DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG, TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACTING GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON ......................... 1
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER RELEASED ................. 2
CNTA CENTRES PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CHANNEL..................... 7
FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS FOR SOUTHERN RESIDENTS .............. 7
SAI KUNG FESTIVAL STARTS TOMORROW ......................... 9
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL FOR MONG KOK............................. 10
RECREATION CENTRE FOR TSUEN WAN PARK....................... 10
SITTING-OUT AREA FOR SHAM SHUT PD ......................... 11
CENTRAL GOODS VEHICLES RESTRICTION EXTENDED ............... 11
,.IIIDAY, iOSBRUARY 1, 198?
ACTING GOVERNOR lFAVcS c0R LONDON * * * * *
The ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, LEFT FOR LONDON THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING TO BRING THE New GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS wHEN HE HAD PEEN ACTING GOVERNOR.
SIR DAVID TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT THAT HE wOULD BRIEF SIR DAVID WILSON ON EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEw MONTHS, THE SUBJECTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO DEAL wlTd IM HONG KONb, AND THE PROGRESS OF THE °RF°ARATION OF THE GREEN PAPER AND GOVERNMENT’S THOUGHTS ON THE PAPER.
HE SAID THAT wHIlE IN ENGLAND, HE ALSO HOPED TO MEET WITH SOME CF THE PEOPLE wHO wOULD BE IN LONDON AT THE TIME.
+l HOPE TO BE ABlE TO SEE SIR oEOFi-REY HOWE AND HAVE A TALK WITH HIM,+ HE SAID.
IN REPLY TO A QUES'ION, 5 IF DAVID STRESSED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO DELAY IN THE RELEASE OF THE GREEN PAPER.
♦ THE PRECISE DATE OF wHEN THE GREEN PAPER wOULD BE ISSUED HASN’T BEEN ANNOUNCED, BUT IT «ILL BE IN THE FIRST HALF OF TH Io YEAR.+
ASKED WHETHER HF wOjLD DISCUSS HIS FUTURE ROLE IN THE GOVER'R . I wITH THE NEw GOVERNOR, >IF DAV II aAID: +NATURALLY I WILL PE TALK I Qu TO HIM ABOUT THAT.+
ON WHETHER HE WOULD KEEP cADY YOUDE INFORMED ABOUT THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND, SIR DAVID oAlt HE DID NOT KNOW WHETHER HE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE T' MEFT WITH LADY YOUDE, PUT HE wOULD CERT U iL r TALK TO HER ON THE PHONE.
WHEN ASKED TO CONFIRM REPORTS THAT H. GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING TO RELOCATE THE HMS TAMAR HEADQUARTERS IN QUEENSWAY, HE SAID: +NO THOUGHT IS BEING GIVEN TO THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME. IT’S A LONG wAY AHEAD AND THE REPORTS ARE PURELY SPECULATIVE.+
SIR DAVID wAS SEEN OFF BY THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, HE DAVID FORD, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S. Y. CHUNG, AND THE ACTING SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Afi S. L. CHEN.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, I. ’ /
2
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER RELEASED
*****
STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH SHOWED AN ACCELERATION IN THE GROWTH RATE OF HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS IN DECEMBER. FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS ALSO RECORDED RAPID GROWTH.
HONG KONG DOLLAR Ml (THE NARROWEST DEFINITION OF MONEY SUPPLY) INCREASED RAPIDLY IN DECEMBER. HONG KONG DOLLAR M2 AND M3 ALSO GREW. FASTER THAN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTHS.
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES GREW FASTER IN DECEMBER. LOANS TO FINANCE HONG KONG’S VISIBLE TRADE INCREASED AFTER THE FALL IN NOVEMBER. OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG REGISTERED A HIGHER GROWTH RATE THAN IN THc PREV IOUS MONTH.
TABLE 1 SETS OUT SUMMARY FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1986 AND COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER MONTHS. TABLE 2 SETS OUT FIGURES FROM THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR.
DEPOSITS
IN DECEMBER, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEMAND DEPOSITS INCREASED RAPIDLY, BY 8.5 PER CENT, AFTER AN INCREASE OF 2.4 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER} A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR, BUT PROBABLY ONLY TO A MODEST EXTENT, WAS THE OVER-SUBSCRIPTION TO A SHARE ISSUE TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.
SAVINGS AND TIME DEPOSITS ALSO INCHEmSED FASTER THAN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, BY 3.7 PER CENT AND 1.7 PEP CENT, RESPECTIVELY.
TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 3.3 PER CENT AFTER INCREASES OF 2.2 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND 1.2 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OVER THE CALENDAR YEAR 1986, THESE DEPOSITS GREW BY 15.5 PER CENT.
FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS ALSO GREW FASTER IN DECEMBER, BY 2.8 PER CENT AFTER INCREASES OF 2.7 PER CENT IN OCTOBER AND 1.4 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE DEPOSITS GREw BY 34.0 PER CENT.
FOREIGN CURRENCY SWAP DEPOSITS DECREASED BY 1.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. ADJUSTED TO INCLUDE THESE DEPOSITS, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS GREW BY 2.9 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 15.6 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR} ADJUSTED FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS GREW BY 3.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND BY 36.1 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR.
/DEPOSITS .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
DEPOSITS (ALL CURRENCIES) WITH BANKS INCREASED BY 3.5 PER CEi-iT IN DECEMBER WHILE THOSE WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY 0.3 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, THE FORMER GREW BY 33.8 PEk CENT WHILE THE LATTER FELL BY 12.9 PER CENT.
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY Ml GREW AT A RAPID PACE IN DECEMBER, BY 6.2 PER CENT AFTER AN INCREASE OF 2.0 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. HKftM2 AND HKSM3 ALSO GREW MORE RAPIDLY THAN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH, BY 4.2 PER CENT AND 3.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, HK$M1 GREW BY 23.4 PER CENT, HK$M2 BY 22.2 PER CENT AND HKSM3 BY 16.0 PER CENT.
TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY
TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY Ml INCREASED BY 5.0 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AFTER HAVING INCREASED BY 2.6 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. TOTAL M2 AND TOTAL M3 GREW BY 3.5 PER CENT AND 3.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. OVER THE YEAR, TOTAL Ml INCREASED BY 23.0 PER CENT, TOTAL M2 PY 32 8 PER CENT AND TOTAL M3 BY 24.8 PER CENT.
LOANS AND ADVANCES
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED AT A FASTER PACE IN DECEMBER, BY 1.2 PER CENT AFTER AN INCREASE OF ONLY 0.1 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. OVER THE YEmp., THEY GREW BY 13.8 PER CENT.
LOANS DENOMINATED IN HONG KONG DOLLARS GREW BY 1.4 PER CENT IN DECEMBER WHILE LOANS DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES INCREASED BY 1.1 PER CENT. OVER THE YEAR, THE FORMER GREW BY 12.2 PER CENT wHILL THE LATTER GREW BY 15.4 PER CENT.
WITHIN THE TOTAL, LOANS TO FINANCE THE VISIBLE TRADE OF HONG KONG INCREASED BY 1.8 PER CENT AFTER A FALL OF 0.8 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER! OVER THE YEAR THEY GREW BY 15.1 PER CENT. OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG INCREASED BY 1.8 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AFTER AN INCREASE OF 0.7 PER CENT IN NOVEMBERj OVER THE YEAR, THEY GREW BY 15.2 PER CENT.
/QUARTERLY ANALYSIS.......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY
SECTOR
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1986, LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ROSE BY 5.8 PER CENT AFTER AN INCREASE OF 6.6 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 27.4 PER CENT. LOANS TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES FELL BY 3.0 PER CENT, FOLLOWING A RAPID INCREASE OF <>.9 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 13.9 PER CENT.
LOANS TO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR FELL BY 8.1 PER CENT AFTER A RISE OF 3.2 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS FELL BY 13.7 PER CENT.
LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY (OTHER THAN FLATS IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME) CONTINUED TO INCREASE, BY 7.7 PER CENT AFTER AN INCREASE OF 8.6 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND 11.6 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, REFLECTING THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN ACTIVITY IN THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MARKET. OVER THE YEAR, THESE LOANS GREW BY 36.1 PER CENT.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS, LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKINO COMPANIES AND REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 148, 38 AND 254 RESPECTIVELY.
/TABLE 1 : M0N1OTARY..........
5
SUh'MY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
TABLE 1 : MONETARY STATISTICS - DECEMBER 1986
(HKSmn)
Dec 1986 Nov 1986 (54 Earlier months change to December 1986)
Money Supply Sep 1986 Dec 1985
Ml - HK$ 51,600 48,581 ( CJ 1 CD 1 1 %) 45,603 ( 13.2 %} 41,806 ( 23.4 55)
Foreign currency 4,494 4,821 ( -6.8 Oz \ J 4,293 ( 4.7 54) 3,460 f 29.9 54)
Total 56,094 53,403 ( 5.0 54) 49,896 ( 12.4 54) 45,266 ( 23.9 %)
M2 - HK$ 237,776 228,167 ( 4.2 54) 218,419 ( 8.9 %) 194,641 ( 22.2 54)
Foreign currency 280,355 272,526 ( 2.9 %) 259,447 ( 8.1 55) 195,597 ( 43.3 55)
Total 518,131 500,693 ( 3.5 %) 477,866 ( 8.4 %) 390,239 f \ 32.8 O' > J
M3 - HK$ 270,517 261,551 r k 3.4 54) 253,152 ( 6.9 54) 233,230 ( 16.0 55)
Foreign currency 323,569 314,902 ( 2.8 54) 301,587 ( 7.3 %) 242,730 ( 33.3 O/ \ /Q )
Total 594,085 576,453 ( 3.1 54) 554,739 ( 7.1 55) 475,960 ( 24.8 55)
Deposits
Demand deposits 36,799 34,590 ( 6.4 54) 31,445 ( 17.0 55) 28,409 ( 29.5 %)
Savings deposits 125,476 120,926 ( 3.8 54) 113,219 ( 10.8 %) 98,765 ( 27.0 %)
Time deposits with banks 329,078 319,369 ( 3.0 %) 307,873 ( 6.9 54) 240,050 ( 37.1 %)
Time deposits with dtcs 71,176 70,992 ( 0.3 %) 72,989 ( -2.5 54) 81,744 (■ “12.9 %)
All HK$ deposits 245,103 237,184 ( 3.3 %) 229.292 ( 6.9 55) 212,132 ( 15.5 O' ) zo )
All foreign currency deposits 317,426 308,693 r k 2.8 54) 296,235 ( 7.2 55) 236,837 ( 34.0 %)
Total 562,529 545,877 ( 3.1 %) 525,527 ( 7.0 55) 448,968 ( 25.3 55)
Loans and advances
To finance H.K.’s visible trade 35,502 34,864 ( 1.8 %) 34,400 ( 3.2 e/ *1 zo J 30,855 ( 15.1 %)
To finance merchandising trade 4,595 3,978 ( 15.5 %) 6,857 (• -33.0 55) 3,738 22.9
not touching H.K.
Other loans for use in H.K. 270,729 265,894 ( 1.8 54) 262,058 ( 3.3 55) 234,943 ( 15.2 %)
Other loans for use outside H.K. 160,694 160,084 ( 0.4 55) 163,608 ( -1.8 55) 146,319 ( 9.8 %)
Other loans where the place of 29,077 29,665 ( -2.0 54) 29,192 ( -0.4 55) 24,109 f I 20.6 %}
use is not known
All loans in HK$ 250,226 246,805 ( 1.4 54) 239,165 ( 4.6 55) 222,929 ( 12.2 %)
All loans in foreign currencies 250,371 247,680 ( 1.1 55) 256,949 ( -2.6 55) 217,035 ( 15.4 %)
Total 500,596 494,485 ( 1.2 54) 496,114 ( 0.9 55) 439,964 ( 13.8 55)
/TABLE 2 t QUARTERLY .......
6
SUNDAY, FEBRUABY 1, 1987
TABLE 2 ■ QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR - DECEMBER 1386
(HK$mn)
Dec 1986 Sep Earlier quarters 1985
(% change to December 1986) Dec
1986 Jun 1986
Manufacturing 25,140 23 773 ( 5.8 %) 22,294 ( 12.8 %) 19,726 (27.4 %'j
Transport and transport 18,060 05 ( -7.0 %) 19,988 ( -9.6 %) 19,744 1 co 3$
equipment
Building, construction and 34,603 37,635 ( -8.1 %) 36,466 ( -5.1 %) 40,080 (-13.7 %)
property development
Wholesale and retail trade 33,650 34,708 ( -3.0 %) 31,577 ( 6.6 %) 29,540 ( 13.9 %)
Financial concerns* 23,064 22,424 ( 2.9 %) 21,113 ( 9.2 %) 19,532 ( 18.1 %)
Individuals:
to purchase flats in the Home Ownership Scheme and Private Sector Participation Scheme 6,260 6,309 ( -0.8 %) 6,030 ( 3.8 %) 5,708 ( 9.7 %)
to purchase other residential 42,902 39,835 ( 7.7 %) 35,699 ( 20.2 %) 31,522 (36.1 %)
property
other purposes 29,410 26,194 ( 12.3 %) 24,489 ( 20.1 %) 22,989 (27.9 %)
Others 57,640 51,752 ( 11.4 %) 49,380 ( 16.7 %) 46,102 ( 25.0 %)
Total 270,729 262,058 ( 3.3 %) 247,037 ( 9.6 %) 234,943 ( 15.2 %)
* This excludes funds advanced to banks and deposit-taking companies
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
7
CNTA CENTRES PROVIDE EFFECTIVE CHANNEL * * * * *
THE PUBLIC ENQUIRIES SERVICES CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) HAVE PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE CHANNELS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
+A LARGE VOLUME OF COPIES OF GOVERNMENT CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE PESC’S LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE 19 DISTR ICTS,+ A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE PUBLIC IS SHOWING AN INCREASING INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND IN THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW POLICIES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SA ID.
+CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENTS ON THE MEDICAL SERVICES IN HOSPITALS EXECUTIVE REVIEW REVIEW OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (JSEA) SYSTEM, PUBLIC HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND RENT DOMESTIC POLICY AS WELL AS PROPOSALS ON THE SYSTEMS FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES AND WAYS TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEMS HAD AROUSED MUCH PUBLIC INTEREST WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF BETWEEN 20 □□□ AND 30 000 COPIES EACH OF THE SUBJECT PUBLICATIONS LAST YEAR,+ HE ADDED.
AMONG ABOUT 16 700 ENQUIRIES THE PESC’S HANDLED DAILY LAST YEAR, A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
+T0 UPDATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND TO ENSURE EFFICIENT SERVICES, PESC STAFF ATTEND REGULAR BRIEFING SESSIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC CONCERN,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THROUGH THESE CENTRES, PEOPLE ALSO AIRED COMPLAINTS ABOUT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND WERE GIVEN ADVICE ON LEGAL AND RENTAL PROBLEMS UNDER THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME AND THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME.
- - 0 - -
FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS FOR SOUTHERN RESIDENTS
*****
SOUTHERN DISTRICT RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN A NUMBER OF CARNIVALS AND VARIETY SHOWS BEING FELD IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DISTRICT OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, THE LUNAR NEW YEAR GATHERINGS WILL BE HELD IN TIN WAN, AP LEI CHAU, WAH FU, POK FU LAM AND SHEK 0.
/A DISTRICT
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
8
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES WILL HELP PROMOTE NEIGHBOURLINESS, ENHANCE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND BOOST CO-OPERATION AMONG VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS.
THE DATE, TIME AND VENUE OF THE ACTIVITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AREA DATE-TIME VENUE
AP LEI CHAU FEBRUARY 8 (SUNDAY) 9 AM - 7 PM AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL AND OPPOSITE OPEN SPACE
STANLEY AND SHEK 0 FEBRUARY 8 (SUNDAY) 6 PM - 10 PM SHEK 0 CARPARK
WAH FU FEBRUARY 8 (SUNDAY) 2 PM - 10.30 PM WAH HONG SQUARE, WAH FU ESTATE
TIN WAN FEBRUARY 15 (SUNDAY) 2 PM - 10.30 PM TIN WAN ESTATE BLOCK 6 SOCCER PITCH
POK FU LAM FEBRUARY 15 (SUNDAY) 2 PM - 6 PM CHI FU FA YUEN SKATING RINK
THE ACTIVITIES ARE BEING ORGANISED BY AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL BODIES AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE PROGRAMMES INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY PROFESSIONAL ARTISTES AND LOCAL GROUPS, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, STALL GAMES, LANTERN DESIGN CONTEST, LANTERN QUIZZES AS WELL AS EXHIBITIONS.
CIVIC EDUCATION WILL BE THE THEME OF THE CARNIVAL IN SHEK 0 WHICH WILL INCLUDE A SESSION FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH RESIDENTS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
TIN WAN AND AP LEI CHAU, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL STAGE EXHIBITIONS ON CIVIC EDUCATION AND DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
IN ADDITION, THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL JOINTLY PRESENT A CANTONESE OPERA AT 8 PM ON FEBRUARY 3 (TUESDAY) IN THE WAH FU COMMUNITY HALL. ADMISSION IS FREE.
- - 0---------
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
9
SAI KUNG FESTIVAL STARTS TOMORROW
*****
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT FESTIVAL WILL BE MARKED BY A SERIES OF SPORTS EVENTS TOMORROW (MONDAY) BEFORE THE OPENING CEREMONY AT THE TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND.
A NEW YEAR MARATHON WILL BE HELD AT 9 AM WITH SOME 300 RESIDENTS TAKING PART.
PARTICIPANTS. WILL RUN ALONG A 10-KILOMETRE SCENIC ROUTE STARTING FROM THE LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE AND TO THE SPORTS GROUND.
after the race, a championship football match will be held at 11 AM BETWEEN THE TOP TWO TEAMS THAT PLAYED IN A SERIES OF MATCHES EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT 12.30 PM.
SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN HO, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WILLIAM WAN, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WAN-HEI, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
APART FROM SPORT EVENTS FOR THE FESTIVAL, MANY OTHER PROGRAMMES WILL ALSO BE HELD IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS. THESE PROGRAMMES INCLUDE A VARIETY SHOW, A DISCO NIGHT, CONCERTS, CARNIVALS, CANTONESE OPERA, SPORTS DAY AND FILM SHOWS.
ADMISSIONS TO THE PROGRAMMES, EXCEPT THE DISCO NIGHT, WILL BE FREE. TICKETS AND PAMPHLETS CONCERNING THE FESTIVAL ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICES, RENNIE’S MILL SERVICE CENTRE AND ALL THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE OFFICES.
