS TO THE MATURITY OF PARTICULAR FILM VIEWERS, SCENES WERE CUT BEFORE RELEASE WHICH INEVITABLY INTERFERED WITH THE FLOW OF THE FILM, AND THE ADVICE OF THE CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY HAD NO LEGAL FORCE.
SO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT NOW PROPOSED WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF A FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WHICH DIVIDED FILMS INTO THREE CATEGORIES:
* APPROVED AS SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES?
* GENERAL APPROVAL BUT CONTAINING SCENES WHICH PARENTS MAY CONSIDER UNSUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN} AND
* APPROVED FOR VIEWING BY THOSE 18 YEARS OLD AND OVER ONLY.
+THERE WILL OF COURSE BE SOME PROBLEMS OF ENFORCEMENT,* SAID MR TSAO, +BUT THE PRINCIPAL MERITS OF THIS, AS I SEE IT, ARE THAT A LARGE ELEMENT OF CHOICE WOULD BE RESTORED TO THE PUBLIC, TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PARENTS TO JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEIR CHILDREN MAY OR MAY NOT SEE.*
/GOVERNMENT HAD........
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 1985
- 3 -
GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY STARTED DRAFTING LEGISLATION FOR THIS PROPOSAL, HE ADDED.
TAKING PART IN THIS AFTERNOON’S DISCUSSION ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE MASS MEDIA ON YOUTH WERE DR MARGARET NG, EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF MING PAO DAILY NEWS? MR CHU PUI-HING, HEAD OF CHINESE PROGRAMME SERVICE, RADIO DIVISION, RTHK ; AND ffiS MAISIE WONG, A MEMBER OF THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD.
OTHER TOPICS COVERED IN TODAY’S CONFERENCE WERE YOUTH AND COMMUNITY BUILDING AND FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG. THE TWO SPEAKERS WERE MR PAUL LEE, PRINCIPAL LECTURER IN SOCIAL WORK, HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND PROFESSOR RANCE LEE, PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL STUDIES, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
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’PROTECTIONISM - A SELF-INFLICTED HANDICAP’
* * * * *
PROTECTIONISM NEARLY ALWAYS HURTS THOSE PRACTISING IT IN THE LONG TERM, THOUGH IT MAY BE OCCASIONALLY JUSTIFIED IN THE SHORT TERM, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY.
♦PROTECTION OF ONE’S INDUSTRIES MAY WELL BE JUSTIFIED IF THEY ARE BEING SERIOUSLY AFFECTED BY SUBSIDIZED OR DUMPED GOODS.
♦IT CAN ALSO BE ARGUED THAT FOR A DEVELOPING COUNTRY WITH ONLY ONE OR TWO INDUSTRIES PRODUCING FOR EXPORT, AND A SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FOREIGN CURRENCY, PROTECTION MAY BE A REASONABLE ANSWER, AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TERM,+ HE SAID.
ADDRESSING THE KOWLOON CLUB TODAY (TUESDAY), HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THIS LEGITIMATE POINT WAS BEING BLURRED IN CURRENT DEBATE INTO A MUCH WIDER CLAIM.
+IN EFFECT, THE U.S. TEXTILES INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, IS ARGUING THAT IT HAS A RIGHT TO PRESERVE ITS EXISTING SCALE OF ASSETS - OR IN SOME FORMULATIONS ITS SHARE OF THE MARKET -FOREVER.
/+AND IN
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 1985
+AND IN SEARCH OF SOME SHRED OF INTELLECTUAL JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS EXTRAORDINARY LINE, IT RAISES THE BANNER OF ’FAIR TRADE’, WHICH CAN BE USED AGAINST VIRTUALLY ALL IMPORTS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, SINCE AMONG OTHER THINGS IT REGARDS LOWER WAGES THAN IN THE U.S.A. AS UNFAIR.
+IT IS NOT A REASONABLE ARGUMENT. BUT IT HAS POLITICAL APPEAL,* MR MACLEOD SAID.
PARADOXICALLY, HE SAID, PROTECTIONISM BY OTHERS WAS NOT NECESSARILY BAD FOR HONG KONG, SINCE IN THE LONG RUN IT HANDICAPPED THE COUNTRY PRACTISING THE PROTECTION.
+FOR EXAMPLE, A COUNTRY BENT ON CRIPPLING ITS GARMENT INDUSTRY WOULD SUCCEED QUITE WELL BY PROTECTING ITS TEXTILE INDUSTRY, THE RAW MATERIAL OF THE GARMENTS. YET THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DO,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THERE WERE MANY FAIRLY BROAD +GUESSTIMATES+ OF THE COST OF PROTECTION.