THE DISTRICT FESTIVAL IS ORGANISED BY A PREPARATORY COMMITTEE WHICH COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, RURAL COMMITTEES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FOOTBALL MATCH FINAL AND THE OPENING CEREMONY OF SAI KUNG DISTRICT FESTIVAL TOMORROW AT TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND. SAI KUNG TOWN. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO USE TRANSPORT TO COVER THE START OF THE MARATHON AT THE LADY MACLEHOSE VILLAGE SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, NEXT TO STAR FERRY, BY 8 AM.
- - 0 - -
/10
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
- 10 -
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL FOR MONG KOK * * * X *
A NEW YEAR CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD FOR RESIDENTS OF MONG KOK AT MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND NEXT SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
THE VARIETY SHOW WILL INCLUDE A LION DANCE, MAGIC SHOW, CHINESE DANCING AND SINGING.
THE FUNCTION IS ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE HONG KONG BANK FOUNDATION.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD J TAI KOK TSUI BRANCH OFFICE, 85 IVY STREETj AND LIM POR YEN CENTRE, 110 BEECH STREET.
----0----------
RECREATION CENTRE FOR TSUEN WAN PARK X X X X
WORK ON BUILDING A AT TSO KUNG TAM PARK IN
SEVEN-STOREY RECREATION AND SPORTS CENTRE TSUEN WAN WILL START SHORTLY.
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS JUST AWARDED A SA-1.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE WORK.
THE BUILDING IS THE STAGE 1 WORK WHICH IS OFF ROUTE TWISK TO THE NORTH
OF THE 5.7-HECTARE PARK OF TSUEN WAN.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE BUILDING WILL INCLUDE A MULTI-PURPOSE GAMES HALL, THREE SQUASH COURTS AND VARIOU
ACTIVIT IES AREAS.
A DORMITORY WING FOR ORGANISED NG FACILITIES WILL ALSO BE BUILT.
AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL RESIDENTIAL COURSES AND CAMPI
THE BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JULY 1988.
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/11 ..
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1987
11
SITTING-OUT AREA FOR SHAM SHU I PO
*****
WORK ON BUILDING A SITTING-OUT AREA AT SHAM SHUI PO WILL START SOON FOLLOWING THE AWARD RECENTLY OF AN #864 OOO CONTRACT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL OCCUPY A 1 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE BETWEEN LAI CHl KOK ROAD AND TAI NAM STREET, AND INCLUDE PAVILIONS, WOODEN ARBOURS, COVERED WALKWAYS AND PLANTERS.
ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE A CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA WITH PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SIX MONTHS.
- - 0 - -
CENTRAL GOODS VEHICLES RESTRICTION EXTENDED
*****
FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 4), THE EXISTING PEAK-HOUR (7 - 10 AM AND 4 - 7 PM) DAILY GOODS VEHICLE RESTRICTED ZONE ON THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE EXTENDED TO OPERATE FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
THE RESTRICTED ZONE RUNS FROM A POINT ABOUT 50 METRES WEST CF THE ROAD’S JUNCTION WITH PEDDER STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 10 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH DOUGLAS STREET.
THE MEASURE, LASTING FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, WILL FACILITATE WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH THE UPGRADED CONNAUGHT ROAD PROJECT.
NO GOODS VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING ACTIVITIES.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
REASONABLY PRICED TRANSPORT SYSTEM THE AIM ................. T
(SLANTS APPROVED FOR SPORTS PROJECTS ....................... 2
FRUITING INDUSTRY ANTICIPATES MODERATE GROWTH............... 3
SEAWALL TO BE BUILT OFF PENG CHAU........................... 4
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ELDERLY IN TAI PO ....................... 5
MUSIC GATA FOR KHUN TONG CHILDREN........................... 5
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ....................................... 6
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1987
- 1 -
REASONABLY PRICED TRANSPORT SYSTEM THE AIM
*****
THE PUBLIC WAS TODAY (MONDAY) ASSURED THAT A FARE INCREASE BY THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES WOULD NOT BE APPROVED UNNECESSARILY AND WOULD ONLY BE GRANTED WHEN IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT (TRANSPORT SERVICES), MR DAVID LAN, ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLY PRICED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM THAT WAS EFFICIENT AND GENERALLY OF A HIGH STANDARD.
MR LAN SAID THAT WHEN AN APPLICATION FOR A FARE INCREASE WAS RECEIVED, THE DETAILED FINANCIAL AND OTHER SUPPORTING DATA SUBMITTED BY THE COMPANY WERE SUBJECTED TO CLOSE SCRUTINY AND ANALYSIS BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
♦ ALL POSSIBLE COST-CUTTING MEASURES ARE EXPLORED TO SEE IF ANY REDUCTIONS CAN BE MADE WHICH WOULD NOT RESULT IN A DETERIORATION IN SERVICE OR IMPEDE NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS.
♦ THEREAFTER the application and supporting data are considered IN DETAIL BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO WILL BE CHECKING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THE PROPOSED FARE SCALES ARE FAIR AND APPROPRIATE.
♦thereafter their advice will be submitted to the executive
COUNCIL FOR DECISION,+ HE SAID.
MR LAN SAID THE TWO BUS COMPANIES WERE REGULATED UNDER THE TERMS Of THE PUBLIC BUS SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THEIR FRANCHISES.
COMMENCING IN 1985, MR LAN SAID, THE FRANCHISED COMPANIES WERE REQUIRED EACH YEAR TO DRAw UP THEIR OWN FIVE-YEAR FORWARD PLANNING PROGRAMME WHICH REQUIRED THE GOVERNMENT’S APPROVAL.
♦ THE ANNUAL PREPARATION OF THESE PROGRAMMES ENABLES GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT A COMPANY EXPANDS OR ADJUSTS ITS LEVELS OF SERVICE, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHANGING TRAVEL PATTERNS.
♦ IT ALSO ENSURES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A COMPANY CANNOT OVERINVEST IN ORDER TO BOOST ITS ASSET BASE.+ HE SAID.
WITH REGARD TO THE FINANCES OF THE BUS OPERATORS, MR LAN SAID BOTH THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY AND THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY WERE GOVERNED BY A SCHEME OF CONTROL UNDER WHICH THE TWO COMPANIES WERE PERMITTED RESPECTIVELY A 16 PER CENT AND 15 PER CENT RETURN ON AVERAGE NET FIXED ASSETS.
HE SAID THE PERMITTED RATES WERE CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE IN PROVIDING THE COMPANIES WITH THE FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR INVESTMENT, ADDING THAT THERE WAS PROVISION FOR THE OPERATION OF THE PROFIT CONTROL SCHEME TO BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS.
/♦IN PACT, ........
MOIIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1987
2
+IN FACT, SOME MINOR ACCOUNTING ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE AS RECENTLY AS LAST YEAR, AND THE SCHEME WILL AGAIN BE REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN 1988,+ HE SAID.
EXPLAINING WHY FARE INCREASES WERE NECESSARY FROM TIME TO TIME MR LAN SAID FARES WERE SET AT A LEVEL WHICH WOULD GENERATE SUFFICIENT INCOME OVERALL TO COVER OPERATING COSTS AND A REASONABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
HE SAID FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT INCLUDED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, OPERATING COSTS INCLUDING WAGES, GENERAL INFLATION, EXCHANGE AND INTEREST RATES, LEVELS OF SERVICE AND OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS DECLINES IN PATRONAGE RESULTING IN AN OVERALL REDUCTION IN REVENUE.
+WHERE TOTAL COSTS EXCEED TOTAL REVENUE AS A RESULT OF ALL OR ANY OF THESE FACTORS, FARES NEED TO BE INCREASED SIMPLY TO MAINTAIN EXISTING STANDARDS AND LEVELS OF SERVICE,* HE SAID.
MR LAN ADDED THAT IT WAS UNREALISTIC TO THINK IN TERMS OF FREEZING FARES UNLESS PEOPLE WERE PREPARED TO ACCEPT A DETERIORATION IN THE STANDARDS OF SERVICE PROVIDED’ OR THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WAS WILLING TO SUBSIDISE THE BUS OPERATORS OR SEE THE NATIONALISATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
WITHOUT ARGUING THE MERITS AND DEMERITS OF NATIONALISATION, MR LAN SAID THE PRESENT SYSTEM WHEREBY PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, OR BY PRIVATE CORPORATIONS WORKING ON COMMERCIAL LINES, HAD SERVED THE PUBLIC WELL.
+1 BELIEVE THIS HAS PROVED ITSELF TO BE THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS AVAILABLE AT REASONABLE COST TO THE CONSUMER, I.E. THE PASSENGER, RATHER THAN TO THE TAXPAYER IN GENERAL THROUGH DIRECT SUBSIDY,* HE SAID.
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grants approved for sports projects
*****
THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT HAS APPROVED GRANTS TOTALLING ABOUT $1.05 MILLION FOR 24 CAPITAL PROJECTS UNDER THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION IN THE 1986-87 FINANCIAL YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID THAT SINCE 1981 AN ALLOCATION HAD BEEN SET ASIDE EACH YEAR FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION IN AID OF CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR RECREATIONAL, SPORTING, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
/SO FAR, ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1987
SO FAR, 95 CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS HAD BEEN GIVEN GRANTS TOTALLING $7.8 MILLION.
THE 24 PROJECTS APPROVED THIS FINANCIAL YEAR INCLUDED THE SETTING UP OF FUNCTION ROOMS FOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DANCING, GYMNASTICS AND PHOTOGRAPHY, THE PROVISION OF TENNIS COURTS AND BASKETBALL COURTS, AS WELL AS WORKS TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AT CAMP SITES.
THE ORGANISATIONS RECEIVING GRANTS WERE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL, HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, KWUN TONG METHODIST CENTRE, HOLY NATIVITY CHURCH SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE, PO LEUNG KUK PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP, S.K.H. LADY MACLEHOSE CENTRE, SUEN DOUH CAMP, THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, FINNISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY, STEWARDS’ COMPANY - CHAK ON YOUTH CENTRE, YAU MA TEI AND TSIMSHATSUI RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MA WAN FISHERMEN’S BETTER LIVING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, SAN TIN RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LTD (RECREATION CENTRE), TUEN MUN DRAGON BOAT RACE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT BALLET GROUP, EASTERN DISTRICT ARTS COUNCIL, TAI 0 RURAL COMMITTEE AND WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
FOR THE 1987-88 ALLOCATION, APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS WILL BE INVITED IN MARCH WITH THE CLOSING DATE IN MID-MAY.
CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO PROJECTS THAT ARE MAINLY FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, CAN 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.
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PRINTING INDUSTRY ANTICIPATES MODERATE GROWTH * * * * *
MANPOWER OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A MODERATE RATE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, ACCORDING TO FINDINGS UF A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE PRINTINb INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF Trie VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
TO COPE WITH THE MANPOWER NEED FROM 1^87 TO 1991, THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYERS IN THE INDUSTRY SHOULD TAKE IN ABOUT 120 TECHNICIANS AND 530 CRAFTMEN A YEAR.
/THE 1986 ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1987
THE 1986 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY ALSO PREDICTED LOSES OR WASTAGE OF TRAINED PERSONNEL WILL BE AROUND THREE PER CENT.
EMPLOYERS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO TRAIN WORKERS TO FILL POSITIONS VACATED BY THOSE WHO WILL LEAVE THE INDUSTRY BECAUSE CF RETIREMENT, CHANGING JOBS OR OTHER REASONS.
THE WORKFORCE OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY HAD GROWTH BY AN AVERAGE OF 2.5 PER CENT TO 23 765 FROM 22 611 IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE THE LAST SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1984.
THE INDUSTRY’S RECENT UPTURN, ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY REPORT, OCCURRED BECAUSE PRINTERS TURNED BACK TO HONG KONG FOR INVESTMENT PROJECTS AS INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT ELSEWHERE DETERIORATED.
THE RAPID APPRECIATION OF THE JAPANESE YEN HAS ALSO GIVEN LOCAL PRINTERS GREATER PRICE COMPETITIVENESS OVER THEIR JAPANESE COUNTERPARTS.
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SEAWALL TO BE BUILT OFF PENG CHAU * * * * *
A 55 MILLION CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A SEAWALL OFF PENG CHAU.
THE 6O-METRE SEAWALL WILL ENABLE RECLAMATION WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
ON COMPLETION, ABOUT 2 500 SQUARE METRES OF LAND WILL BE PROVIDED FOR AN OPEN SPACE AND PUBLIC TOILETS.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT IS CONSTRUCTION OF A NUMBER OF ROADS AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.
WORKS BEGAN RECENTLY AND WILL TAKE 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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5
BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ELDERLY IN TAI PO * * * * *
ABOUT 1 500 SENIOR RESIDENTS IN TAI PO WILL ENJOY A HAPPY +YAN YAT+ (EVERYONE’S BIRTHDAY) PARTY AT TWO RESTAURANTS ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 4).
THE PARTY FOR THE ELDERLY IS ONE OF THE MAIN ACTIVITIES OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME.
ELDERLY RESIDENTS AGED 73 OR OVER ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE PARTY WHICH IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, TSAT YEUK RURAL COMMITTEE, TAI PO SOCIETIES FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION AND TAI PO MERCHANTS’ ASSOCIATION. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
AT THE PARTY, GOLD MEDALS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE FIVE OLDEST PERSONS WHILE ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE LAI-SEE PACKETS.
,VOLUNTEERS FROM THE ORGANISING BODIES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE ELDERLY.
ACTING TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ANISSA WONG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PARTY.
NOTE TO EDITORS s
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PARTY FOR THE ELDERLY. A CEREMONY TO BEG IT) THE FUNCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE KOON NIN WAH RESTAURANT, HEUNG SZE WUI STREET, TAI PO MARKET, AT 3 PM ON WEDNESDAY.
- - 0 - -
MUSIC GALA FOR KWUN TONG CHILDREN
*****
MORE THAN 20 MUSIC TEAMS WILL TAKE PART IN THE THIRD KWUN TONG DISTRICT CHILDREN MUSIC GALA TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 14 AND 15.
THE FUNCTION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, KWUN TONG CHILDREN'S CHORUS, URBAN COUNCIL AND THE MUSIC OFFICE, AND SPONSORED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD.
THE MUSIC GALA WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE WELLINGTON COLLEGE, TELFORD GARDENS, AT 3 PM ON FEBRUARY 14, AND AT THE SKH KEI HAU SECONDARY SCHOOL IN LAM TIN AT 3 PM ON FEBRUARY 15.
PROGRAMMES WILL INCLUDE BAND PERFORMANCES, HYMN SINGING, AND PIANO AND FLUTE PERFORMANCES.
ADMISSION IS FREE. TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1987
6
WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 57.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 336.865 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 367.725 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 62.7 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RECORD NUMBER OF DISABLED PLACED Bl JOBS .................... 1
500 TO ATTEND KWAI TSBJG SPRING RECEPTION.................... 2
SPRING RECEPTION FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN..................... 2
WAN CH2LI DO HOLDING SPRING RECEPTION........................ 3
SHA TIN DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS FUNDING...................... 3
DISTANCE RUN FOR YAU MA TEI RESIDENTS ....................... 4
NEW ROAD TO SERVE AP LEI CHAU................................ 4
NEW ROAD OPENS IN TUEN MUN................................... 5
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION IN CAUSEWAY BAY .................. 5
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1987
1
RECORD NUMBER OF DISABLED PLACED IN JOBS
*****
the selective placement division of the labour department PLACED A RECORD NUMBER OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS IN EMPLOYMENT IN 1986.
DURING THE YEAR, 1 000 DISABLED PERSONS WERE FOUND JOBS IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DIVISION, COMPARED WITH 790 IN 1985.
OF THE TOTAL, 460 WERE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, 287 DEAF, 110 EX-MENTALLY ILL, 90 MENTALLY RETARDED AND 53 BLIND.
ACCORDING TO THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE DIVISION, MR HOUDINI HO, THE MOST ENCOURAGING RESULT WAS ACHIEVED IN THE PLACEMENT OF EX-MENTALLY ILL AND MENTALLY RETARDED GROUPS WHICH REGISTERED A 150 PER CENT AND 25 PER CENT INCREASE RESPECTIVELY OVER THE FIGURES FOR 1985.
♦THIS INDICATES A MORE POSITIVE CHANGE IN ATTITUDE AMONG EMPLOYERS IN TAKING ON SUCH PERSONS, AND A READY WILLINGNESS TO GIVE THEM A FAIR CHANCE,+ MR HO SAID.
THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION, WHICH WAS SET UP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT IN 1980, PROVIDES A FREE EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT SERVICE TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED OR MENTALLY DISABLED PERSONS WHO WISH TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT IN THE OPEN MARKET.
IT ALSO SERVES EMPLOYERS WHO WISH TO EMPLOY WORKERS WHO ARE CAPABLE ALTHOUGH DISABLED.
+ IN FACT, THE DIVISION HAS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS BROUGHT MANY EMPLOYERS AND DISABLED EMPLOYEES TOGETHER, + MR HO SAID.
♦ AND MANY EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYING DISABLED WORKERS REGULARLY THROUGH US AFTER A SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT OF SERVICE.
♦THESE EMPLOYERS ARE HAPPY BECAUSE THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DISABLED WORKERS IS FOUND ON A PAR WITH THEIR ABLED-BODIES EMPLOYEES.*
MR HO CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO HELP PLACE THE DISABLED IN EMPLOYMENT AS +THIS IS AN ACT OF GOOD FELLOWSHIP AND A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS OUR COMMUNITY*.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1987
2
500 TO ATTEND KWAI TSI NG SPRING RECEPTION * * M * X
MORE THAN 500 KWAI TSI NG RESIDENTS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS WILL ATTEND A SPRING RECEPTION ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 5).
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE SPRING RECEPTION WILL BE THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES.
ALSO PRESENT WILL BE THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK, KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO TUNG-CHING, BOARD MEMBERS AND CHAIRMAN OF THE AREA COMMIT IN THE DISTRICT. '
DURING THE CEREMONY, DR HAYES WILL PRESENT CERTIFICATES CF APPRECIATION TO 14 PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING CONTINUOUSLY FOR OVER TEN YEARS TOWARDS THE GOOD OF THE DISTRICT.
THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE SPRING RECEPTION STARTING AT 4.45 PM ON THURSDAY AT KWAI HING HSIN KUANG RESTAURANT (NEXT TO KWAI HING MTR STATION), HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG.
- - 0 - -
SPRING RECEPTION FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
X * X X
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SPRING RECEPTION TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD FROM 3.30 PM TO 5.30 PM AT THE EXHIBITION HALL, LEVEL 2, SHUN TAK SHOPPING MALL, 200 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
MORE THAN 600 DISTRICT LEADERS, DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL ATTEND THE FUNCTION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE SPRING RECEPTION.
- - 0 - -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1987
3
WAN CHAI DO HOLDING SPRING RECEPTION * * * * *
rnc ™AI DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD A SPRING RECEPTION
FOR DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WE1 L AS LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
the reception will start at 4 PM AT The HOPEWELL city RESTAURANT AT 183 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST.
ATTPNnGl0NAL SECRETARY F0R HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU,
" i L L Ml I L 11 U •
NOTE TO EDITORS s
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE RECEPTION. MR CHAU IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT 5 PM.
------0--------
SHA TIN DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS FUNDING * * * *
THE S HA TIN DISTR I CT BOARD9 S CULTURE AND SPORTS COMM I ttff ii i MEET TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO D I SCUSS AP^L I JI? I ONS FOR^Zs Jn 'LL 17U(“OO•
MEMBERS WILL ALSO RESUME DISCUSSION ON FESTIVE LIGHTING AND CO-OPTED MEMBERSHIP.
THE SHA TIN FESTIVAL,
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD CUI TURF AND SPORTS COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW AT 9 30 AM SLJrr C0NFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTR Icf
Urrllt, KCK HUUSE.
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/4
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1987
4
DISTANCE RUN FOR YAU MA TEI RESIDENTS
*****
RESIDENTS IN YAU MA TEI DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A LONG DISTANCE RUN TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 8 (SUNDAY).
PARTICIPANTS WILL START THE RACE AT GUN CLUB HILL BARRACKS AND RUN ALONG AUSTIN ROAD, COX’S ROAD, JORDAN ROAD AND GASCOIGNE ROAD BEFORE RETURNING TO THE STARTING POINT.
THOSE TAKING PART IN THE MEN'S SENIOR AND INTERMEDIATE SECTIONS WILL COMPLETE A DISTANCE OF 4.5 KILOMETRES WHILE THOSE IN THE WOMEN’S OPEN AND MEN’S JUNIOR SECTIONS WILL COVER THREE KILOMETRES.
WINNERS IN EACH SECTION WILL BE AWARDED PRIZES.
SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
APPLICATIONS FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 490 NATHAN ROAD AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION, AMENITIES AND SPORTS OFFICE AT 18 CAMERON ROAD, FIFTH FLOOR, KOWLOON.
- - 0 - -
NEW ROAD TO SERVE AP LEI CHAU X * * K *
WORK HAS BEGUN ON BUILDING A 65O-METRES-LONG ROAD ON AP LEI CHAU EAST RECLAMATION.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT RECENTLY AWARDED A S5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE 12-MONTH PROJECT.
THE ROAD, TOGETHER WITH ASSOCIATED STORMWATER AND SEWER DRAINS, WILL SERVE PROPOSED BOATYARDS ON THE EAST OF THE ISLAND.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ACCESS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.
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/5 .
ooo»»o
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1987
5
NEW ROAD OPENS IN TUEN MUN * * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6), THE NEW ROAD 5E BETWEEN CHOY YEE BRIDGE AND TSUN WEN ROAD IN TUEN MUN WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC.
WITH THE OPENING OF THIS NEW ROAD, CHOY YEE BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
MOTORISTS HEADING FOR TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE MAY USE ROAD 5E, TSUN WEN ROAD, PUI TO ROAD AND TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD.
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URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION IN CAUSEWAY BAY *****
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6), THE FLYOVER LEADING FROM HUNG HING ROAD TO VICTORIA PARK ROAD IN CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE MADE A 24-HOUR DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY.
NO VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP WITHIN THE FLYOVER FOR passengers OR GOODS.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACTING GOVERNOR TELLS LONDON OF CONCERN OVER REFUGEES ..... 1
MORE FUNDS FOR IMPROVING NEW TOWN OUTSKIRTS ............... 2
RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER RELEASED ......... 3
MORE LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES ARRANGED .................... 8
INMATES PASS PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS .......................... 9
AMBULANCE CHIEF RETIRING .................................. 10
MONG KOK HOLDING SPRING RECEPTION ......................... 10
SPRING RECEPTION FOR 1 200 IN TSUEN WAN ................... 11
SHAM SHUT PO D.O. GIVING SPRING RECEPTION ................. 11
CANTONESE OPERA TREAT FOR SAI KUNG RESIDENTS .............. 12
AIR-CONDITIONING CONTRACT AWARDED ......................... 12
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIONALS OF NIGERIA ................ 13
URBAN CLEhRWAY RESTRICTION ON QUEEN'S ROAD ................ 13
salt water cut ........................................... U
/
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
1
ACTING GOVERNOR TELLS LONDON OF CONCERN OVER REFUGEES *****
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, HAD PERSONALLY CONVEYED TO BOTH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT THE VIEWS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE DEEP CONCERN FELT BY HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON, SIR DAVID SAID HIS CURRENT VISIT TO BRITAIN ENABLED HIM TO DO THIS APART FROM MEETING THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON.
HE ADDED THAT HONG KONG MUST LOSE NO OPPORTUNITY OF IMPRESSING BRITAIN AND THE REST OF THE WORLD ABOUT THE VERY DISTRESSING SITUATION WITH REGARD TO VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE TERRITORY.
SIR DAVID SAID THE OTHER SUBJECTS WHICH WERE DISCUSSED WITH SIR DAVID WILSON INCLUDED THE GREEN PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE WORK OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE WALLED CITY.
HE EXPECTED SIR DAVID WILSON TO ARRIVE IN HONG KONG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL, ABOUT A MONTH OR SO BEFORE THE GREEN PAPER WAS PUBLISHED. HE SAID THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON HOW PUBLIC OPINION ON THE GREEN PAPER WOULD BE ASSESSED WOULD PROBABLY BE MADE IN A FEW WEEKS TIME.
HE SAID THAT SIR DAVID AND LADY WILSON WERE BOTH LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO COMING TO HONG KONG. +HONG KONG IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE WITH SO DEEP AN UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG+, SIR DAVID ADDED.
WHILE IN LONDON, SIR DAVID ALSO MET WITH THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE’ THE PERMANENT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE, SIR PATRICK WRIGHT; DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE, MR DAVID GILMORE AND HEAD OF THE HONG KONG DEPARTMENT OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE, MR CHRISTOPHER HUM.
SIR DAVID SAID HE ALSO MET AN ALL PARTY GROUP OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AT A LUNCH AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, AND WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
ON HIS FUTURE IN THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THE MATTER WOULD BE RAISED IN THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG BEFORE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE.
/HE ADDED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 198?
j. u V.
HE ADDED THAT THERE HAD BEEN WELL CONSTRUCTED PLANS FOR ■ HIM TO LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT AS CHIEF SECRETARY IN JUNE BUT THAT THESE HAD BEEN DISRUPTED BY THE UNTIMELY DEATH OF SIR EDWARD . YOUDE.
SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD SPOKEN WITH LADY YOUDE WHO WAS +VERY DELIGHTED* TO BECOME A TRUSTEE OF THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND AND TO HEAR THAT DONATIONS HAD ALREADY EXCEEDED FIFTY (
MILLION DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE AN INCOME OF SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR EDUATION IN HONG KONG.
HE HOPED THAT LADY YOUDE WOULD BE ABLE TO VISIT HONG KONG SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF HER DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE • PEOPLE AND THE PLACE.
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MORE FUNDS FOR IMPROVING NEW TOWN OUTSKIRTS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SPEND UP TO $32 MILLION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR TO IMPROVE LIFE FOR RESIDENTS LIVING OUTSIDE THE ) NEW TOWNS, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
. I ■', » • .
+SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, FUNDS PROVIDED FOR CNTA LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS WILL INCREASE FROM $14 MnJ-lON IN 1986-87 TO $20 MILLION IN 1987-88. J?
♦THIS WILL INCLUDE FOR THE FIRST TIME A SEPARATE MAINTENANCE ELEMENT SO THAT WE CAN CARRY OUT REGULAR REPAIRS TO LOCAL PUBLfC WORKS PROJECTS,+ DR HAYES SAID.
; ' I 1
DR HAYES, WHOSE SPEECH WAS READ BY THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR PETER NG, AT THE HEUNG YEE KUK LUNAR NEW YEAR GATHERING, SAID THAT IN ADDITION, THE DIRECTOR OF TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER $12 MILLION FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO URBAN FRINGE AREAS OF NEW TOWNS. i h
+THIS WILL ALLOW FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROADS, DRAINAGE SYSTEMS, AMENITIES AND OTHER PROJECTS IN CERTAIN AREAS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED BY PROJECT MANAGERS AND DISTRICT OFFICERS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROGRAMME IN 1987-88, AND MORE TENTATIVELY. FOR 1988-89,+ HE SAID.
DR HAYES SAID HE WAS CONCERNED AT THE DISPARITY IN LIVING CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED BETWEEN THE NEW TOWNS ON THE ONE HAND AND OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ON THE OTHER.
/+WHILE CONDITIONS .
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 198?
I
3
♦WHILE CONDITIONS IN THE NEW TOWNS ARE GENERALLY GOOD, AND
IMPROVING STILL FURTHER, MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE ELSEWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS BETWEEN AND AROUND THE NEW TOWNS WHICH HE SA)D.
QUITE OFTEN LACK THE MOST BASIC AMENITIES AND SERVICES,+
FRINGE* CONCENTRATED
HAYES POINTED OUT THAT THE FUNDING OF tmf 4.iidrau PROGRAMME WOULD ENABLE THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE TO np MORE ON THE OUTLYING AND RURAL AREAS AND ON CARRYING OUT ADDITIONAL
WORKS THERE, BESIDES MAINTENANCE.
+MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE BUT WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO BUILD ON THIS MODEST START AND, YEAR BY YEAR, THROUGH THESE AND OTHER WORKS PROGRAMMES, TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR THOSE LIVING OUTSIDE OF THE NEW TOWN BOUNDARIES,* HE ADDED.
DR HAYES SAID EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CNTA’S POWERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ORDINANCE WHICH CONCERN THE REGISTRATION OF CUSTOMARY SUCCESSION TO NEW TERRITORIES LAND, TRUSTEESHIP, AND THE APPOINTMENT AND CANCELLATION OF MANAGERS TO NEW TERRITORIES’ LAND-OWNING +TSO+ AND +TONG+ (ANCESTRAL HALLS).
+THESE MATTERS ARE SUBJECT TO CURRENT ENQUIRY, AND AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY IS LOOKING INTO THE SITUATION WITH A VIEW TO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT,* HE SAID.
------0--------
'' I
RETAIL SALES SURVEY RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER RELEASED *****
THE VALUE OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES IN NOVEMBER 1986, PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED AT $6 424 MILLION, WAS 10 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN NOVEMBER 1985 WHILE THEIR VOLUME WAS 4 PER CENT HIGHER, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 26 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 19 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES WENT UP BY 14 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND 4 PER CENT IN SALES VOLUME, WHILE THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES FOR FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WERE 9 PER CENT AND 6 PER CENT. THE RETAIL SALES OF +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS* INCREASED BY 7 PER CENT IN VALUE WHILE THOSE OF FUELS DECREASED BY 15 PER CENT J HOWEVER, BOTH RECORDED ALMOST NO CHANGE IN SALES VOLUME.
/ANALYSED BY
.1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED VERY SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE AND CONSIDERABLY IN VOLUME. SUPERMARKETS HAD A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN SALES VALUE AND A MODERATE INCREASE IN SALES VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES RECORDED A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN SALES VALUE BUT ONLY A SLIGHT INCREASE IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED MODERATELY IN VALUE AND SLIGHTLY IN VOLUME.
COMPARING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 1986 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1985, TOTAL RETAIL SALES INCREASED BY ID PER CENT IN VALUE AND 5 PER CENT IN VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS SHOWED INCREASES OF 20 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 14 PER CENT IN VOLUME. CONSUMER DURABLES AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ ROSE BY 15 PER CENT AND 10 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN SALES VALUE AND BY 4 PER CENT AND 3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN SALES VOLUME.
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO WENT UP BY 6 PER CENT IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME, WHILE FUELS DECREASED BY 16 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE BUT HAD ALMOST NO CHANGE IN SALES VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE AND MODERATELY IN VOLUME.
RETAIL SALES IN SUPERMARKETS INCREASED CONSIDERABLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME, WHILE CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS INCREASED MODERATELY IN SALES VALUE AND SLIGHTLY IN SALES VOLUME. DEPARTMENT STORES RECORDED A MODERATE INCREASE IN SALES VALUE AND A SLIGHT INCREASE IN VOLUME.
WHEN COMPARED WITH OCTOBER 1986, AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON IS AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, TOTAL RETAIL SALES FOR NOVEMBER 1986 INCREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 1 PER CENT IN VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 14 PER CENT IN VOLUME. +OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ ROSE BY 2 PER CENT IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME. FOODSTUFFS, ALOCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO AS WELL AS FUELS DECREASED BY 2 PER CENT IN SALES VALUE AND VOLUME, WHILE CONSUMER DURABLES HAD DECREASED OF 1 PER CENT IN BOTH. RETAIL SALES OF DEPARTMENT STORES INCREASED CONSIDERABLY IN VALUE AND MODERATELY IN VOLUME.
t
/CONSUMER DURABLES..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
- 5 -
CONSUMER DURABLES OTHER THAN MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS RECORDED ALMOST NO CHANGE IN SALES VALUE BUT A SLIGHT DECREASE IN SALES VOLUME.
MOTOR VEHICLES AND PARTS DECREASED SLIGHTLY IN BOTH SALES VALUE AND VOLUME WHILE THE CORRESPONDING DECREASES FOR SUPERMARKETS WERE MODERATE.
TABLE 1 OCTOBER 1986
PRESENTS THE REVISED TOTAL RETAIL SALES FIGURE FOR AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURE FOR NOVEMBER 1986.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES IN OCTOBER 1986 AND NOVEMBER 1986 (A) FOR ALL RETAIL SALES, (B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND (C) BY SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE RETAIL SALES FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 TAKEN AS 100. COMPARISONS OF NOVEMBER 1986 RESULTS WITH THOSE OF OCTOBER 1986 AND WITH THOSE OF NOVEMBER 1985 AND COMPARISONS OF RETAIL SALES IN THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER 1986 WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1985 ARE ALSO GIVEN.
GRAPHS 1 AND 2 DEPICT RESPECTIVELY THE MOVEMENTS OF THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO NOVEMBER 1986, AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED INDEXES AND TRENDS, FROM OCTOBER 1984 TO OCTOBER 1986.
THE REPORT CONTAINING THE ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEMBER 1986 SURVEY RESULTS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, 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 ON 3-7216024.
/table 1
6
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
T*BLE 1 : TOTnL RETAIL SALES
Total Retail Gales for November 1986 (Provisional figure) « HK|6 424 million for October 1986 (Revised Figure) = HK$6 301 million
TABLE 2 : VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES __________________FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1986
(Monthly average of Oct. 84 - Sept. 85 = 100)
Item Index of Retail Sales October 1986 November 1986 November 1986 compared with October 1986 November 1986 compared with November 1985 Sept. - Nov. 86 compared with Sept. - Nov. 85
(Revised figures) (Provisional figures) Points % Points X Pointe t
(J a LX R..T..IL TRADES Value 11J 115 ♦ 2 + 2 ♦10 ♦ 10 ♦ 10 .*10
Volume 106 107 ♦ 1 ♦ 1 ♦ 4 ♦ 4 ♦ 5 ♦ 5
(B) BY K.JJ.-v TR-OZ GROUPS
Foodstuffs, alcoholic drinks and tobacco Value Volume 105 104 102 102 «\j ru 1 1 1 1 ♦ ♦ ax xo ♦ 9 ♦ 6 ♦ ♦ ♦ 6 ♦ 6
Fuels Value 85 84 - 1 - 2 -15 -15 -16 -16
Volume 101 99 - 2 - 2 • • • •
Clothing, footwear and allied products Value Volume 127 115 148 131 ♦21 +l6 ♦16 +14 ♦31 ♦21 +26 ♦ 19 ♦21 ♦ 14 ♦20 ♦ 14
Consumer durables Value 118 117 - 1 - 1 ♦ 15 ♦ 14 ♦ 16 ♦ 15
Volume 107 105 - 2 - 1 ♦ 4 + 4 ♦ 4 + 4
Other consumer goods Value 115 117 ♦ 3 ♦ 2 ♦ 8 ♦ 7 ♦ n ♦ 10
Volume 105 107 ♦ 2 + 2 • • ♦ 3 ♦ 3
(C) BY SELECTED TRADES
Supermarkets Value 116 109 - 8 - 7 ♦ 11 +11 ♦ 16 ♦ 16
Volume 115 105 - 8 - 7 ♦ 8 ♦ 9 ♦ 14 ♦ 14
Motor vehicles and carts Value Volume 135 110 131 106 -5 -3 -4 -J ♦32 ♦ 12 ♦32 ♦ 13 ♦31 ♦ 9 ♦ *0 ♦ 9
Consumer durables other than motor vehicles and parts Value Volume 113 106 11» 105 • • - 1 - 1 ♦ 9 ♦ 1 ♦ 9 ♦ 1 ♦ 11 ♦ 3 ♦ 10 ♦ 3
Department stores Value 112 126 ♦14 + 1J ♦ 13 ♦ 11 ♦ 9 ♦ .9
Volume 102 112 ♦10 +10 ♦ 5 ♦ 5 ♦ 3 ♦ 3
Notes : 1. "Foodstuffs, alcoholic ■drinks and tobacco" includes "supermarkets".
2. "Consumer durables" includes "motor vehicles nnd ports".
3. "Other consumer goods" includes "department stores".
4. Figures denoting changes are derived from the unrounded index figures.
5. * denotes ch-nge of less than 0.5.
/Graph 1: •••••••
7 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY U, 1987
Graph 1: Value Indexes of Total Retail Sak s
Value index Value e*
Graph 2: Volume Indexes of Total Retail Sales
Volume index
Volume index
Notes (1) Monthly average ot Oct 64 - Sept 85 = 100
(2) The seasonally adjusted value and volume indexes and Henderson trends are compiled using the X-11 variant seasonal adjustment program q! the U S Bureau of the Census
-------o--------- /8........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
8
MORE LABOUR RELATIONS COURSES ARRANGED
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING MORE CERTIFICATE COURSES ON LABOUR RELATIONS FOR EMPLOYERS, MANAGEMENT STAFF, TRADE UNION OFFICIALS AND INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEES BETWEEN APRIL AND NOVEMBER THIS YEAR.