A 1983 STUDY BY THE U.S. CENTRE FOR THE STUDY OF BUSINESS ESTIMATED THAT AMERICAN CONSUMERS SPEND US$58.5 BILLION MORE EACH YEAR FOR A VARIETY OF GOODS, INCLUDING TEXTILES AND APPAREL, THAN THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT HAVE, AS A RESULT OF PROTECTION.
ANOTHER U.S. STUDY SUGGESTED THAT THE COST OF TEXTILE AND APPAREL JOBS SAVED WAS ABOUT US$35 □□□ PER JOB PER YEAR. THE JOBS WHICH WERE PROTECTED PAID AN AVERAGE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN US$10 000 PER YEAR.
+THERE IS NO SINGLE, SIMPLE REASON FOR HONG KONG’S SUCCESS -A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE, ENTERPRISING ENTREPRENEURS, EVEN A HANDS-OFF AND REASONABLY EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT WHICH DECLINES TO SUBSIDISE ANY INDUSTRY, ALL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART - BUT THERE SEEMS NO DOUBT THAT ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS IS OUR CONTINUING ADHERENCE TO FREE TRADE.
+RESTRICTING THE CHOICE AND INCREASING THE PRICE OF IMPORTED RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS IS NOT A SENSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION FOR ANYONE,* MR MACLEOD SAID.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935
5
REPORT SHOWS CMB ACTING ON PROPOSALS
*****
THE FIRST PROGRESS REPORT ON CMB’S PERFORMANCE IN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TAC REPORT ON THE COMPANY’S MAINTENANCE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES SHOWS POSITIVE SIGNS THAT THE COMPANY IS WILLING TO MAKE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS.
CMB HAS ALREADY TAKEN STEPS TO IMPLEMENT MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT ALTHOUGH FURTHER TIME WILL BE NEEDED BEFORE POSITIVE RESULTS CAN BE IDENTIFIED.
THIS IS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE TAC ARISING FROM MONTHLY LIAISON MEETINGS BETWEEN CMB AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT. THESE REPORTS WILL ASSIST TAC IN MONITORING CMB PROGRESS IN BRINGING ITS MAINTENANCE STANDARDS TO A SATISFACTORY LEVEL.
AT THEIR MEETING TODAY, TAC MEMBERS ALSO EXAMINED PROGRESS BY TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE IN IMPLEMENTING THE WORKING GROUP REPORT AND NOTED STEPS BEING TAKEN BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EXAMINERS AVAILABLE FOR BUS INSPECTIONS, AND FOR THE RECRUITMENT OF AN.ENGINEER TO THE POLICE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SECTION.
AMONG IMPROVEMENTS WHICH CMB HAS INITIATED ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT QUALITY CONTROL SECTION AND A SIX MONTH COURSE. •* MAINTENANCE THEORY AND PRACTICES FOR 90 CRAFTSMEN IN ITS OWN TRAINING SCHOOL. AT CMB’S REQUEST, THE H.K. POLYTECHNIC IS ALSO FORMULATING A PROPOSAL FOR TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR VARIOUS GRADES OF CMB MAINTENANCE STAFF.
THE COMPANY IS SEEKING TO RECRUIT A CHARTERED ENGINEER WITH RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO HEAD ITS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, AND HAS EMBARKED ON A PROGRAMME TO BUY SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT AND TO IMPROVE THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN ITS DEPOTS.
AT THE MEETING TODAY, TAC MEMBERS ALSO ADVISED ON GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS TO FOLLOW-UP THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A CONSULTANCY STUDY INTO THE ECONOMIC AND TRANSPORT ASPECTS OF THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY.
THE PROPOSALS ARE FOR AN ON-GOING EXERCISE TO ALLEVIATE THE SHORTAGE OF PARKING SPACES AND TO IMPROVE LOADING AND UNLOADING OPERATIONS, TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETAIL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BY TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE. DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD ALSO BE CONSULTED.
THERE ARE ALSO PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST OVERLOADED GOODS VEHICLES AND TO ENSURE THAT LOADS ARE PROPERLY SECURED.
AFTER THE MEETING, TAC MEMBERS VISITED THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING CONTROL CENTRE IN PACIFIC HOUSE ON QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL TO TAKE A FIRST HAND LOOK AT THE OPERATION OF THE PILOT ERP SYSTEM. --------------------------------0 ------
/6......
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935
6
LEGCO SET FOR BUSY DAY * * * * *
NINE BILLS, 13 QUESTIONS, AND A MOTION CONCERNING THE TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES WILL BE AMONG THE MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW.