THIS FORMS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO PROMOTE HARMONIOUS LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS.
SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE PARTICIPANTS WITH A
LABOUR LEGISLATION AND OF WAYS TO IMPROVE
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN OF organising THE COURSE IS COMPREHENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF
MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TOOLS.
THE COURSES COVER SUCH SUBJECTS AS THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG ORDINANCE, ROLE OF GOVERNMENT, UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS’ ORGANISATIONS IN LABOUR RELATIONS, WORK OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL AND MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES.
PARTICIPANTS MAY ENROL FOR THE FULL COURSE WHICH COMPRISES EIGHT TWO-AND-A-HALF HOUR SESSIONS OR CHOOSE TO ATTEND ONE OR MORE SESSIONS.
♦HOWEVER, CERTIFICATES WILL ONLY BE AWARDED TO THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THe’fULL COURSE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FEE FOR THE FULL COURSE IS «150 AND THAT FOR EACH SELECTED SESSION IS $25.
ALL COURSES WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 5 PM AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL, WITH THE FIRST SESSION STARTING ON APRIL 7.
ENROLMENT FOR COURSES BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE FEBRUARY 28, AND APPLICATIONS FOR COURSES BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER SHOULD REACH THE DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF JULY.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW OBTAINABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT ON 12TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING. ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE AT 5-8523511.
0 -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
- 9 -
INMATES PASS PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS K M H X *
NINE INMATES OF A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON ON LANTAU ISLAND TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FOR PASSING PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (DESIGNATE), MR Y.T. LI, AND A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, MR H.N. HARILELA, OFFICIATED AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD AT SHEK PIK PRISON.
AMONG THE NINE INMATES WAS A 33-YEAR-OLD PRISONER WHO IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER.
HE SCORED A PASS IN THE SUBJECT OF ENGLISH FOR COMMERCE IN THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY EXAMINATION.
THE REST SAT FOR THE PITMAN EXAMINATION IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND ALL SCORED PASSES.
THEIR AGES RANGE FROM 26 TO 45, AND THEY ARE SERVING SENTENCES OF FROM FIVE TO 20 YEARS FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES INCLUDING POSSESSION CF DRUGS AND MANSLAUGHTER.
MR LI PRAISED THE EFFORTS MADE BY THE INMATES. HE SAID THAT DUE CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE PAID TO THE BACKGROUND OF THE INMATES, FOR THEY WERE NOT STUDENTS GROOMED IN GOOD ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, BUT INMATES OF A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.
CONSIDERING THEIR SPECIAL BACKGROUND, +WE SHOULD APPRECIATE THAT THOUGH THE ACHIEVEMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED PLAIN TO MANY, IT IS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING TO THE CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS,+ M? LI SAID.
MR LI ALSO COMMENDED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR ITS WORK IN REFORMING THE OFFENDERS. APART FROM PROVIDING VARIOUS VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO EMPHASISED THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT CF THE INMATES, HE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1987
10
AMBULANCE CHIEF RETIRING * * * *
THE HEAD OF THE AMBULANCE COMMAND, MR HARRY KENYON, GOES ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AFTER SERVING WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR 26 YEARS.
THE CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER WAS PRESENTED WITH A RETIREMENT PEMENTO BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES, AT A CEREMONY AT FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS.
BORN IN 1927 IN BLACKBURN, ENGLAND, MR KENYON JOINED THE HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES AS A STATION OFFICER IN 1961 AFTER SERVING AS A FIREMAN IN THE LANCASHIRE COUNTY FIRE BRIGADE.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER TWO YEARS LATER AND HE BECAME ASSISTANT CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER IN 1973. HE HAS HELD HIS PRESENT RANK OF CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER SINCE 1979.
MR KENYON WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN 1974 AND THE QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICES MEDAL IN 1984.
DURING HIS LONG CAREER, HE DEVOTED HIMSELF TO THE DEVELOPMENT CF THE AMBULANCE SERVICE IN THE TERRITORY.
- o - -
MONG KOK HOLDING SPRING RECEPTION * * *
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOST A SPRING RECEPTION FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE FUNCTION IN A NATHAN ROAD RESTAURANT.
IT WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM.
MR CHAU WILL ALSO PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO 10 COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE HELPED TO PROMOTE THE INTERESTS AND WELFARE OF RESIDENTS IN THE PAST YEAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE SPRING RECEPTION AT THE INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANT, FOURTH FLOOR, 612 NATHAN ROAD.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, ■ ■ i
11
SPRING RECEPTION FOR 1 200 IN TSUEN WAN
* * * *
THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD A SPRING RECEPTION ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6).
ABOUT 1 200 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. THEY WILL INCLUu. LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR PETER NG, WILL ATTEND THE RECEPTION WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM IN A TSUEN WAN RESTAURANT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE MAXIM’S CHINESE RESTAURANT AT LUK YEUNG SUN CHUEN, NEXT TO THE TSUEN WAN HTR STATION.
SHAM SHU I PO D.O. GIVING SPRING RECEPTION
*****
THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD ITS SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS IN LAI CHI KOK TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOwLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, AND THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SYLVESTER TSE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE RECEPTION WHICH WILL START IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT AT 4 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE RECEPTION, TO BE HELD AT THE GOOD WORLD RESTAURANT, FIRST FLOOR, MEI FOO SUN CHUEN.
/12........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1 ' (;
- 12 -
CANTONESE OPERA TREAT FOR SAI KUNG RESIDENTS * * * * *
ABOUT 1 200 SAI KUNG RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A CANTONESE OPERA SHOW TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE SHOW IS ONE OF THE EVENTS IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT FESTIVAL AND WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE HON FUNG CANTONESE OPERA AT THE SAI KUNG TOWN HALL. IT WILL START AT 7 PM.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE BY PROJECTING THE VERSES OF THE OPERA ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE STAGE SO THAT THE AUDIENCE CAN UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THE STORY.
ADMISSION TO THE SHOW IS FREE AND ALL TICKETS HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO RURAL COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
THE SAI KUNG ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS BETTY CHING, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SAI KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WAN-HEI, WILL ATTEND.
-----0------
AIR-CONDITIONING CONTRACT AWARDED
*****
A CONTRACT VALUED AT ABOUT $580 000 HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR INSTALLING AIR-CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION EQUIPMENT IN THE DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION NOW BEING BUILT AT SIU LEK YUEN, SHA TIN.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE POLICE STATION, WHICH STARTED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, WILL BE COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER.
THE AIR-CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION INSTALLATION WORK STARTED LAST MONTH AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-----0------
/U.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 198/
13
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR NATIONALS OF NIGERIA
*****
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT NATIONALS OF NIGERIA wILL REQUIRE VISAS TO ENTER BRITAIN. ANY NIGERIAN NATIONALS ARRIVING AT A UK PORT OF ENTRY WITHOUT A VALID VISA, ENTRY CERTIFICATE OR CONFIRMATION OF RIGHT OF ABODE IN BRITAIN WILL BE REFUSED ENTRY.
+IN HONG KONG, VISAS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM OFFICES OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE INFORMATION OFFICE ON 3-7333111,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
- 0 -
URBAN CLEARwAY RESTRICTION On QUEEN’S ROAD
*****
TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS, THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN GILMAN STREET AND BONHAM STRAND WILL BE MADE A 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY URBAN CLEARwAY FROM 1(3 AM Ok SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7). THE MEASURE WILL BE IN FORCE FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
WITHIN THE URBAN CLEARWAY, NO VEHICLE OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
- 0 -
, <7 SALT WATER CUT
*■*■*•**
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN BEACON HILL AND KOWLOON CITY WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7) FUR MA INS WORK.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY BEACON HILL ROAD, EDE ROAD, EASTBOURNE ROAD, ALNWICK ROAD, BROADCAST DRIVE, MARCONI ROAD, FESSENDER ROAD, CHAK YAN CENTRE, KOwLOON KITCHEN OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, CHAK ON ESTATE, TAI WO PING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, SHEK KIP MEI PARK AND CORNWALL STREET TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GREEN PAPER WILL BE RELEASED ON SCHEDULE .................. 1
JLG SUB-GROUP TO MEET IN HK................................ 2
COMPOSITION OF BRITISH TEAM FOR EXPERT TALKS .............. 2
U.S. CAN PLAY VITAL ROLE — TRJJE CHIEF..................... 3
FORD GETS INSIGHT INTO L-JBOUR DEPARTMENT ................. 4
32 MILLION DONATION TO SET UP TRUST FUND .................. 5
EXCO ENDORSES REVISED METERED PARKING CHARGES ............. 6
3125 MILLION TAI PO DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT SIGNED ........... 7
INCENTIVE FOR YOUTH TO SERVE COMMUNITY .................... 8
GOOD JOB PROSPECTS FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GR^DU^TES....... 9
DETAILS ON TRENCH FUND GRANTS FOR 1987-88 ................. 9
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED .................................. 10
KOWLOON CITY TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CaRNIVaL ................. 10
variety show to close district festival ................... 11
DB PLANS TO PROMOTE ELECTIONS IN FESTIVE .................. 12
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT A MAJOR TASK .................... 12
SPRING RECEPTION IN WONG TaI SIN .......................... 13
KWUN TONG SPRING RECEPTION ................................ 14
SPRING RECEPTION IN SAI KUNG .............................. 14
SPRING RECEPTION FOR YUEN' LONG COMMUNITY LEADERS.......... 15
ROAD CLOSURES IN WaN CHaI ............................... 15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 198?
1
GREEN PAPER WILL BE RELEASED ON SCHEDULE
*****
THE GREEN PAPER ON HONG KONG’S POLITICAL REFORM WILL BE RELEASED ON TIME AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, STRESSED THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN FROM LONDON AFTER A THREE-DAY VISIT THERE MEETING THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND OTHER BRITISH OFF ICIALS.
SIR DAVID SAID HE WAS ABLE TO BRING OFFICIALS IN LONDON UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF PREPARATION OF THE GREEN PAPER.
+ l WAS ABLE TO SAY TO THE BRITISH OFFICIALS EXCATLY WHERE WE HAVE GOT WITH OUR PREPARATION FOR THE GREEN PAPER, THE DRAFTING OF THE GREEN PAPER, AND TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN PAPER.+
SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD HAD A BUSY THREE DAYS IN LONDON, DURING WHICH TIME HE SAW THE NEW GOVERNOR AND HAD +VERY USEFUL* DISCUSSIONS WITH HIM.
+ IT’S GOOD TO MEET AN OLD FRIEND AGAIN, AND TO BRING HIM UP TO DATE WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE CONCERNING US AS A COMMUNITY, AND TO TALK A BIT ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HIS ARRIVAL IN THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL,* HE SAID.
WHILE IN LONDON, SIR DAVID ALSO MET THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND TALKED TO HIM ABOUT THE DEEP CONCERN OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE OVER THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE QUESTION.
+l THINK WE CAN BE ASSURED IN HONG KONG THAT OUR CONCERNS ARE BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT,* HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID HE HAD ALSO TALKED TO THE PERMANENT UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE, SIR PATRICK WRIGHT-HIS DEPUTY, MR DAVID GILMORE- AND THE HEAD OF HONG KONG DEPARTMENT, MR CHRISTOPHER HUM, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE JOINT LIAISON group.
+l WAS ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THE WORK THAT LIES AHEAD OF IT,* HE SAID.
ON HIS DISCUSSION WITH THE NEW GOVERNOR ABOUT HIS FUTURE ROLE IN THE GOVERNMENT, SIR DAVID SAI Ds +IT WOULD BE DISCOURTEOUS OF ME TO REVEAL TO YOU EXACTLY WHAT I DISCUSSED IN LONDON BEFORE I’VE HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO EXCO NEXT WEEK.
+ l THINK THE IMPORTANT THING, CERTAINLY FOR ME, IS THAT I’M GOING TO GO ON LIVING IN HONG KONG, AND, I HOPE, MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY IN SOME FORM OR ANOTHER.*
SIR DAVID WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD; THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S. Y. CHUNG? AND THE ACTING SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR S. L. CHEN.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 198?
2 -
JLG SUB-GROUP TO MEET IN HK *****
the next meeting of the jlg sub-group on international rights
AND OBLIGATIONS WILL BE HELD ON 11 TO 13 FEBRUARY IN HONG KONG.
THE BRITISH TEAM WILL BE LED BY MR F. BURROWS WHO WILL BE ASSISTED BY TWO OTHER MEMBERS, MESSRS NORMAN CHAN AND ANTHONY TO.
OTHER EXPERTS FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL ATTEND AS NECESSARY.
------0 ------
COMPOSITION OF BRITISH TEAM FOR EXPERT TALKS
*****
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS QUESTIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE BRITISH TEAM FOR THE NEXT MEETING OF THE JLG SUB-GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS WERE AS FOLLOWS:
LEADER : F. BURROWS, LAW OFFICER (SPECIAL DUTIES)
MEMBERS : NORMAN CHAN, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY
(GENERAL DUTIES)
ANTHONY TO, SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL
EXPERTS : PATRICK SHAM, DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY
G.A. HIGGINSON, DIRECTOR OF MARINE
NICKY LO, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (TRADE)
J.C.A. HAMMOND, COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR
DARWIN CHEN, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR
NOTETAKER : C.T. WOOD, ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER
INTERPRETERS : MRS JOSEPHINE HO
MRS SARAH LEE
- - 0-----------
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 198?
- 3 -
U.S. CAN PLAY VITAL ROLE — TRADE CHIEF
*****
HONG KONG’S CONTINUED VIABILITY DEPENDED TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED STATES COULD PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THIS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, TOLD A HIGH-LEVEL AUDIENCE IN WASHINGTON TODAY (THURSDAY, HK TIME).
MR HO WAS SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, ONE OF THE UNITED STATES’ LEADING PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTES, WITH CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE ON THE THINKING OF MANY OF WASHINGTON’S TOP DECISION-MAKERS, BOTH IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND IN CONGRESS.
MR HO POINTED OUT THE DEEP INVOLVEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE HONG KONG ECONOMY, WITH CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN MANUFACTURING, WIDE REPRESENTATION IN THE SERVICES SECTOR AND MANY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS FOR ASIA, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
+ FOR ALL OF THESE, WE IN HONG KONG ARE GRATEFUL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUAL SUPPORT, GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING,* MR HO SAID. +HONG KONG’S CONTINUED VIABILITY DEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND THE UNITED STATES CAN PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN THIS.*
HOWEVER, MR HO EMPHASISED THAT BECAUSE OF HONG KONG’S HEAVY DEPENDENCE ON TRADE FOR ITS ECONOMIC SUCCESS, IT SUFFERED A CORRESPONDING VULNERABILITY TO SWINGS IN THE FORTUNES OF ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
+ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS IN OUR MAJOR MARKETS INEVITABLY HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON OUR ECONOMY. BUT PROTECTIONIST MEASURES ADOPTED BY OUR TRADING PARTNERS COULD POSE AN EVEN MORE SERIOUS THREAT,* HE SAID.
+IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT WE IN HONG KONG ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTIONIST PRESSURES IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH IS BY FAR OUR LARGEST MARKET, ACCOUNTING FOR OVER 40 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS.*
MR HO SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST SUPPORTERS OF AND THE TRUEST PRACTITIONER OF FREE TRADE, EMPHASISING THAT THE TERRITORY HAD NO BARRIERS AGAINST IMPORTS OR SERVICES.
+IF IT IS THE AIM OF THE UNITED STATES TO PERSUADE OR INDUCE ITS TRADING PARTNERS TO DISMANTLE OR LOWER THEIR BARRIERS TO IMPORTS, THEN THE UNITED STATES MUST SURELY GIVE FULL RECOGNITION TO HONG KONG’S FREE TRADE PRACTICES TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW,+ HE SAID.
/kR HO
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 4 -
MR HO OUTLINED TO HIS AUDIENCE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION FOR THE FUTURE STABILITY OF HONG KONG, BOTH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL AND THE GOOD PROGRESS THAT HAD BEEN MADE IN IMPLEMENTING IT.
+THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP WHICH WAS SET UP TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 HAS ALREADY REACHED AGREEMENT ON MANY ISSUES OF SIGNIFICANCE TO HONG KONG - THE PARTICIPATION OF HONG KONG AS A SEPARATE CONTRACTING PARTY TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE, THE PRINCIPLES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER, THE DESIGN OF THE FUTURE HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD WHICH WILL REMAIN VALID AFTER 1997, TO NAME JUST A FEW EXAMPLES,+ HE SAID.
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FORD GETS INSIGHT INTO * * * *
LABOUR DEPARTMENT *
THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, MR DAVID FORD, SPENT THE AFTERNOON TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITING VARIOUS OFFICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, MR FORD FIRST CALLED AT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS IN HARBOUR BUILDING.
THE CENTRE, RUN BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE, PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF BASIC AND ADVANCED SAFETY TRAINING COURSES FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND STAFF OF THE LABOUR AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
MR FORD LEARNT THAT THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF ORGANISING THESE TRAINING COURSES WAS TO ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO IDENTIFY UNSAFE ACTS AND UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS IN THEIR OWN WORKING ENVIRONMENTS, AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE IN TACKLING SAFETY PROBLEMS.
LAST YEAR MORE THAN 10 000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE 358 COURSES ORGANISED BY THE CENTRE.
BEFORE LEAVING HEADQUARTERS, MR FORD HAD AN INFORMAL MEETING AND DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTORATE AND SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS.
HE THEN VISITED THE LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION’S HONG KONG EAST OFFICE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY.
/MR FORD .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5» 1987
- 5 -
MR FORD WAS TOLD THAT THE DIVISION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RESOLVING LABOUR DISPUTES AND ADVISING EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS ON ALL ASPECTS RELATING TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.
ABOUT 200 LABOUR DISPUTES, INVOLVING SOME 16 800 WORKERS, WERE HANDLED IN 1986.
TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN JOINT CONSULTATION, OFFICERS FROM THE DIVISION PAID REGULAR VISITS TO ESTABLISHMENTS TO EXPLAIN THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND TO ADVISE GENERALLY ON HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN LABOUR AND MANAGEMENT.
FROM THERE, MR FORD WENT TO INSPECT THE OPERATIONS OF THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION’S HONG KONG OFFICE IN DOMINION CENTRE, QUEEN’S ROAD EAST. THE OFFICE IS SPECIALLY FITTED TO TAKE CARE OF THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE MANOEUVRABILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE IN WHEELCHAIRS.
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE A RAMPED ENTRANCE, WIDER CORRIDOR AND DOORWAY, ALARM BELL AND EQUIPMENT TO ASSESS THE WORKING APTITUDE OF THE DISABLED.
LAST YEAR MORE THAN 1 000 DISABLED PERSONS WERE FOUND JOBS IN BOTH THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DIVISION — A RECORD NUMBER SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN MID-1980.
BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT, MR FORD ALSO WATCHED A VIDEO PRESENTATION OF THE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DIVISION FOR THE BLIND, THE DEAF, THE EX-MENTALLY ILL, THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.
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$2 MILLION DONATION TO SET UP TRUST FUND * * * * X
A TRUST FUND HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH AN INITIAL DONATION OF $2 MILLION FROM AN INDUSTRIALIST, MR LAW TING-PONG OF THE LAWS FASHION KNITTERS LTD, TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SCHEME OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ARTS ACTIVITIES.
THE TRUST FUND, KNOWN AS THE LAWS FOUNDATION TRUST, ALSO AIMS AT PROMOTING ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY AND AT PROVIDING RELIEF OF POVERTY, HARDSHIP AND SUFFERING WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE PROTECTION OF THE YOUNG AND CARE FOR THE ELDERLY.
/THE FUND
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 6 -
THE FUND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE FURTHER DONATIONS FROM THE DONOR, OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
IT WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMPRISING MR RAYMOND LAW KAR-KUI, MR MICHAEL M.K. LEUNG, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SERVING IN HIS PERSONAL CAPACITY, MR LO CHl-SANG, MR WILFRED LEE CHEE-WAH, AND MR SO FAI-CHO, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS) AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
TO LAUNCH THE FUND’S OPERATIONS, MR LAW TODAY (THURSDAY) OFFICIATED AT A CEREMONY IN WHICH ftlOO OOO WAS ALLOCATED TOWARDS FINANCING TWO COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB (CYC) PROJECTS IN 1987-88.
THE PROJECTS ARE A VISIT TO SINGAPORE FOR OUTSTANDING CYC MEMBERS, SCHEDULED FOR JULY, AND A +FUN DAY FOR THE ELDERLY+ TO BE ORGANISED BY THE CYC SENIOR MEMBERS SERVICE GROUP TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR LAW SAID THE TRUST FUND HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN.
IN THANKING MR LAW FOR HIS GENEROUS DONATION, MR LEUNG PAID TRIBUTE TO HIM FOR LAUNCHING SUCH A MEANINGFUL PROJECT IN HELPING TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
----0------
EXCO ENDORSES REVISED METERED PARKING CHARGES
*****
A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE ICTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED METERED PARKING CHARGES IN SEVERAL DISTR HARBOUR THIS YEAR.
NO DATES HAVE YET BEEN FIXED FOR THE INCREASE, BUT WHEN IT OCCURS THE EXISTING CHARGES ON HEAVILY USED METERED SPACES WILL BE DOUBLED.
THIS MEANS THAT WHERE THE MINIMUM FEE IS NOW 50 CENTS IT WILL BECOME AND WHERE IT IS NOW IT WILL BECOME 152.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID JHE REVISED RATES WILL RF INTRODUCED IN CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI ON HONG KONG loLAND3 AND ?N y!J XS TEI MONG KOK, KOWLOON CITY, WONG TAI SIN AND SHA TIN. THERE ARE ABOUT 7 800 METERS IN THESE AREAS.
/HE SAID .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 7 -
he said the conversion of the meters would start in the middle OF the YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN 1988. THE NEW CHARGE FOR A PARKING METER WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AS AND WHEN THE CONVERSION IS COMPLETED.
+THE REVISED CHARGES WILL BE INTRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY, STARTING IN AREAS OF HIGHEST DEMAND,* HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IT HAD BECOME NECESSARY TO RAISE THE RATES BECAUSE THE AVAILABILITY OF PARKING SPACES HAD FALLEN BELOW 15 PER CENT IN THE AREAS IDENTIFIED.
HE ADDED THAT CHARGES WOULD ALSO BE INCREASED IN OTHER AREAS IF AND WHEN THE AVAILABILITY RATE FELL BELOW 15 PER CENT.
--------o---------
$125 MILLION TAI PO DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT SIGNED
*****
WORK ON FORMING ABOUT 20 HECTARES OF LAND AND RELATED ROAD WORKS IN TAI PO WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF A $125 MILLION CONTRACT BY THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THE WAN TAU TONG, PAK KIU, TO YUEN TUNG AND MA WO AREAS ADJACENT TO TAI PO MARKET KCR STATION.
THE LAND, TO BE FORMED AS PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT, WILL BE USED FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME ESTATE, COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, SCHOOLS, A BUS AND A MAXICAB TERMINUS AND A TAXI RANK.
A DISTRIBUTOR ROAD OF 1.2 KILOMETRES, LOCAL ROADS TOTALLING 1.5 KILOMETRES AND ABOUT 600 METRES OF SLIP ROADS LINKING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES TRUNK ROAD WILL BE BUILT TO SERVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
TWO ROAD BRIDGES AND TWO FOOTBRIDGES ARE ALSO TO BE PROVIDED ACROSS TAI PO RIVER CHANNEL.
FOUR SUBWAYS, A NUMBER OF FOOTPATHS, CYCLETRACKS AND ROADSIDE AMENITY AREAS WILL BE CONTRUCTED.
OTHER WORKS WILL INCLUDE RIVER TRAINING, LANSCAPING, AND CONSTRUCTING STORMWATER DRAINAGE AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT THREE AND A HALF YEARS TO COMPLETE.
o--------
/8........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 8 -INCENTIVE FOR YOUTH TO SERVE COMMUNITY *****
YOUNG PEOPLE IN NORTH DISTRICT WHO ENJOY SERVING THE COMMUNITY ARE BEING INVITED TO STAND FOR THE DISTRICT’S TEN OUTSTANDING YOUTHS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT JAYCEES AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE AWARD AIMS AT ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AS WELL AS PROVIDING RECOGNITION TO THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WELLBEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT’S STEERING COMMITTEE ON CIVIC EDUCATION SAID THE SCHEME PROVIDED AN INCENTIVE TO THOSE WHO DEVOTED TIME TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
+IT IS ALSO A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ATTRACT MORE CIVIC-MINDED YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE PROMOTION OF DISTRICT ACTIVITIES,* HE SAID.
THE AWARD IS OPEN TO RESIDENTS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 30 AND NOMINATIONS MAY BE MADE EITHER IN PERSON OR THROUGH SCHOOLS OR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
A PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS HEADED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, WILL BE FORMED. IT WILL COMPRISE LOCAL LEADERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, HEADMASTERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
CANDIDATES WILL BE JUDGED ON PERSONALITY, YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THEIR ACTUAL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY. IN ADDITION, THEY WILL HAVE TO PROVIDE A SPECIAL PROJECT ON THEIR SUBJECT OF INTEREST.
WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED BOOK COUPONS AT A CEREMONY TO BE KLD IN MARCH AND THEY WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO HELP ORGANISE FUTURE ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS FEBRUARY 28. NOMINATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE NORTH DISTRICT CHOI YUEN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE, CHOI YUEN ESTATE! SHEUNG SHU I PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE, SAN FUNG AVENUE; CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL, CHEUNG WAH ESTATE AND THE NORTH DISTRICT JAYCEES OFFICE, FU HING STREET, SHEUNG SHU I. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 0-917941.
- 0 - -
/9
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 9 -
GOOD JOB PROSPECTS FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUAT . * * * * *
THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OF GRADUATES OF THE VOCATIONAl TRAINING COUNCIL’S TECHNICAL INSTITUTES LAST YEAR WAS ENCOURAGING WITH NEARLY TWO-THIRDS GETTING A JOB WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF GRADUATION, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE COUNCIL REVEALED THAT 66 PER CENT OF THE 3 405 GRADUATES OF FULL-TIME COURSES IN THE 1885-86 ACADEMIC YEAR WERE EMPLOYED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF GRADUATION COMPARED WITH 68 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES PURSUING FURTHER FULL-TIME STUDIES INCREASED FROM 19 PER CENT TO 24 PER CENT.
THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THAT 47 PER CENT OF EMPLOYED GRADUATES HAD TAKEN UP WORK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES. IN 1985, THE FIGURE WAS 38 PER CENT.
THE RESULT OF THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE GRADUATES WERE READILY ACCEPTED BY COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND MOST HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET JOBS RELATED TO THEIR COURSE OF STUDY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AMONG THOSE EMPLOYED, 45 PER CENT WERE IN THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES, 50 PER CENT IN COMMERCE AND SERVICING SECTORS, THREE PER CENT IN GOVERNMENT OR GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED BODIES WHILE THE REST WERE IN PUBLIC UTILITY SECTORS SUCH AS THE GAS AND BUS COMPANIES.
the average monthly salary of employed graduates at the TIME OF the SURVEY WAS ABOUT $2 500 FOR DIPLOMA COURSE STUDENTS *2 400 FOR CERTIFICATE COURSE STUDENTS AND «1 800 FOR CRAFT COURSE STUDENTS.
+ T HE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO PURSUED FURTHER FULL-TIME STUDIES WERE EITHER ABSORBED BY THE POLYTECHNICS OR RE-ADMITTED TO HIGH LEVEL COURSES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
----o -----
DETAILS ON TRENCH FUND GRANTS FOR 1987-88
*****
RECREATION IN 1987-88
A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, 11TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL. IT WILL START AT 3 PM.
/THE CHAIRMAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
10 -
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND COMMITTEE, MR TANG TAI-CHUEN, WILL PRESIDE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
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DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF UNITED CHINESE FINANCE COMPANY LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED TODAY (THURSDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE 1986.
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KOWLOON CITY TO HOLD FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL * * * * *
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL AND A +FRIENDS OF POLICE AND CITIZENS’ AWARD+ PRESENTATION WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14.
THE EVENT IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND THE KOWLOON LOK SIN TONG. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST.
THE VENUE WILL BE THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND FROM 2.30 PM
TO 5.30 PM.
free tickets for a lucky draw, games stalls and drink can BE OBTAINED FROM THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE IN KAU PUI LUNG ROAD, HUNG HOM SUB-OFFICE IN BULKELEY STREET AND HO MAN TIN SUBOFFICE IN HO MAN TIN ESTATE.
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAS ORGANISED A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS DURING THE CARNIVAL. THEY INCLUDE GAMES STALLS ON THE THEME OF FIGHTING CRIME, A LUCKY DRAW, PERFORMANCES BY THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PRECISION MARCHING TEAM AND DANCING BY SCHOOL PUPILS.
/THE POLICE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
- 11 -
THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU WILL SET UP A MOBILE CRIME PREVENTION EXHIBITION IN THE PLAYGROUND WHERE OFFICERS FROM THE BUREAU WILL GIVE ADVICE TO RESIDENTS.
IN THE +FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND CITIZENS’ AWARD* PRESENTATION, THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE WILL PRESENT PRIZES AND SOUVENIRS TO 22 KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS WHO HAVE HELPED THE POLICE TO FIGHT CRIME.
THE RECIPIENTS, 21 MEN AND A WOMAN AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 72, HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THE POLICE AND AREA COMMITTEES.
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VARIETY SHOW TO CLOSE DISTRICT FESTIVAL
*****
ABOUT ENTERTAINI
1 ng
200 SAI VARIETY
KUNG SHOW
RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO AN .... TO MARK THE closing of the district FESTIVAL TOMORROW (FRIDAY) NIGHT AT THE SAI KUNG TOWN HALL.
THE VARIETY SHOW WILL INCLUDE GROUP SINGING COUNTRY DANCES CANTONESE OPERA, AND MARTIAL ARTS EXERCISES. ' C0UNTRY DANCES»
PERFORMERS WILL INCLUDE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS "E"BERS OF THE SAI KUNG CHILDREN CHOIR AND MEMBERS OF LO?AL * UKGAN I SAT IONS.
THE FESTIVAL’S PREPARATORY COMMITTEE HAS ARRANGED FREE COACH SERVICES TO TAKE RESIDENTS FROM HANG HAU AND RENNIE'S MILL TO THE TOWN HALL.
m Dc£?nLllC£Kn11F0RrJ.t,E SH0W HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISTRIBUTED localSorganisationsH RU L C0MMITTEES’ MUTUAL aid COMMITTEES AND
OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN HO, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WAN-HEI.
The SAI KUNG
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT AT THE SAI PO TUNG ROAD, SAI KUNG TOWN. THE CLOSING CEREMONY AT 7 PM.
KUNG TOWN HALL WILL BEGIN
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/12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
DB PLANS TO PROMOTE ELECTIONS IN FESTIVAL
*****
THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE 1987 DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE USE OF FESTIVAL TO PUBLICISE THE 1988 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
SHAM SHU I PO HAS BEEN HOLDING A MAJOR DISTRICT FESTIVAL ANNUALLY SINCE 1981.
OTHER ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE PROVISIONAL TIME-TABLE OF MEETINGS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES AND THE ALLOCATIONS OF DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS IN 1987-88.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW IN THE BOARD’S CONFERENCE ROOM AT 39 TONKIN STREET, SECOND FLOOR, SHAM SHU I PO.
- - 0 - -
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT A MAJOR TASK *****
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR TASK OF THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SYLVESTER TSE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE ALSO SAID THAT A HAWKER MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE HAD BEEN SET UP UNDER THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH HAWKER PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD ALSO AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO CLEAR THE STRUCTURES AND SQUATTERS ON HING WAH STREET NULLAH DECKINGS, HE SAID.
THE CLEARANCE OPERATION IS EXPECTED TO BE CARRIED OUT IN MID-YEAR. IT IS CONSIDERED ANOTHER MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON NAM CHEONG STREET NULLAH DECKINGS LAST YEAR.
MR TSE NOTED THAT NEW PUBLIC HOUSING WAS BEING BUILT ON THE SHAM SHU I PO RECLAMATION AREA, WITH A COMMUNITY CENTRE AND A PARK NEARBY.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
SPEAKING AT THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE SPRING MR TSE OUTLINED MAJOR EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT LAST YEAR. THESE INCLUDED THE RESETTLEMENT OF THE CHU KOO CHAI FIRE VICTIMS CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON NAM CHEONG STREET NULLAH DECKINGS, COMPLETION OF KING LAM STREET AND SHUN LING GARDENS, AND THE DISTRICT FESTIVAL HELD IN NOVEMBER. mil h SUCCESSFULLY HANDLED WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT BOARD
RECEPTION HE SAID
ROAD REST
ALL HAD BEEN
MR TSE ALSO THANKED THE BOARD FOR ITS SUPPORT IN DEALING WITH THE RESETTLEMENT OF RESIDENTS FROM THE THREE DEFECTIVE PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS IN PAK TIN ESTATE.
+AFTER DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE RESIDENTS WITH CO-ORDINATION PROVIDED BY A WORKING GROUP UNDER THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE, THE RESIDENTS ARE NOW SATISFIED WITH THE ARRANGEMENT,* HE SAID.
+ AS FOR THE COMPENSATION AND RESETTLEMENT FOR AFFECTED SHOP OWNERS, I BELIEVE THEY WILL BE GIVEN FAIR COMPENSATION WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD,* HE ADDED.
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SPRING RECEPTION IN WONG TAI SIN
*****
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL SPRING RECEPTION TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 4.30 PM AT THE FUNG MING HALL OF WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE.
ABOUT 800 GUESTS INCLUDING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL ALSO ATTEND.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE RECEPTION.
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/14
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
14
KWUN TONG SPRING RECEPTION
*****
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOST A SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
DURING THE FUNCTION, 29 REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS WILL BE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FOR THEIR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY BUILDING AND FOR EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK IN THE DISTRICT.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL ATTEND.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE RECEPTION WILL START AT 3.30 PM IN THE TELFORD CHINESE RESTAURANT IN TELFORD GARDENS, KOWLOON BAY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FUNCTION.
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SPRING RECEPTION IN SAI KUNG
*****
A SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS WILL BE GIVEN BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
LEADING FIGURES IN DISTRICT AFFAIRS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS WILL ATTEND.
THE GUEST OF HONOUR WILL BE THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES.
THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN A RESTAURANT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SPRING RECEPTION, TO BE HELD AT THE FUNG LAM RESTAURANT, WATERFRONT, SAI KUNG TOWN, STARTING AT 3 PM.
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/15........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1987
15
SPRING RECEPTION FOR YUEN LONG COMMUNITY LEADERS
*****
THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALAN WONG, AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL HOST A SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE DISTRICT TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
the deputy regional secretary for The NEW TERRITORIES, MR PETER NG, WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOUR.
THE RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE RECEPTION WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 4 PM IN THE KAR SHING RESTAURANT, 15-19 KAU YUK ROAD, YUEN LONG.
- - 0 -
ROAD CLOSURES IN WAN CHAI
*•***•*•
THE SECTION OF STONE NULLAH LANE SOUTH OF KAT ON STREET IN WAN CHAI WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 8 AM TO 1 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPEN DAY AT ST JAMES’ SETTLEMENT MULT I-SERVICE COMMUNITY CENTRE.
AT THE SAME TIME, PARKING SPACES ALONG STONE NULLAH LANE WILL BE SUSPENDED.
ELSEWHERE ROAD REPAIR WORKS WILL NECESSITATE THE CLOSURE OF THE UP-RAMP LINKING CANAL ROAD WEST WITH THE CANAL ROAD WEST FLYOVER ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY (FEBRUARY 9) EVENING. IN EACH CASE, THE UP-RAMP WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 PM TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ON MORRISON HILL ROAD HEADING FOR NORTH POINT WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LEIGHTON ROAD AND VEHICLES ON WESTBOUND LEIGHTON ROAD HEADING FOR CENTRAL AND NORTH POINT WILL BE DIVERTED VIA MORRISON HILL ROAD.
CROSS-HARBOUR BUSES BOUND FOR KOWLOON ON ROUTES 101, 111, 112, 116, 121 AND 122 ON EITHER MORRISON HILL ROAD OR CANAL ROAD EAST WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LEIGHTON ROAD, WONG NAI CHUNG ROAD AND THE UP-RAMP LINKING MORRISON HILL ROAD WITH THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL ROUTING.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
CONTENTS PACE liO.