DUE FOR APPROVAL, FOLLOWING THREE BUDGET SITTINGS OVER FIVE DAYS, IS THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1985.
AND DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THE FOLLOWING FOUR OTHER BILLS PRIOR TO FINAL READING:
PUBLIC FINANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985,
AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985,
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) BILL 1985, AND
HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985.
THE FOUR BILLS DUE FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ARE:
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985,
INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1985,
ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES REGULATIONS AND REGISTRATION AND LICENCING OF VEHICLES REGULATIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985, AND
OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985.
THERE WILL ALSO BE TWO STATEMENTS — ONE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, ON THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT 1984, AND THE OTHER BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON F.K.HU ON THE 1983-84 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, HONG KONG, AND A MOTION BY THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, ON THE LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES (AMENDMENT) RULES 1985.
FINAL ITEM ON THE ORDER PAPER WILL BE THE MOTION BY SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON SIR ROGER LOBO, THAT +A SELECT COMMITTEE BE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER AND REPORT ON THE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO BE TAKEN TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIMES, INCLUDING CHANGES IN THE PROCEDURES BEFORE AND DURING TRIAL AND THE MODE OF TRIAL.* --------------------------------o--------
/7......
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
7
• FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER CIVIL SERVICE PAY RISE ******
I
PAY R,SE F0R THE CIV,L SERVICE WILL BE ONE OF THE SUBJECTS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WHICH MEETS IN PUBLIC TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) ‘AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
THE PAY INCREASE PROPOSALS FOLLOW THE COMPLETION OF A PAY TREND SURVEY, WHICH COVERED THE PERIOD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 LAST YEAR AND JANUARY 31 THIS YEAR.
THE RESULTANT PAY TREND INDICATOR, WHICH HAS SINCE BEEN AGREED UPON BY THE PAY TREND SURVEY COMMITTEE, SHOWS THAT EMPLOYEES IN THE UPPER PAY BAND (BETWEEN $13 165 AND $23 555 PER MONTH) RECEIVED A PAY R IjSE OF 8.77 PER CENT, WITH THOSE IN THE MIDDLE BAND (BETWEEN $4 040 AND $12 460 PER MONTH) RECEIVING A 9.12 PER CENT PAY RISE, AND THOSE IN THE LOWER PAY BAND (BELOW $4 000 PER MONTH) RECEIVING A 10.77 PER CENT PAY INCREASE.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE HANG SENG INDEX (FOR HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE FROM $6 500 TO $19 999 PER MONTH) ROSE BY 8.6 PER CENT, WHILE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX B (FOR HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE FROM $3 500 TO $6 499 PER MONTH) INCREASED BY 7.8 PER CENT, AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX A (FOR HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE FROM $1 000 TO $3 499 PER MONTH) WENT UP BY 7.4 PER CENT.
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THESE FACTORS, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STAFF SIDES OF THE SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE COUNCIL, THE MODEL SCALE I STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL AND THE POLICE FORCE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED AN ADJUSTMENT OF ABOUT 8.7 PER CENT FOR THE UPPER BAND, 9.1 PER CENT FOR THE MIDDLE BAND AND 10.9 PER CENT FOR THE LOWER BAND FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE. 4 •
IF THE PROPOSALS ARE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SIMILAR ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE MADE TO THE SCALES AND RATE OF EMPLOYEES IN DEF ICIENCY-SUBVENTED AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS WHOSE PAY SCALES ARE NORMALLY ADJUSTED IN LINE WITH CIVIL SERVICE PAY.
THESE INCLUDE AIDED SCHOOLS AND CERTAIN HOSPITALS AND SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS ACADEMIC STAFF OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNICS. 1
/THE COST .......
I
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 1985
8
THE COST OF THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE ABOUT $1 600 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, AND INCLUDES A SPECIAL GRANT ESTIMATED AT $100 MILLION PAYABLE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MEMORANDUM OF ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS, AND REIMBURSEMENTS OF ABOUT.$25 MILLION TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR SERVICES CARRIED OUT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
AS FOR ORGANISATIONS SUBVENTED ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS, APPROVAL WILL BE SOUGHT FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION ESTIMATED AT $20 MILLION, WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE, ON APPLICATION, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE MERITS OF EACH REQUEST.
IF APPROVED, THE PAY RISE WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1985.
OTHER SUBJECTS TO BE DISCUSSED'AT TOMORROW’S FINANCE COMMITTEE bEETING INCLUDE: t
I
* THE CREATION OF A NEW RECURRENT ACCOUNT SUBHEAD ENTITLED +EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE* UNDER THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT HEAD WITH SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $838 000;
* NEW AND INCREASED COMMITMENTS TOTALLING $663 803 000 COMPRISING $21 782 000 FOR BUILDING PROGRAMMES AT THE UNIVERSITIES, $321 000 FOR THE BAPTIST COLLEGE AND $641 700 000 FOR THE CITY POLYTECHNIC PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PREMISES;
* APPROVAL OF HIGHER LIMITS OF OVER-COMMITMENT IN 1985-86 FOR FIVE CAPITAL ACCOUNT BLOCK VOTES FOR WHICH THE STANDARD LIMIT OF 50 PER CENT IS INADEQUATE.\
AT THE SAME MEETING, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TO APPROVE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMM ITTEt AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE.
0
/9........
I
- 9
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
CONTROL OVER VACATED SQUATTER STRUCTURES TIGHTENED
******
ro DEAL MORE EFFECTIVELY wI Th THE STRUCTURES VACATED BY SQUATTERS W HO WILL BECOME PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE NEW MEASURES WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW TO FREEZE THE OCCUPANCY POSITION OF THE SQUATTER FAMILY OR FAMILIES AS SOON AS THEY ARE CALLED FOR INTERVIEW UPON THEIR TURN COMING ON THE WAITING LIST FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.
♦SQUATTER CONTROL STAFF WILL UNDERTAKE A DETAILED REGISTRATION OF ALL THE FAM ILIES/PERSONS LIVING IN THE STRUCTURE,+ SAID A HOUSING SPOKESMAN TODAY.
HE SAID THAT BY SO DOING, THE FUTURE REHOUSING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SHARING FAMILIES, IF ANY, WOULD BE SAFEGUARDED WHILE ANY NEW-COMERS WOULD BE REGARDED AS +LIVING IN AN ILLEGAL STRUCTURE* AND WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO PUBLIC HOUSING WHEN THE STRUCTURE WAS EVENTUALLY CLEARED.
+THIS REVISED PROCEDURE WILL TIGHTEN CONTROL AND PREVENT ANY NEW-COMERS FROM JUMPING THE QUEUE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE EVENT OF SUBSEQUENT CLEARANCE OF THE AREA. THESE MEASURES SHOULD THJS DISCOURAGE PROFITEERING INVOLVING SQUATTER STRUCTURES.
*THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WILL STILL BE THE DEMOLITION OF THE VACATED STRUCTURE WHENEVER this is possible.
♦if the structure is in single occupancy, the squatter will BE REQUIRED TO SURRENDER THE STRUCTURE AND AGREE TO ITS DEMOLITION UPON HIS MOVING INTO A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE.+
•w
AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, NOTICES WOULD BE POSTED ON THE STRUCTURE DECLARING THAT IT WAS SUBJECT TO DEMOLITION.
♦IN CASES WHERE THE STRUCTURE IS SHARED BY OTHER FAMILIES, THE NOTICE WILL CARRY THE WARNING THAT ANY PERSON COMING TO OCCUPY THE VACATED PORTION WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WHEN IT IS CLEARED.*
' The SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED that getting on TO The WAITING LIST WAS THE PROPER CHANNEL OF ENTERING PUBLIC HOUSING.
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/10........
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935
10
LATEST APPLICATION FIGURES
* * * * *
LATEST STATISTICS ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION AS ELECTORS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF
SIZE OF ELECTORATE APPLICATIONS
FUNCTIONAL
CONSTITUENCIES
COMMERCIAL I 2 650 275
COMMERCIAL II T’ • 6 000 1 035
INDUSTRIAL I 800 151
INDUSTRIAL II 3 000 491
'FINANCIAL 143 48
LABOUR 380 179
SOCIAL SERVICES 154 36
MEDICAL 4 300 875
t LEGAL 2 185 336
l' TEACHING 52 340 16 643
ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND • 3 660 1 045
PLANNING
ELECTORAL COLLEGE . 441 301
TOTAL: 21 415
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/11 .......
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
11
NEED SEEN FOR ’NEW BREED’ IN ELECTRONICS ******
A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BREED OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER WAS NEEDED TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION AND AUTOMATION IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, MR ANDREW CHUANG SAID TODAY.
THERE WAS A PARTICULAR NEED FOR TECHNOLOGISTS WITH STRONG ACADEMIC BACKGROUNDS AND SOUND PRACTICAL TRAINING, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO A JUST PUBLISHED REPORT ON A SURVEY OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY CARRIED OUT BY THE BOARD, HE SAID THAT THERE WERE 8 000 VACANCIES IN JUNE LAST YEAR IN THE INDUSTRY, WHICH HAD A WORK FORCE OF 107 000.