TOP U.S. OFFICIALS HEAR HONG KONG'S CASS ................... 1
CHINA NOW BANKS THIRD IN INVESTORS' LIST ................... 2
TRAFFIC CONGESTION WILL BE TACKLED VIGOROUSLY .............. 5
TAXI VOUCHER SCH3-IL FOR liHEELCHAIR-QOUND DISABLED......... 7
STREAMLINING OF ADOPTION PROCEDURE PROPOSED ................ 9
TTiESS STATU-ENT ON EDA AND CARRIAN INVESTIGATIONS......... 11
SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS RELEASED .............. 12
NGAU TAU KOK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHL-IE ACHIEVES EFFECT... 14
HSU EXPLAINS AU-IS OF POLITICAL REVIUI .................... 16
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENCES ...... 17
LAB TO DISCUSS OVSITDE, HATEBNITY ISSUES .................. 18
HANG LUNG BANK NOW iACAIVES FUND DONATIONS ................ 18
•
LONG-SERVING LlAitINE STAFF HONOURED ...................... 19
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION AT NEW TO..N PLAZA ............. 19
JULY DATE FOR JUHL. BAY PUBLIC HOUSING .................... 20
SITE SOLD FOR ISPS DEVELOPMENT............................. 21
URBAN MINOR WORKS TEAKS TO BE FORMED ...................... 21
UJLXL'xL STRUCTURES IN TSUEN WAN TO BE DEMOLISHED.......... 22
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS E1TJK0NMHNTAL PuOBIAMS ............ 22
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED .................................. 23
MUSICIANS INVITED TO NTIK. AWARDS CCMFJTITIOW.............. 23
PEAK WALKATHON FOR CBWTxLAL ABD USSTliLN LU3IDSNTS ........ 24
STREET PERFOiULALS IN ACTION ON CHEUNG CHAU................ 24
MELODIES TO MARK LUNAR NEW YEAR ........................... 25
SHvING FJSTIVAL FUN FOTt KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS ........... 26
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
1
TOP U.S.
OFFICIALS HEAR HONG KONG’S CASE
* * * * M-
A HONG KONG DELEGATION LED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, HAS ENDED FOUR DAYS OF TOP-LEVEL MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON TO CONVEY THE TERRITORY’S FREE TRADE MESSAGE, AND TO ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF U.S. TRADE LEGISLATION WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT HONG KONG-
MR HO MET SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION AND KEY FIGURES IN CONGRESS. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED ON HIS CALLS BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, AND HONG KONG’S COUNSELLOR IN WASHINGTON, MR PETER LO.
DISCUSSIONS CENTRED ON BILATERAL TRADE ISSUES, THE GATT NEW ROUND AND POSSIBLE TRADE INITIATIVES IN THE U.S.A.
ON HIS FIRST DAY IN THE U.S. CAPITAL, MR HO MET THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE, MR CLAYTON YEUTTER- THE SECRETARY OF LABOUR, MR BILL BROCK- AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF STATE AND COMMERCE.
ON TUESDAY, MR HO CALLED ON MORE STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS AND THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE, MR MALCOLM BALDRlGE, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS AT THE BRITISH EMBASSY. ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY HE MET SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS OF KEY TRADE COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
MR MACLEOD WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON FLIGHT UA 805
ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8). MR HO IS TRAVELLING FROM THE U.S.A., TO LONDON FOR A PRIVATE VISIT.
A PRESS FACILITY WILL BE ARRANGED TO ALLOW MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO TALK TO MR MACLEOD AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS RETURN.
THE SCHEDULED ETA OF UA 805 IS 8.05 PM. HOWEVER, EDITORS ARE ADVISED THAT THIS IS SUBJECT TO VARIATION AND THEY SHOULD MAKE THEIR OWN CHECKS ON SUNDAY.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS ROOM 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO FLIGHT ARRIVAL.
0
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
2
CHINA NOW RANKS THIRD IN INVESTORS’ LIST
*****
CHINA IS NOW THE THIRD LARGEST FOREIGN INVESTOR IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, TRAILING ONLY THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN, ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THE STUDY FOUND THAT CHINA’S STAKE IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR STOOD AT $2 851 MILLION REPRESENTING 18.4 PER CENT OF TOTAL OVERSEAS INVESTMENT BASED ON ORIGINAL COST.
THE UNITED KINGDOM, WHICH RANKED THIRD IN THE LAST SURVEY CARRIED OUT IN 1984, NOW LIES FOURTH ON THE LIST.
THE FINDINGS ARE CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT’S +1986 SURVEY OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES* PUBLISHED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SCOPE OF THE 1986 SURVEY HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE DATA NOT COVERED IN PREVIOUS SURVEYS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, FOR INSTANCE, THAT DATA ON CHINESE INVESTMENT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY TO UPDATE THE DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION ON FACTORIES WITH OVERSEAS INTERESTS.
THE REPORT, COVERING THE PERIOD JANUARY 1985 TO MARCH 1986, DOES NOT REPRESENT AN EXHAUSTIVE STUDY OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES. INSTEAD IT IS BASED ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY 509 FACTORIES KNOWN TO THE DEPARTMENT TO INVOLVE OVERSEAS INTERESTS.
ONE OF THE REPORT’S KEY FINDINGS IS THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT AMOUNTED TO $15 527 MILLION WITH THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN AND CHINA ACCOUNTING FOR 75.9 PER CENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENT.
OF THIS, WORKING CAPITAL ACCOUNTED FOR 43.3 PER CENT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 32.8 PER CENT, AND LAND AND BUILDINGS 17.6 PER CENT.
THE INVESTMENT VALUE IS BASED ON THE FIXED ASSETS OF THE COMPANIES SURVEYED AT ORIGINAL COST BEFORE DEPRECIATION AND THEIR WORKING CAPITAL AS AT THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIODS ADOPTED BY THE COMPANIES.
THE UNITED STATES MAINTAINED ITS POSITION AS THE TOP OVERSEAS INVESTOR IN HONG KONG’S MANUAFCTURI NG SECTOR. THE AMERICANS INVESTED A TOTAL OF $5 659 MILLION (36.4 PER CENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENT) IN 143 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING MORE THAN 35 000 WORKERS.
/japan remained .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 198?
JAPAN REMAINED THE SECOND LARGEST SOURCE COUNTRY WITH S3 273
MILLION (21.1 PER CENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENT) INVESTED IN 117 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS WITH 18 467 WORKERS.
CHINA CAME THIRD ON THE LIST WITH ITS STAKE OF $2 851 MILLION (18.4 PER CENT OF OVERALL INVESTMENT) iJ 35 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING MORE THAN 5 OOO WORKERS.
CHINESE INVESTMENT WAS CONCENTRATED MAINLY IN THE MANUFACTURING OF NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS, ELECTRONICS (EXCEPT TOYS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS), AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS.
THE UNITED KINGDOM, IN FOURTH PLACE, ACCOUNTED FOR Si 051 MILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT (6.8 PER CENT OF TOTAL INVESTMENT), AND WAS PROVIDING JOBS FOR 11 079 WORKERS IN 56 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE MANUFACTURERS WERE ALSO ASKED TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON HONG KONG AS A LOCATION FOR INVESTMENT.
THE SURVEY FOUND THAT 345, OR 68 PER CENT OF THE 509 FACTORIES SURVEYED, SAID HONG KONG OFFERED A FAVOURABLE INVESTMENT CLIMATE TO OVERSEAS INVESTORS WHILE 141 OR 28 PER CENT HELD THE OPPOSITE VIEW.
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR K.Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE FOREWORD TO THE REPORT: +IT IS PARTICULARLY GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT A MAJORITY OF THE FACTORIES SURVEYED REGARD HONG KONG AS PROVIDING A HIGHLY FAVOURABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT, CITING OUR LOW AND SIMPLE TAX STRUCTURE, GOOD INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS, FREIGHT, UTILITY, BUSINESS AND TRANSPORT SERVICES, AND THE GOVERNMENT’S CONSISTENT ADHERENCE TO FREE TRADE AND FREE ENTERPRISE.*
SOME FACTORIES ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE ARE WEAKNESSES IN CERTAIN AREAS SUCH AS IN THE SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES.
THIS IS WELL KNOWN TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WHICH ARE PURSUING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM MAINLY THROUGH PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT AND QUALITY PROMOTION SERVICES.
HIGH LABOUR TURNOVER, HIGH LABOUR COSTS, THE LACK OF SPECIAL FISCAL INCENTIVES FOR INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT (FOR EXAMPLE, NO TAX HOLIDAYS), AND THE ABSENCE OF LONG-TERM LEASES FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PREMISES WERE ALSO CONSIDERED UNFAVOURABLE FACTORS.
THE SURVEY FOUND THAT THE ELECTRONICS (EXCLUDING TOYS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS), NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS AND TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRIES WERE THE THREE MAJOR INDUSTRIES FOR OVERSEAS INVESTMENT.
/the electronics.......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
4 -
THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ACCOUNTED FOR #5 021 MILLION (OR 32.3 PER CENT) OF TOTAL INVESTMENT AT ORIGINAL COST FOLLOWED BY THE NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AT SI 892 MILLION (OR 12.2 PER CENT) AND THE TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY AT SI 322 MILLION (OR 8.5 PER CENT).
APART FROM EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF THE SURVEY TO COVER FACTORIES KNOWN TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT TO INVOLVE INVESTMENT FROM CHINA THE 1986 SURVEY IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER PREVIOUS ONES IN OTHER WAYS.
FOR THE FIRST TIME, DATA ON BOOK VALUE AT THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD AND ON NET ACQUISITION WAS COLLECTED IN ADDITION TO THAT ON CUMULATIVE INVESTMENT AT ORIGINAL COST BEFORE DEPRECIATION.
IN TERMS OF BOOK VALUE AT THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD. THE TOTAL VALUE OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT WAS $12 492 MILLION. OF THIS WORKING CAPITAL ACCOUNTED FOR 53.8 PER CENT, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 23.4 PER CENT, AND LAND AND BUILDINGS 18.9 PER CENT.
NET ACQUISITION OF FIXED ASSETS BY INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS CONTAINING OVERSEAS INTEREST AMOUNTED TO SI 105 MILLION IN 1984 AND Si 031 MILLION IN 1985. ON A YEAR-ON-YEAR COMPARISON THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE OF 6.7 PER CENT. IN 1985, MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT ACCOUNTED FOR 68.4 PER CENT, AND LAND AND BUILDINGS 18.8 PER CENT. THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR 1984 WERE 69.8 PER CENT AND 17.9 PER CENT.
COMMENTING ON THE DECREASE, MR YEUNG SAID THAT THE FIGURES FOR 1984 WORKED OUT TO S12 369 PER WORKER EMPLOYED IN THE 509 FACTORIES. +THIS COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH S5 498 PER WORKER FOR ALL FACTORIES IN HONG KONG IN THAT YEAR. DESPITE THE FACT THAT 1985 WAS NOT CONSIDERED A GOOD YEAR FOR HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THE NET ACQUISITION VALUE OF FIXED ASSETS BY THE FACTORIES SURVEYED WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY REDUCED TO ftl 031 MILLION OR $11 929 PER WORKER.+
THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE ADVICE OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AS THE SCOPE OF THE 1986 SURVEY HAD BEEN EXPANDED, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO COMPARE THE RESULTS WITH THOSE OF PREVIOUS SURVEYS.
HE ALSO SAID THAT SIMILAR SURVEYS OF OVERSEAS INVESTMENT WILL IN FUTURE BE CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ANNUALLY INSTEAD OF ONCE EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1937
- 5 -
TRAFFIC CONGESTION WILL BE TACKLED VIGOROUSLY
*****
TRAFFIC CONGESTION REMAINS THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEM TO BE TACKLED IN THE YEARS TO COME, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER LEEDS, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPEAKING AT A ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING, MR LEEDS SAID THIS WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PROVIDING NEW ROADS OR NEW BUS SERVICES.
♦IF IT IS NOT TACKLED FIRMLY AND IN GOOD TIME ALL THE ADVANTAGES THAT HAVE BEEN GAINED OVER THE PAST YEARS BY THE HEAVY INVESTMENT IN THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE WILL HAVE BEEN WASTED IF THE ROAD TRAFFIC SYSTEM IS BROUGHT TO A STANDSTILL BY ROAD CONGESTION,* HE STRESSED.
HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IT WOULD BE TACKLED VIGOROUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
MR LEEDS SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON THE MORE ECONOMIC USE OF THE ROAD SYSTEM — ONE OF THE THREE PRINCIPLES DRAWN UP IN THE 1979 POLICY WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORT -- WAS BOTH THE LEAST UNDERSTOOD AND THE MOST CONTENTIOUS.
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT BOOM IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-RISE PREMISES FOR THE DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, BUT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A COMPARABLE INCREASE IN THE CAPACITY OF THE ROAD SYSTEM AND THERE NEVER COULD BE.
SOME FORM OF RATIONING WAS INEVITABLE AS THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A SHORTAGE OF ROAD CAPACITY WHEN COMPARED WITH DEMAND, HE SAID.
+A DO NOTHING POLICY WOULD RESULT IN RATIONING OF A SORTRATIONING BY CONGESTION UNDER WHICH MANY JOURNEYS WOULD NOT BE TAKEN AT ALL BECAUSE FOR MANY HOURS OF THE DAY OVER WIDER AREAS TRAFFIC WOULD MOVE IN A SNAIL-LIKE SPEED OR PERHAPS NOT AT ALL.
+ THIS POSSIBLE SITUATION, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY SAY IS HAPPENING ALREADY, IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN FORECAST IN THE MANY TRANSPORT STUDIES AND IT IS THE SITUATION WHICH NOBODY WOULD WISH TO SEE HAPPEN,* HE SA ID.
THE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH MUCH HAD BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW BY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES, THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM WAS HOW TO RESTRAIN THE INCREASING DEMAND.
+THERE ARE NO EASY OR PAINLESS TRAFFIC RESTRAINT OPTIONS TO BRING THE DEMAND FOR ROAD SPACE INTO LINE WITH THE SUPPLY AVAILABLE. THE PRESENT POLICY OF HIGH TAXATION ON VEHICLES OWNERSHIP TO HOLD DOWN THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IS A SYSTEM OF INDIRECT ROAD PRICING,* HE SAID.
/+TT IS........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 198?
6
+ IT IS BLUNT INSTRUMENT WHICH HAS SO FAR WORKED ALTHOUGH IT CANNOT INFLUENCE TRAFFIC FLOWS IN MAJOR CONGESTION AREAS.
+THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE IS THE SYSTEM OF DIRECT ROAD PRICING WHICH WOULD MAKE BETTER USE OF THE ROAD NETWORK BY RESTRAINING TRAFFIC IN THE BUSY AREAS AND TIMES, WHILE REDUCING THE COST OF USING VEHICLES IN OFF-PEAK PERIODS AND IN LESS BUSY AREAS.
+ONE SUCH SYSTEM WHICH COULD ACHIEVE THAT DESIRABLE RESULT IS ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING, UNFORTUNATELY, A SYSTEM WHICH WAS NOT SUPPORTED AT THE TIME WHEN THE REPORT ON ERP WAS PUBLISHED IN 1985,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE OTHER TWO PRINCIPLES OF THE 1979 POLICY WHITE PAPER — IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD SYSTEM AND EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT — MR LEEDS SAID A LOT HAD BEEN DONE IN THE SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED.
THE ROAD SYSTEM HAD IMPROVED WITH EXPENDITURE OF OVER 5(7 090 MILLION ON NEW WORKS AND MAINTENANCE.
SEVERAL OF THE MAJOR ROADS THAT HAD BEEN COMPLETED DURING THE PERIOD INCLUDED THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE AIRPORT TUNNEL, TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, AND TOLO HIGHWAY.
AMONG THE MAJOR WORKS CURRENTLY IN HAND WERE THE JUNK BAY TUNNEL, TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL, ROUTE 5 FROM SHA TIN TO TSUEN WAN AND THE BORDER CROSSING AT LOK MA CHAU.
ON THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM, MR LEEDS SAID THE PAST SEVEN YEARS HAD PROBABLY SEEN AN INCREASE THAT WAS BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THAT HAD HAPPENED BEFORE AND PERHAPS wOULD NEVER BE MATCHED AGAIN.
AT THE BEGINNING OF 197% THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED ON THE MAJOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT UNDERTAKINGS WAS 4.4 MILLION PER DAY, AND AT THE END OF 1986 IT WAS 9.3 MILLION PER DAY — AN INCREASE OF 111 PER CENT -- A RECORD THAT COULD NOT BE BETTERED BY ANY OTHER LARGE CITY IN THE WORLD.
HONG KONG’S TWO RAILWAYS, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WHICH WAS FULLY ELECTRIFIED IN 1983, AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY HAD ACHIEVED THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN PASSENGER CARRYING CAPACITY.
IN 1979, THE TWO SYSTEMS CARRIED LESS THAN 200 000 PASSENGERS PER DAY, BUT NOW THE FIGURE HAD REACHED A STAGGERING 1.9 MILLION DA ILY.
MR LEEDS SAID THE DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS INCREASING AT A PHENOMENAL RATE BECAUSE NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW INDUSTRIAL AREAS NEEDED GOOD COMMUNICATIONS.
/HE SAID .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE RAILWAYS HAD TAKEN UP SUCH A LARg-SEGMENT OF THE DEMAND THIS HAD KOT MEANT THAT OTHER SERVICES, APv.T FROM CROSS HARBOUR FERRY SERVICro, HAD SUFFERED FROM LOSSES IN PATRONAGE.
+OVER THE SAME SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED BY THE TWO LARGEST FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES HAS GONE UP FROM 3.3 MILLION PER DAY TO FOUR MILLION PER DAY, WITH MUCH OF THE INCREASE BEING GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS AND THEIR NEED TO HAVE GOOD LOCAL SERVICES ANU LINKS wI TH THE MAIN URBAN AREAS,+ HE SAID.
FURTHER EFFORTS wOULD PE NECESSARY TO COPE a I TH THE I OCREAS I l it DEMANDS BOTH IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND DUALITY, HE ADDED.
0 - -
TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME FOR WHEELCHAIR-BOUND DISABLED * * * * *
DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND CAN BENEFIT FROM A NEW SCHEME UTILISING PRE-PAID TAXI VOUCHERS TO PAY FOR TAXI FARES.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR FRANCIS HO, TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG EAST, MR HO SAID, + THE AIM OF THE TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME (TVS) IS TO USE THE TAXI SERVICE TO SUPPLEMENT CENTRE-BASED TRANSPORT AND THE TERRITORY-WIDE SPECIAL TRANSPORT SERVICES.+
THE SERVICE WILL PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR DISABLED PERSONS WHO CANNOT UTILISE OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES TO MEET THEIR TRANSPORT NEEDS ARISING FROM NORMAL DAILY LIVING.