THE WORK FORCE WAS MADE UP OF ABOUT FOUR PER CENT TECHNOLOGISTS, 12 PER CENT TECHNICIANS, NINE PER CENT CRAFTSMEN, 73 PER CENT OPERATIVES AND TWO PER CENT UNSKILLED PERSONS.
A COMPARISON OF SKILL LEVELS IN THE WORK FORCE IN THE THREE SURVEYS UP TO LAST YEAR SHOWED HIGHER PERCENTAGE GROWTHS IN THE NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGISTS, RISING FROM 2.3 PER CENT ' OF THE 92 500 WORK FORCE IN 1980, TO 3.5 PER CENT OF THE 103 000 WORK FORCE IN 1982 TO NEARLY FOUR PER CENT OF THE 1984 WORK FORCE.
OPERATIVES, MADE UP LARGELY OF WOMEN, WERE BY FAR THE LARGEST NUMBER, RANGING FROM ABOUT 72 PER CENT TO 75 PER CENT OF ALL WORKERS IN THE THREE SURVEY PERIODS.
A FORECAST, BASED ON THE SURVEY INDICATES THAT FOR EACH OF THE COMING SIX YEARS, THE INDUSTRY WILL NEED ADDITIONALLY, AN AVERAGE OF AT LEAST 500 TECHNOLOGISTS, 750 TECHNICIANS, 400 CRAFTSMEN AND 4 200 OPERATIVES. THIS FORECAST TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE LATEST VACANCIES, AS WELL AS SUCH OTHER FACTORS AS DIVERSIFICATION, THE DEMAND FOR COMPUTER AND COMPUTER RELATED SERVICES, AND EMPLOYERS’ FORECASTS.
MR CHUANG URGED EMPLOYERS TO FORMULATE PLANS FOR THE TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING OF SUFFICIENT MANPOWER TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN MODERN PLANT AND MACHINERY SO THAT THE INDUSTRY COULD UPGRADE ITS PRODUCTS AND COMPETE IN THE WORLD^MARKET.
AT THE TIME OF SURVEY, THERE WERE SOME 1 200 TRAINEES AND APPRENTICES IN THE INDUSTRY, A FIGURE CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE INDUSTRY’S NEED FOR SKILLED MANPOWER.
THE 1984 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE ELECTRON ICS INDUSTRY IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $15.50 A COPY.
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/12 .......
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 1985
12
URBAN COUNCIL’S +GREEN+ LETTER DAYS * * * *
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS TO EMBARK ON A WEEK-LONG TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME NEXT WEEK.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME ARE TO BEAUTIFY THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND TO AROUSE GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT TREES CAN PLAY IN THE DENSELY-POPULATED AREAS, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE PLANTING CEREMONIES WILL BE HELD BETWEEN MONDAY AND SATURDAY (MAY 6-11) IN THE COUNCIL’S VARIOUS PARKS AND PUBLIC FACILITIES. THE LOCATIONS COVER KO SHAN PARK (MAY 6), MORSE PARK AND VICTORIA PARK (MAY 7), KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL APPROACH (MAY 8), TSIM SHA TSUI PROMENADE AND COOMBE ROAD PLAYGROUND (MAY 9), THE OPEN SPACE AT LAI CHI KOK PARK INDOOR GAMES HALL AND BREWIN PATH PLAYGROUND (MAY ID), AND THE OPEN SPACE AT BOUNDARY STREET INDOOR GAMES HALL (MAY 11).
URBAN COUNCILLORS, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL TAKE PART IN THE TREE PLANTING CEREMONIES.
AMONG THE TREES TO BE PLANTED IS THE BAUHINIA BLAKEANA - ITS FLOWER IS USED AS HONG KONG’S FLORAL EMBLEM
AND THE URBAN COUNCIL’S SYMBOL. THE SPECIES HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME BECAUSE IT HAS LONG SPREADING OR DROOPING BRANCHES AND IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ORNAMENTAL TREES IN HONG KONG. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS A GREAT LANDSCAPE IMPACT BECAUSE ITS FLOWERING PERIOD IS A LONG ONE, LASTING FROM EARLY NOVEMBER TO THE END OF MARCH.
TWO LESS COMMON SPECIES -- AILANTHUS FORD I I AND
TERM INAL IA CATAPPA — HAVE ALSO BEEN SELECTED BECAUSE BOTH CF THEM ARE WIND-RESISTANT, THEREBY MOST SUITABLE TO HONG KONG’S CLIMATE.
THE TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME IS ONLY PART OF THE COUNCIL’S CONTINUING, PAINSTAKING ENDEAVOUR TO TURN HONG KONG INTO A GARDEN CITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+OVER THE YEARS, THE COUNCIL HAS PROVIDED MANY PARKS, GARDENS, SITTING-OUT AREAS AND AMENITY PLOTS IN THE URBAN AREAS AND A SYSTEMATIC EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO PLANT TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS WITH THE HOPE OF ACHIEVING GREATER IMPACT ON LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT AND RESTORING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE TO OUR HIGHLY-URBANISED CITY.
/♦WITH THE .......
TUESDAY, APRIL JO, 198$
♦.WITH THE PROVISION OF MORE NURSERIES AND THE STREAMLINING OF THE NURSERY SYSTEM IN RECENT YEARS, THE SCALE OF LANDSCAPE PLANTING IN THE URBAN AREAS HAS GAINED CONSIDERABLE MOMENTUM,+ HE ADDED.
LAST YEAR, OVER 789 OOO TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS WERE PLANTED THROUGHOUT THE URBAN AREAS. THE FIGURE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF ALMOST 250 PER CENT OVER THAT OF 1978. THIS YEAR’S PLANTING PROGRAMME WILL AIM AT 890 000 TREES, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS. THE TARGET, IF ACHIEVED, WILL MEAN AN INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR’S.
WITH THE OPENING OF THE COUNCIL’S 11TH NURSERY, THE LOWER SHOUSON HILL NURSERY, EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE PLANTING FIGURE FOR 1986 IS LIKELY TO EXCEED ONE MILLION PLANTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
NOT ONLY DOES THE COUNCIL SEEK TO BRIGHTEN UP ITS PARKS, GARDENS, AMENITY PLOTS AND SITTING OUT AREAS, IT ALSO AIMS TO GREEN UP HONG KONG’S HIGHWAYS. THE HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION SCHEME, WHICH WAS LAUNCHED BY THE COUNCIL IN 1979 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, HAS MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN ENLIVENING THE BARE ROADSIDES.
SAID THE SPOKESMAN: +AMONG THE MANY SCHEMES ON THE DRAWING BOARD ARE THE LANDSCAPE AND RECREATION DEVELOPMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL NEW ROADS IN ABERDEEN AND THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION.
+IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A BIGGER EFFECT ON HIGHWAY LANDSCAPE, THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PLANNING TO PLANT FLOWERING CREEPERS AND CLIMBERS IN FRAMES UNDER FLYOVERS AND A TRIAL SCHEME WILL BE LAUNCHED SHORTLY. AT PRESENT, MOST PLANTS GROWN UNDER FLYOVERS ARE SHRUBS.+
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TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935
- 14 -
EMPLOYERS REMINDED TO KEEP WAGE RECORDS ******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN A RECORD SETTING OUT THE WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY OF EACH EMPLOYEE COVERING THE PERIOD OF HIS EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PRECEDING SIX MONTHS.
UNDER THE THIRD SCHEDULE OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE 1985, WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION ON APRIL 19, THE WAGE RECORDS SHOULD BE KEPT AT THE EMPLOYER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS OR AT THE PLACE WHERE THE EMPLOYEE WAS EMPLOYED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE RECORDS SHOULD ALSO BE KEPT FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS AFTER THE EMPLOYEE HAD CEASED TO BE EMPLOYED, HE ADDED.
THE WAGE RECORDS SHOULD INCLUDE!
* EMPLOYEE’S NAME AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBER;
* DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT ;
* JOB TITLE ;
* WAGES PAID IN RESPECT OF EACH WAGE PERIOD;
* WAGE PERIOD;
* PERIODS OF ANNUAL LEAVE, SICK LEAVE, MATERNITY LEAVE AND HOLIDAYS ENTITLED AND TAKEN PLUS RESPECTIVE PAYMENTS MADE ;
* AMOUNT OF END OF YEAR PAYMENT PAYABLE UNDER PART HA OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE PERIOD COVERED;
* NOTICE PERIOD FOR TERMINATION OF CONTRACT; AND
* DATE OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.