THE REASON WHY THE TAXI SERVICE WAS CHOSEN, MR HO WENT ON TO EXPLAIN, WAS THAT IT WAS GENERALLY RECOGNISED THAT THE TAXI WAS A VERY IMPORTANT FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT THAT COULD BE UTILISED BY MOST OF THE WHEELCHAIR-BOUND AND THOSE WITH SEVERE WALKING DIFFICULTIES EITHER ON THEIR OWN OR WITH ASSISTANCE.
THE SCHEME WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR A TRIAL PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS.
/UNDER THE .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
8
UNDER THE SCHEME, AN ELIGIBLE PERSON WILL BE ISSUED WITH TAXI VOUCHERS AMOUNTING TO $55 PER MONTH. THE VOUCHERS WILL BE Of $5, $2 AND $1 DENOMINATIONS AND WILL BE VALID FOR SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE.
A PERSON AGED 15 or above and who is suffering from a PERMANENT PHYSICAL DISABILITY WHICH CONFINES HIM OR HER TO A WHEELCHAIR, WILL BE CONSIDERED ELIGIBLE FOR THE SCHEME IF HIS OR HER MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME FALLS BELOW $5 400. APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE A STATUTORY DECLARATION OF THE MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME ON THE APPLICATION FORM.
DISABLED DRIVERS WHO CURRENTLY ENJOY EXEMPTIONS FROM THE FIRST REGISTRATION TAX, CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL TAX AND THE FEES FOR DRIVING LICENCES AND VEHICLE LICENCES WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW SCHEME.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE INFORMED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT THEIR VOUCHERS AND THEIR TVS CARDS, WHICH ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE. THE CARD, WHICH BEARS THE NAME, ID CARD NUMBER AND PHOTO OF THE USER, MUST BE PRODUCED WHEN THE VOUCHERS ARE USED IN PAYMENT OF TAXI FARES.
MR HO ADDED THAT TAXI DRIVERS CAN CASH THE VOUCHERS AT THE OFFICES OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY SHOWING THEIR TAXI DRIVING LICENCES.
SPEAKING ON THE BACKGROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME, MR HO SAID THAT THE IDEA OF THE SCHEME DERIVED ORIGINALLY FROM RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD BY A WORKING PARTY APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER.
A WORKING GROUP, CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, FOLLOWED UP THE RECOMMENDATIONS SUBSEQUENTLY AND MONITORED THEIR IMPLEMENTATIONS, HE ADDED.
MR HO EXPLAINED THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY COULD BE HELPED BY INTRODUCING MEASURES TO FACILITATE THE MOBILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONTINUOUSLY EXPLORING WAYS AND MEANS TO IMPROVE THE MOBILITY OF THE DISABLED.
+THE TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME WAS JUST ONE OF THE NEW INITIATIVES*, HE SAID.
EMPHASISING THAT THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY DEPENDED QUITE LARGELY ON THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT, MR HO SPECIFICALLY THANKED THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR ITS GENEROUS DONATION OF ^660 000 TOWARDS THE SCHEME AND THE TAXI TRADE FOR ITS SUPPORT OF THE SCHEME.
/the application .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
THE APPLICATION PERIOD WILL BE FROM FEBRUARY 9 TO MARCH 14. APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE STUDENT TRAVEL OFFICE OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AT SECOND FLOOR, LOW BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONGj OR FROM VARIOUS DISTRICT OFFICES, OR MAY BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE POST ON APPLICATION, EITHER IN WRITING OR BY TELEPHONE (5-8623253).
THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED BY POST OR BY AGENT TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT (PILOT TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME) AT SECOND FLOOR, LOW BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, HONG KONG.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS CAN ALSO BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON OR BY AGENT TO :
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT 28T H FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG j
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE AT 2 MURRAY ROAD, HONG KONG,
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE AT KCR HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR, SHA TIN STATION, NEW TERRITORIES}
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE AT 56 DUNDAS STREET, NINTH FLOOR, KOWLOON} AND
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S KWUN TONG LICENSING OFFICE AT KOWLOON EAST GOVERNMENT OFFICES, FIFTH FLOOR, 12 LEI YUE MUN ROAD.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE ON 5-8623253.
-------0----------
STREAMLINING OF ADOPTION PROCEDURE PROPOSED
*****
A BILL TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTING CHILDREN WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
EXISTING LEGISLATION PROVIDES THAT AN INFANT MUST HAVE BEEN IN THE CONTINUOUS CARE AND POSSESSION OF THE PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENT FOR AT LEAST SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS BEFORE AN ADOPTION ORDER MAY BE MADE.
/THE ADOPTION .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 198?
10 -
THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 PROPOSES THAT WHERE ONE OF THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS IS A NATURAL PARENT OF THE INFANT, THE PRESCRIBED PRE-ADOPTION PERIOD SHOULD BE REDUCED FROM SIX MONTHS TO 13 WEEKS.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT IS THAT WHERE AN INFANT IS HOSPITALISED OR AT BOARDING SCHOOL, THE CONTINUOUS ACTUAL CUSTODY WITH THE ADOPTIVE PARENT SHALL NOT BE REGARDED AS BROKEN.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WERE NECESSARY AS THE EXISTING REQUIREMENTS WERE CONSIDERED TO BE TOO STRINGENT AND MORE PROTRACTED THAN DESIRABLE.
FURTHERMORE, TO AVOID THE DELAY AND UNCERTAINTY CAUSED BY VACILLATION ON THE PART OF THE NATURAL PARENTS IN SIGNING OVER AN INFANT, A NEW SECTION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, IF THE DIRECTOR IS THE LEGAL GUARDIAN OF AN INFANT OR IF THE INFANT IS IN THE DIRECTOR’S CARE, TO OBTAIN AN ORDER FROM A COURT FREEING THE INFANT FOR ADOPTION, WHEN THE CONSENT OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN CANNOT BE OBTAINED.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, INCLUDING INFORMING PARTIES CONCERNED ABOUT THE DATE OF THE COURT HEARING AND A TIME FRAME FOR THEM TO APPLY TO THE COURT TO REVOKE THE ORDER.
ANOTHER PROPOSAL IS TO ENABLE RULES TO BE MADE UNDER WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE MAY CONCEAL THE WHEREABOUTS OF AN INFANT IN RESPECT OF WHOM AN APPLICATION TO FREE THE CHILD FOR ADOPTION IS MADE.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THIS WOULD NOT ONLY PROTECT THE INFANT FROM POSSIBLE PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE BUT IT WOULD ALSO MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE APPLICANT IN THOSE FREQUENT CASES WHERE THE INFANT IN QUESTION IS ALREADY RESIDING WITH THE APPLICANT.
ON ADOPTION APPLICATIONS, THE BILL PROPOSES THAT ALL THE APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMMENCED IN THE DISTRICT COURT AND THAT SUCH APPLICATIONS MAY BE TRANSFERRED BY THE DISTRICT COURT TO THE HIGH COURT AT THE REQUEST OF ANY PARTY TO THE PROCEEDINGS OR ON THE MOTION OF THE DISTRICT JUDGE.
WHERE THE APPLICATION IS HEARD BY THE DISTRICT COURT, THAT COURT CAN, IN SUITABLE CASES, DISPENSE WITH THE ADOPTION CONSENT WITHOUT HAVING TO TRANSFER THE APPLICATION TO THE HIGH COURT FOR THAT PURPOSE.
ALSO, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, A NEW SECTION IS INTRODUCED TO VALIDATE EXISTING ORDERS WHERE THE DISTRICT COURT HAS DISPENSED WITH THE ADOPTION CONSENT.
IT IS EXPECTED THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 18.
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/11 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
11
PRESS oTATEMtNl ON EDA A>ID CARR I AN INVESTIGATIONS
*****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, MR RAY ASTIN, ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE STATUTORY REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS APPOINTED BY T HE SECURITIES COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF EDA INVESTMENTS LIMITED, ITS SUBSIDIARIES, ASSOCIATED AND RELATED COMPANIES (+THE EDA GROJP+), HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSION, AND A COPY HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY T HE INSPECTOR^, AS REQUIRED BY SECTION 130 OF THE SECURITIES ORDINANCE.
THE INSPECTORS CONCERNED, MR ROBERT C. TANG, C|C, AND MR MICHAEL JOHNSON, WERE FIRST APPOINTED ON MARCH 7, 1983 TO INVESTIGATE THE EDA GROUP, AND THIS wAS FOLLOWED BY A FURTHER APPOINTMENT ON APRIL 29, 1983 TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF CARRIAN HOLDINGS LIMITED, CARR I AN INVESTMENTS LIMITED, AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, ASSOCIATED AND RELATED COMPANIES (+THE CARRIAN GROUP+), BECAUSE OF THE CLOSE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE AFFAIRS OF THE EDA GROUP AND THE CARRIAN GROUP.
IN NOVEMBER 1985, THE SECURITIES COMMISSION, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, INSTRUCTED THE INSPECTORS TO CONCENTRATE ON COMPLETING THE EDA GROUP INVESTIGATION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO SUSPEND THE CARRIAN GROUP INVESTIGATION FOR THE TIME BEING. THE SECURITIES COMMISSION ALSO AGREED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION THAT, ON COMPLETION OF THL EDA GROUP INVESTIGATION, THEY WOULD REVIEW FURTHER THE POSITION wITH REGARD TO THE CARRIAN GROUP INVESTIGATION IN LIGHT OF THE FUNDS THEN REMAINING, AND OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
AND THE
EDA
the position was reconsidered by the administration SECURITIES COMMISSION BEGINNING IN OCTOBER 1986 WHEN THE GROUP INVESTIGATION WAS NEARING COMPLETION AND A REASONABLY ACCURATE ESTIMATE COULD BE MADE Ao TO THE BALANCE OF APPROVED FUNDS REMAINING AFTER COMPLETION OF THE EDA GROUP INVESTIGATION. ON DECEMBER 4, 1986, THE SECURITIES COMMISSION, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE ADMINISTRATION, DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INSPECTORS IN RESPECT OF The CARRIAN GROUP INVESTIGATION WITHOUT REQUIRING THE STATUTORY REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 130 OF The SECURITIES ORDINANCE. this COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED HAD THE INSPECTORS COMPLETED THEIR INVESTIGATION OF THE
CARRIAN GROUP.
THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAD NOTED THAT POLICE INVESTIGATIONS HAD LED TO THE INSTITUTION OF CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AND THAT THE INSPECTORS THEMSELVES HAD IDENTIFIED THE BROADER FEATURES OF WHAT HAD GONE WRONG IN CARRIAN AND * HY, AND T HUb THE ESSENTIAL PURPOSE
FACTORS
/THE inspectors .......
6
1?
the inspectors HAVE AGREED 0/1th the securities commission TO PREPARE WITHIN THE REMAINING BALANCE OF APPROVED FUNDS, A PAPER SUMMARISING WHAT WENT WRONG, w HY, AND WHAT LESSONS CAN BE LEARNT.
HAVING CONSIDERED THE ADVICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS DECIDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO PUBLISH THE STATUTORY REPORT ON THE COMPLETED EDA GROUP INVESTIGATION ( + THE EDA REPORT+) AT THIS STAGE. HOWEVER, THE EDA REPORT IS NOW BEING STUDIED, THE COMMISSIONER SAID. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING, IN THE LIGHT OF THE INSPECTORS’ FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS, WHETHER CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS SHOULD BE INSTITUTED AGAINST ANY PERSON. CONSIDERATION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO THE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST OTHER PERSONS WHOSE CONDUCT HAS BEEN CRITICISED BY THE INSPECTORS IN THE EDA REPORT.
--------0----------
SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS RELEASED
* X- X- X- X
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986, 3 478 SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 21.2 MILLION NRT (NET REGISTERED TONS) ARRIVED IN HONG KONG, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 137 (OR 4 PER CENT) IN NUMBER AND OF 8 PER CENT IN CAPACITY OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1985.
THESE FIGURES ARE CONTAINED IN THE + HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT+ PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS
DEPARTMENT.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE IN HONG KONG FROM INCOMING SHIPS MANIFEST CONSIGNMENTS) INCREASED
TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO DISCHARGED (ESTIMATED FROM A SAMPLE OF BY 17 PER CENT.
WHEN ANALYSED BY SHIP TYPE, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF CONTAINER VESSELS (+173) AND OIL TANKERS (+45), WHILE DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE NUMBER OF SEMI-CONTAINER VESSELS (-52), ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF VESSELS (-50) AND DRY BULK CARRIERS (-15).
INCREASES IN NUMBER WERE RECORDED FOR SHIPS REGISTERED IN CHINA (+167) AND PANAMA (+59), BUT DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR those registered in the federal republic of Germany (-28), TAIWAN (-23) AND JAPAN (-12).
/tiie number.......
E;ill)AY, FEBRUARY 6, 198?
the number of ships with a capacity of LESS THAN 10 000 DWT (DEADWEIGHT TONS) INCREASED (+5).
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986, THERE WERE 3 478 OUTGOING SHIPS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 21.1 MILLION NRT, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 146 (OR 4 PER CENT) IN NUMBER AND OF 8 PER CENT IN -CAPACITY OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1985.
THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF CARGO LOADED ONTO OUTGOING SHIPS (ESTIMATED FROM A SAMPLE OF MANIFEST CONSIGNMENTS) ROSE BY 23 PER CENT. ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTING SHIPS STAYED IN HONG KONG FOR LESS THAN TWO DAYS.
OF THE CARGO DISCHARGED FROM INCOMING SHIPS, 86 PER CENT IN TERMS OF TONNAGE REPRESENTED IMPORTS AND 14 PER CENT WAS TRANSHIPMENT CARGO. OF THE CARGO LOADED ON TO OUTGOING SHIPS, 58 PER CENT REPRESENTED EXPORTS (INCLUDING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS) AND 42 PER CENT WAS TRANSHIPMENT CARGO.
THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF LOADING FOR SEABORNE IMPORTS IN TONNAGE TERMS WERE SINGAPORE (18 PER CENT), CHINA (12 PER CENT), JAPAN (11 PER CENT), AUSTRALIA (10 PER CENT), THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA (10 PER CENT) AND TAIWAN (8 PER CENT), WHILE THE MAJOR COUNTRIES OF DISCHARGE FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS WERE THE U.S.A. (20 PER CENT), CHINA (17 PER CENT), TAIWAN (12 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (7 PER CENT).
TRANSHIPMENT CARGO wAS MAINLY LOADED IN CHINA (32 PER CENT) AND THE U.S.A. (19 PER CENT)? AND WAS ALSO MAINLY DISCHARGED IN CHINA (13 PER CENT) AND THE U.S.A. (13 PER CENT).
COMPARING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985, INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR IMPORTS FROM CHINA (+58 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (+39 PER CENT), AUSTRALIA (+35 PER CENT) AND TAIWAN (+10 PER CENT)? BUT A DECREASE IN TONNAGE WAS NOTED FOR IMPORTS FROM JAPAN (-21 PER CENT).
AS A WHOLE, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 18 PER CENT. AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, INCREASES IN CARGO TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR THE IMPORTS OF ORGANIC CHEMICALS (+72 PER CENT), CHEMICAL MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS, N.E.S. (+67 PER CENT), MISCELLANEOUS EDIBLE PRODUCTS AND PREPARATIONS (+64 PER CENT), ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS (+64 PER CENT), INORGANIC CHEMICALS (+53 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE FIBRES (+46 PER CENT), BUT A DECREASE wAS RECORDED FOR THE IMPORTS OF IRON AND STEEL (-15 PER CENT).
DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986, THE TOTAL TONNAGE OF SEABORNE EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS) INCREASED BY 29 PER CENT. INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE RECORDED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE (+64 PER CENT), TAIWAN (+35 PER CENT) AND THE U.S.A. (+23 PER CENT).
/AMONG the .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
- 14 -
AMONG THE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, INCREASES IN TONNAGE WERE NOTED FOR SEABORNE EXPORTS OF PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (+360 PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (+139 PER CENT) MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURES OF METAL AND NON-METALLIC MINERALS, N.E.S^ (+75 PER CENT) AND CEMENT AND CEMENT CLINKER (+67 PER CENT), BUT SEABORNE EXPORTS OF INORGANIC CHEMICALS AND OF METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP DROPPED (-41 PER CENT AND -38 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY).
SHIPPING STATISTICS ARE COMPILED PRIMARILY FROM GENERAL DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT BY SHIPOWNERS OR AUTHORISED SHIPPING AGENTS AND COVER ALL OCEAN-GOING VESSELS ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG, EXCLUDING YACHTS AND PLEASURE CRAFT.
PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS ARE COMPILED FROM OCEAN CARGO MANIFESTS SUPPLIED BY SHIPPING COMPANIES OR AGENTS TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
BECAUSE OF RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS, A SAMPLE OF ALL CONSIGNMENTS LISTED IN THE MANIFESTS IS USED FOR COMPILING THE STATISTICS. THE SAMPLING METHOD IS DESCRIBED IN THE EXPLANATORY NOTES IN THE REPORT.
MORE DETAILS ON SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 ARE CONTAINED IN THE +HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS REPORT+ FOR JULY TO SEPTEMBER 1986, WHICH IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT $14 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ON STATISTICS PROVIDED ON THE REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SHIPPING STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 5-455422.
-------0----------
NGAU TAU KOK TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME ACHIEVES EFFECT * X- X- * *
THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME WHICH IS designed TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN NGAU TAU KOK AREA HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO BE EFFECTIVE.
+FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME ON JANUARY 20, AN INITIAL SURVEY IN THE AREA INDICATED THAT THE PROJECT HAS HELPED TO ALLEVIATE THE LONG-STANDING TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEM AND THE ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION WHICH HAD AROUSED CONCERN FROM BOTH RESIDENTS AND ROAD USERS,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
/THE CONGESTION .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
THE CONGESTION ALONG NGAU TAU KOK ROAD WESTBOUND NEAR AMOY GARDEN AND CHUN WAH ROAD, CAUSED BY VEHICLES STOPPING HAS BEEN GREATLY ALLEVIATED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT NO-STOPPING RESTRICTION THERE.
AS A RESULT, OBSTRUCTION BY WAITING VEHICLES TO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING MOVEMENT AT THE JUNCTION OF NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AND JORDAN VALLEY NORTH ROAD IS NOW CLEARED.