ANY EMPLOYER WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE ABOVE REQUIREMENTS IS LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF 85 000.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE AT ANY BRANCH OFFICES OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OR THE WAGE SECURITY UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
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/15
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
15
MEET-THE-MEDIA * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, MR CHAU CHAM-SON; PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT, MR JOSE LEI; PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR, MR CHRISTOPHER RILEY; AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, MR LOUIS HALL WILL MEET THE MEDIA ON THURSDAY (MAY 2) AT 4 PM IN GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON 5TH FLOOR» BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
NEW PLAYGROUND FOR WONG TAI SIN * * *
ANOTHER PLAYGROUND MANAGED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL OPENS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) IN WONG TAI SIN.
THE SHEK KU LUNG ROAD PLAYGROUND, COSTING ABOUT $5.3 MILLION, IS BUILT ON A 1.3-HECTARE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF CARPENTER ROAD AND SHEK KU LUNG ROAD.
WORK ON THE PROJECT BEGAN IN MAY LAST YEAR AND HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED.
THE PLAYGROUND PROVIDES LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH MUCH NEEDED SPORTING FACILITIES INCLUDING FOUR TENNIS COURTS WITH FLOODLIGHTS, TWO VOLLEYBALL-CUM-BADMINTON COURTS AND TWO 5-A-SIDE SOCCER PITCHES WHICH ARE THE FIRST OF THEIR TYPE IN THE DISTRICT.
THE TENNIS COURTS WILL BE OPEN DAILY BETWEEN 6 A.M.
AND 11 P.M. AND THE OTHER COURTS BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 11 P.M.
BOOKINGS FOR USE OF THE TENNIS COURTS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE PLAYGROUND’S BOOKING OFFICE.
I ; .
APPLICATIONS FOR USE OF ThE VOLLEYBALL COURTS AND THE SOCCER PITCHES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON EAST REGIONAL OFFICE, AMOY PLAZA, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD (TEL. NO. 3-7553972).
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
16
CLOSURE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES SOUGHT * * X X
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS SEEKING THE CLOSURE OF TWO ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON THE ROOF OF 12 JUPITER STREET, HONG KONG.
THE PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES WITHOUT DANGER TO PEOPLE.
।A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN THE VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON MAY 28, 1985 WAS POSTED ON THE STRUCTURES TODAY (TUESDAY).
'THE CLOSURE IS PART OF THE EXERCISE TO ENFORCE THE ORDERS ISSUED UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE IN AUGUST, 1984 REQUIRING THE DEMOLITION OF THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AS A RESULT OF THE OWNERS’ FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDER.
DEMOLITION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLOSURE ORDER I S MADE.
i
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SEMINAR PROMOTES BETTER SERVICE, COURTESY
X X X X
A SEMINAR TO PROMOTE BETTER SERVICE AND COURTESY IN THE l IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WAS OPENED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF ' IMMIGRATION, MR ALAN CARTER.
THE SEMINAR, ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE STAFF MANAGEMNT AND DISCIPLINE DIVISION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, IS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO STRESS GOVERNMENT’S OBJECTIVES OF COMBINING COURTEOUS AND EFFICIENT SERVICE WITH MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY.
NINE CHIEF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND 17 SERVICE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WJLL BE BRIEFED ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM PILOT PROJECTS ON IMPROVEMENTS IN COURTESY CONDUCTED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH.
DURING THE NEXT EIGHT WEEKS, THE OFFICERS WILL CONDUCT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THEIR OFFICES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THEIR STAFF, AND THEN DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCES IN ANOTHER SEMINAR IN JULY.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935
17
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TORN DOWN * * * *
• TWELVE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ALONG WAN TSUI LANE IN CHAI WAN WEftE DEMOLISHED IN A CLEARANCE OPERATION CARRIED OUT TODAY (TUESDAY) DY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IN CO-ORDINATION WITH THE POLICE, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT CFf ICE.
YHE STRUCTURES.WERE ALL USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND STORAGE PURPOSES. ;
Uj I
TODAY’S OPERATION WAS PART OF A CLEARANCE PROGRAMME INITIATED BY-THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD TO IMPROVE DISTRICT’S ENVIRONMENT.
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BOARD WANTS PUBLIC SESSION ON AIR ****** i -
=• CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS A , PROPOSAL TO SCHEDULE +MEET-THE-PUBLIC+ PROGRAMMES ON RADIO, AT THEIR MEETING ON THURSDAY (MAY 2) AFTERNOON.
IF THE PROPOSAL IS APPROVED, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG WILL BE ASKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SCHEDULING REGULAR PROGRAMMES FOR DISTRICT BOARDS DURING THEIR MEET-THE-PUBLIC SESSIONS, WHICH WILL ALSO SERVE AS A MEANS OF CIVIC EDUCATION.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, WILL ATTEND THE MEETING.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE URBAN COUNCIL’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME AND THE WORK PLAN OF LIAISON ACTIVITIES OF THE ICAC SOONVAR OFFICE FOR 1985-86.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR THE ALLOCATION CF DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS, AND AN INFORMATION PAPER ON PRIVATE ROADS.
|
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY (MAY 2) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF WILLIE BUILDING, 222-224 DES VOEUX ROAD, CENTRAL.
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/18........
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1965
18
BOARD CHAIRMAN ELECTED * * * *
MR MICHAEL CHENG TAK-KIN *AS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE WONG Th I SIN DISTRICT BOARD AT A MEETING HELD THIS AFTERNOON.
• THE NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD WILL BE HELD ON MAY 7 (TUESDAY). !• '
TOPPING-OUT OF NEW WORKSHOP AT PIK UK
* * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, WILL OFFICIATE AT A TOPPING-OUT CEREMONY OF THE NEW WORKSHOP BUILDING AT PIK UK PRISON ON FRIDAY (MAY 3) MORNING.
PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY, THE PRESS WILL BE TAKEN ON A TOUR ' CF THE MINIMUM SECURITY PRISON, WHICH INCLUDES A MULTI-STOREY LAUNDRY CATERING FOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, TAILORING WORKSHOPS, DORMITORIES AND A HOSPITAL.
THERE WILL BE FIXED PRESS POSITIONS DURING THE TOUR OF THE PRISON.
I
j. NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. HOWEVER, NOMINATION IS LIMITED TO ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM ONE NEWS ORGANISATION. TELEVISION STATIONS MAY SEND TWO REPRESENTATIVES.
EDITORS ARE REQUESTED TO SUBMIT THE NAME AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBER OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT BY TELEPHONING 5-756521 EXTENSION 265 OR 267 DURING OFFICE HOURS. THE DEADLINE IS . 5 PM ON THURSDAY (MAY 2).
PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT 9.4-5 AM SHARP. THOSE TRAVELLING ON THEIR OWN SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE ENTRANCE OF PIK UK PRISON, CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD, KOwLOON, NOT LATER THAN 10.20 AM.
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/19........
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
19
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON WONG WAI-CHING ON FEBRUARY 16, 1983 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
WONG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF MR LAM CHIU-FANG ON MAY 17, 1982.
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BURST WATER MAIN DISRUPTS TRAFFIC
K * K X
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN NGAU TAU KOK FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO FACILITATE ROAD REPAIR wORKS ON CHUN WAH ROAD AS A RESULT OF THE BURSTING OF WATERMAINS.
X CHUN WAH ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AND ON WAH STREET IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
* CHUN WAH ROAD RIGHT-TURNING INTO ON WAH STREET IS BANNED.
* WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON CHUN WAH ROAD HEADING FOR NGAU TAU KOK ROAD IS DIVERTED VIA CHUN WAH ROAD, ON WAH STREET, ON TAK ROAD AND NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
* TRAFFIC ON NGAU TAU KOK ROAD SOUTHBOUND HEADING FOR ON WAH STREET VIA CHUN WAH ROAD IS DIVERTED VIA ON TAK ROAD AND ON WAH STREET.
* KMB ROUTES NO. 2A, 23M AND 28 ARE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA CHUN WAH ROAD, NGAU TAU KOK BUS TERMINUS, JORDAN VALLEY NORTH ROAD AND NGAU TAU KOK ROAD ON THEIR JOURNEYS FROM LOK WAH ESTATE.
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/20........
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1985
20
TEN-HOUR ROAD CLOSURE * * *
THE NORTHBOUND SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN WO HOP SHEK CONNECTION AND SOUTH WEST LOOP ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 7 PM ON FRIDAY (MAY 3) TO 5 AM ON SATURDAY (MAY 4) TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO DIVERT VIA WO HOP SHEK MINI-ROUNDABOUT AND WO HOP SHEK CONNECTION.
TRAFFIC CHANGES * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MAY 3), ALL VEHICLES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING GOLDEN HILL ROAD AT KAM SHAN COUNTRY PARK DURING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
FROM THE SAME DAY, RESTRICTIONS ON THE FOLLOWING ZONES IN LUEN WO HUI WILL BE LIFTED:
* THE EASTERN SIDE OF LUEN HING STREET BETWEEN WO TAI STREET AND WO FUNG STREET.
* THE WESTERN SIDE OF LUEN SHING STREET BETWEEN WO TAI STREET AND WO FUNG STREET.
AND THE TAXI STAND IN LUEN HING STREET WILL BE SHORTENED.
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