+AT PRESENT TRAFFIC IS FLOWING MORE SMOOTHLY AND THE JOURNEY TIME ALONG NGAU TAU KOK ROAD HAS BEEN REDUCED BY ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
•‘•ALTHOUGH THE ALTERNATIVE BOARDING AND ALIGHTING LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES IN NGAU TAU KOK FOURTH STREET HAS REDUCED the kerside space for the shops there to load and unload their GOODS, this SHOULD BE WEIGHTED AGAINST THE OVERALL BENEFIT THE SCHEME HAS BROUGHT TO NGAU TAU KOK AREA.+
REACTION FROM THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC IS MIXED. SOME PLB COMMUTERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LONGER WALKING DISTANCE TO THE NEW BOARDING LOCATIONS AND THE RELATIVELY LONGER TRAVELLING TIME CAUSED BY THE DIVERSIONS. THOSE WHO DO NOT TRAVEL BY PLB’S WELCOME THE SCHEME AS NGAU TAU KOK ROAD IS NOW LESS CONGESTED.
AS SOME PLB DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH the scheme during the first few days of its implementation, SOME CONFUSION ABOUT THE BOARDING LOCATIONS OCCURRED. TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, TEMPORARY ADVISORY SIGNS HAVE BEEN ERECTED TO ADVISE PASSENGERS OF THE NEW ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS FOR BOARDING AND ALIGHTING FROM PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES IN NGAU TAU KOK FOURTH STREET
THE SPOKESMAN REITERATED THAT THE SCHEME HAD BEEN FINALISED AFTER THOROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PLB TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE. THE PROJECT PROVIDED A SOLUTION TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ASSOCIATED TRAFFIC NOISE POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN NGAU TAU KOK AREA
THE DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW THE SCHEME IN THREE MONTHS TO ASSESS WHETHER FURTHER MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE SMOOTH TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA, HE ADDED.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
16
HSU EXPLAINS AIMS OF POLITICAL REVIEW
*****
ANY FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT MUST BE GEARED TOWARDS PROVIDING A FRAMEWORK FOR HONG KONG TO GROW AS A STABLE AND SUCCESSFUL SOCIETY, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID IN SAN FRANCISCO TODAY (FRIDAY, HK TIME).
ADDRESSING A JOINT MEETING OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE ASIAN BUSINESS LEAGUE, MR HSU ASSURED HIS AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 200 THAT THE VE IWS OF THE HONG KONG PUBLIC WOULD BE TAKEN INTO FULL ACCOUNT THROUGH THE GREEN PAPER REVIEW ON THE PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WHICH IS TO BE CONDUCTED DURING 1987.
+THE REVIEW WILL CONSIDER WHETHER FURTHER CHANGES ARE DESIRABLE, AND IF SO, THE TIMESCALE FOR THEIR INTRODUCTION. THERE WILL AGAIN BE PUBLIC CONSULTATION. THE PUBLIC’S VIEWS AND WISHES WILL BE TAKEN INTO FULL ACCOUNT,* MR HSU SAID.
CONCEDING THAT INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES WOULD BE WITHOUT MEANING UNLESS BACKED BY A STRONG AND RESILIENT ECONOMY, MR HSU SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S PHILOSOPHY OF MINIMUM INTERFERENCE AND INTERVENTION IN THE THE ECONOMY DURING THE TWO YEARS OF NEGOTIATION OVER HONG KONG’S FUTURE HAD ENABLE HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRIALISTS TO GET ON WITH THEIR JOB +WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO DIRECTIVES AND CONCERN FROM A GOVERNMENT PREOCCUPIED BY THE WEIGHTY PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE.*
HE NOTED THAT ALL THE ECONOMIC INGREDIENTS FOR MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY EXISTED IN HONG KONG, EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASE IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND IN IMPORTS DURING 1986.
ANOTHER ECONOMIC FACTOR AND AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF THE POLITICAL MOOD, +THE CONFIDENCE FACTOR,* WAS THE SIGNIFICANT REVIVAL IN INVESTMENT INTENTIONS: MR HSU POINTED OUT THAT IMPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS AND RETAINED IMPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY GREW BY 23 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD FOR 1985.
+THESE FIGURES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THEY DO NOT INDICATE AN ECONOMY THAT IS RUNNING DOWN BUT ONE THAT IS PREPARING FOR A FRESH SURGE AHEAD,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE FUTURE, MR HSU EMPHASISED THAT THERE WAS A CONTINUING COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT WHICH PROVIDED FOR HONG KONG’S FUTURE.
+WE ARE ENCOURAGED IN THAT TASK BY THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR PARTNERS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT,* MR HSU SAID.
+EVERYBODY IS WORKING HARD TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG’S SUCCESS AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST AS AN UNIQUE AND VIBRANT ENTITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD,* HE CONCLUDED.
------0--------
/17......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
17
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS LICENCES
*****
THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC NON-EXCLUS IVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE LICENCES FOR THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF •.
(I) A PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE1* AND
(II) A PUBLIC MOBILE DATA COMMUNICATION SERVICE.
THE OPERATOR OF THE PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE WILL BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE A PUBLIC SERVICE ON A TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS ON CHANNELS ALLOCATED IN THE 800 MHZ OR 900 MHZ FREQUENCY BANDS USING THE TOTAL ACCESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS.
THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO MEET THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY’S PERM ISSION-TO-CONNECT REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SERVICES OPERATING IN THESE FREQUENCY BANDS WHICH ARE TO BE RELOCATED TO OTHER BANDS, AND THIS MAY AFFECT THE IMPLEMENTATION DATE OF THE NEW SERVICE.
THE OPERATOR OF THE MOBILE DATA COMMUNICATION SERVICE WILL BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE A PUBLIC SERVICE ON A TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS ON CHANNELS ALLOCATED IN THE 800 MHZ FREQUENCY BANDS.
THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO MEET THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY’S PERMISSION-TO-CONNECT REQUIREMENTS FOR INTER-CONNECTION WITH THE PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK.
NOTICES IN TODAY’S GAZETTE INVITE THOSE PARTIES INTERESTED IN PROVIDING ANY OF THE TWO SERVICES TO APPLY TO THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS WILL THEN BE SUPPLIED TO THE APPL ICANTS.
AS THE FREQUENCY SPECTRUM AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC MOBILE RADIOTELEPHONES SERVICE IS LIMITED, IT IS LIKELY THAT VERY FEW LICENCES WILL BE ISSUED IN THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE. APPLICATIONS FOR THIS SERVICE SHOULD THEREFORE BE SUBMITTED BY MARCH 6, 1987.
FOR THE PUBLIC MOBILE DATA COMMUNICATION SERVICE, PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE GAZETTE NOTICE.
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY MAY MAKE PUBLIC THE NAMES CF THE APPL ICANTS.
------o-------
/18........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987 •
18
LAB TO DISCUSS OVERTIME, MATERNITY ISSUES
*****
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WOULD BE CONSULTED SHORTLY ON THE NEED TO PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN THE CONTROL OF OVERTIME WORK BY FEMALE WORKERS IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WITHIN THE EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK.
THIS FOLLOWS AN INTERNAL REVIEW BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OF THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT NO CHANGES ARE BEING PROPOSED TO THE EXISTING LEGISLATION RESTRICTING THE HOURS OF OVERTIME A WOMAN IN INDUSTRY IS PERMITTED TO WORK, THAT IS TWO HOURS A DAY OR 200 HOURS A YEAR.
THE BOARD WILL ALSO BE CONSULTED ON THE REMOVAL OF SOME ANOMALIES IN THE LEGISLATION IN RESPECT OF MATERNITY LEAVE.
+THE INTENTION IS TO CLARIFY THE LEGISLATION IN OFFERING , PROTECTION TO A PREGNANT WORKER BEFORE CONFINEMENT AND TO PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO ENABLE HER TO RESUME WORK FOUR WEEKS AFTER GIVING BIRTH IF SHE SO WISHES, WITHOUT PREJUDICING HER EXISTING ENTITLEMENT TO PAID MATERNITY LEAVE FOR 10 WEEKS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PAPERS OUTLINING DETAILED PROPOSALS ON THE OVERTIME AND MATERNITY ISSUES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION AT ITS NEXT MEETING IN EARLY MARCH.
- - 0 - -
HANG LUNG BANK NOW RECEIVES FUND DONATIONS * * * *
THE HANG LUNG BANK AND ITS 26 BRANCHES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY WILL NOW ACCEPT DONATIONS TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID* TODAY (FRIDAY).
+IT IS NOW VERY CONVENIENT FOR THE PUBLIC TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE FUND,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT 53 SUB-OFFICES OF The CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS AROUND 300 BRANCHES OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION AND HANG SENG BANK HAD ALREADY BEEN RECEIVING DONATIONS.
HE NOTED THAT THE FUND WOULD SUPPORT THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION TO WHICH THE LATE GOVERNOR ATTACHED MUCH IMPORTANCE.
+N0 AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL IN MEMORY OF A MAN WHO CONTRIBUTED S( MUCH TO HONG KONG,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BY THIS AFTERNOON, THE FUND HAD RECEIVED $64.3 MILLION.
- - 0 - -
/19
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
long-serving MARINE STAFF HONOURED
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR GERRY HIGGINSON, OFFICIATED AT A CEREMONY AT THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON, TO MARK THE RETIREMENT OF 12 LONG-SERVING STAFF.
IN PAYING HIS TRIBUTE TO THE MEN, MR HIGGINSON SAID THEY HAD EACH SERVED THE DEPARTMENT FOR BETWEEN 29 AND 39 YEARS.
+BETWEEN THEM, THEY HAVE A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 400 YEARS’ LOYAL SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD,+ HE SAID.
MR HIGGINSON SAID THEIR CONTRIBUTION HAD MADE POSSIBLE THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE DOCKYARD FLEET AND THAT THEY HAD THUS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PORT OF HONG
KONG
ON THE MODERNISATION OF THE FLEET, MR HIGGINSON SAID NEW VESSELS NOW HAD BETTER MACHINERY AND A BETTER WORKING ENVIRONMENT. THE FLEET WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHEN THE STAFF MEMBERS JOINED, HE ADDED.
THE RETIRING STAFF WERE OF THE RANKS OF COXSWAIN AND LAUNCH MECHANIC.
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION AT NEW TOWN PLAZA
*****
A MINI FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION WILL BE STAGED AT THE FOOTBRIDGE GALLERY OF THE NEW TOWN PLAZA IN SHA TIN ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) FROM NOON UNTIL 3 PM.
THE EXHIBITION AIMS AT REMINDING RESIDENTS OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT FIRE IN THE DRY WINTER MONTHS.
ON DISPLAY WILL BE PANELS OF GRAPHICS AND PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATING BOTH GENERAL FIRES AND COUNTRYSIDE FIRES WITH EMPHASIS ON THE DANGER POSED BY SMOKE FROM FIRE.
VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION WILL RECEIVE A USEFUL LEAFLET LISTING THE +DOS+ AND +DON’TS+ IN THE EVENT OF FIRE, A FREE CALENDAR CARD AND GIVEAWAY ITEMS SPONSORED BY THE KWONG ON BANK.
THE NEXT EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 22 AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI EAST CENTENARY GARDEN.
---0 - -
/20
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1937
20
JULY DATE FOR JUNK BAY PUBLIC HOUSING
*****
THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO JUNK BAY NEW TOWN IN JULY, AND PEOPLE LIVING IN YAU YUE WAN VILLAGE AND HANG HAU VILLAGE AFFECTED BY THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE TO MOVE OUT AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN HO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE WAS NEGOTIATING WITH THE VILLAGERS TO WROK OUT A SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THE MATTER, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A SPRING RECEPTION THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON, M? HO REPORTED ON THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT DURING 1986.
+THE MOST ENCOURAGING NEWS FOR THE YEAR SHOULD BE THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE LOCATION FOR THE TERRITORY’S THIRD UNIVERSITY WHICH WILL BE SITUATED AT THE VACATED BARRACKS AT TAI PO TSAI IN SAI KUNG.
+ALL RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT ARE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR CF THE DECISION MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT,* HE SAID.
MR HO ALSO NOTED THAT A PROBLEM IN CHOOSING THE SITE FOR BUILDING THE HANG HAU CENTRAL PRIMARY SCHOOL WAS SOLVED. HE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THOSE WHO HAD GIVEN HELP IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE.
ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED COMPLETION OF WIDENING PO TUNG ROAD NEAR THE TOWN HALL, A NEW BUS TERMINUS NEAR THE WATERFRONT AND A RECLAMATION PROJECT AND SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM IN TUI MIN HOI.
+THE PAK KONG TREATMENT WORKS WILL ALSO BE COMPLETED AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. I HOPE THAT MOST VILLAGES IN THE DISTRICT WILL RECEIVE FRESH WATER SUPPLY BY THAT TIME,* HE ADDED.
AS DEVELOPMENTS WERE IN PROGRESS IN SAI KUNG AND HANG HAU, MR HO APPEALED FOR CO-OPERATION FROM AFFECTED VILLAGERS. HE HOPED THAT THEY WOULD BE UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE INCONVENIENCE THAT INEVITABLY WAS CAUSED.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
21
SITE SOLD FOR PSPS DEVELOPMENT
A SITE IN TUEN MUN FOR A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN SOLD.
THE SITE COVERS AN AREA OF 22 240 SQUARE METRES AND IS LOCATED NEAR TUEN MUN HOSPITAL.
THE LEASE WILL BE SIGNED ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 9) BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER TUEN MUN, MR R.B.J. CROSS, AND A representative of the buyer, leadchoice development limited.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
HELD 21ST
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SIGNING CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE AT 11 30 AM AT THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH CONFERENCE ROOM, FLOOR', MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
- - 0--------
URBAN MINOR WORKS TEAMS TO BE FORMED * * * * *
TWO SPECIAL TEAMS WILL BE SET UP IN JUNE BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE UP MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN URBAN AREAS.
INTRODUCING THE PLAN, A CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE TEAMS WERE TO BE ESTABLISHED TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF MINOR WORKS PROPOSALS INITIATED BY DISTRICT BOARDS.
INITIALLY, THERE WOULD BE TWO TEAMS, ONE FOR HONG KONG ISLAND AND ONE FOR KOWLOON, HE ADDED.
CALLED URBAN MINOR WORKS TEAMS, THEY WOULD BE HEADED BY A CIVIL ENGINEER AND MADE UP OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF INCLUDING INSPECTORS OF WORKS, ASSISTANT INSPECTORS OF WORKS AND WORKS SUPERVISORS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SIMILAR TO MINOR WORKS TEAMS OPERATING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY WOULD GIVE TECHNICAL ADVICE AND PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN URBAN DISTRICTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TEAMS WOULD ALSO SUPERVISE WORKS PROGRESS AND PROVIDE SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OR MAINTENANCE WORKS WHEN REQUIRED.
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/22
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
22
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN TSUEN WAN TO BE DEMOLISHED * O * *
NOTICES WERE POSTED ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN TSUEN WAN TODAY (FRIDAY) INFORMING THE OCCUPANTS THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS TO APPLY TO HAVE THEM CLOSED.
THE STRUCTURES ARE IN THE REAR YARD OF 22 LUEN YAN STREET.
AN APPLICATION FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IS TO BE MADE IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 31.
AN ORDER TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURES UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER 1985, BUT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.
NOW THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS TO SEEK COURT HELP SO THAT IT CAN HAVE THE STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF THEIR OCCUPANTS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER A CLOSURE ORDER WAS MADE.
0
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION OF THE TUEN MUN NULLAH.
OTHER MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL POSITION IN RESPECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, A PROGRESS REPORT ON LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS, AND SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT AND EMERGENCY REPAIR PROJECTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 1 TUEN Hl ROAD.
------0--------
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
23
DTC REGISTRATION REVOKED * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE registration OF FIRST CBC CAPITAL (ASIA) LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED TODAY (FRIDAY) AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE 1986.
-----o------
MUSICIANS INVITED TO ENTER AWARDS COMPETITION
*****
AMATEUR MUSICIANS ARE INVITED TO ENTER THE 1987 HONG KONG YOUNG MUSICIANS AWARDS COMPETITION JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND THE COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS SOCIETY OF HONG KONG (CASH).
THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO AMATEUR MUSICIANS WHO ARE UNDER 30 AS AT JUNE 30 THIS YEAR AND ARE EITHER HONG KONG RESIDENTS OR HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG SINCE JANUARY 1 LAST YEAR.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF COMPOSING AND PERFORMING OF SERIOUS MUSIC AND ALSO TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AROUSING INTEREST IN THE APPRECIATION OF SERIOUS MUSIC.
THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES IN THE CHINESE MUSIC AND WESTERN MUSIC SECTIONS, ONE FOR COMPOSITION AND THE OTHER FOR ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, CASH AWARDS WILL BE DONATED BY THE COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS SOCIETY. THE THREE PRIZE WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY WILL BE AWARDED $6 000, S3 000 AND Si 000 RESPECTIVELY.
A PANEL COMPRISING LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MUSICIANS WILL JUDGE THE COMPETITION IN THREE STAGES WITH THE FINALS TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE.
COMPLETED APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO :
1987 HONG KONG YOUNG MUSICIANS’ AWARDS,
MUSIC OFFICE,
HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, NINTH FLOOR,
2 HARBOUR ROAD,
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
THE DEADLINE IS JUNE 30, FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM 5-283257.
------0--------
/24......
FRIDAY, FEBR1IARY 6, 1987 ‘
24
PEAK WALKATHON FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN RESIDENTS *****
MORE THAN 500 RESIDENTS FROM CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN A VICTORIA PEAK WALKATHON ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) MORNING.
THE ANNUAL EVENT HAS BEEN ORGANISED AS PART OF THE DISTRICT’S LUNAR NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES. IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY HIKING AND TO LEARN THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE COUNTRYSIDE.
THE WALKATHON WILL START FROM THE CHIU SHEUNG SCHOOL AT POK FU LAM ROAD, AND FINISH AT THE VICTORIA GAP CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND. THE ROUTE WILL TAKE IN THE SERVICE RESERVOIR, HATTON ROAD, LUGARD ROAD AND HARLECH ROAD.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE GIVEN FREE SOFT DRINKS AND THERE WILL BE A LUCKY DRAW. SOUVENIRS WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED.
THE WALKATHON HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, DISTRICT BOARD, GOVERNMENTAL BODIES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE WALKATHON STARTING CEREMONY TO TAKE PLACE AT 9.30 AM ON SUNDAY AT THE CHIU SHEUNG SCHOOL AT 79B POK FU LAM ROAD.
- 0 - -
STREET PERFORMERS IN ACTION ON CHEUNG CHAU
*****
A TEAM OF STREET PERFORMERS WILL GIVE A VARIETY SHOW ON CHEUNG CHAU TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE VARIETY SHOW HAS BEEN CO-ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE FRINGE CLUB AS PART OF THE DISTRICT’S LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME.
THE 90-MINUTE SHOW AT THE PAK TEI PLAYGROUND WILL INCLUDE JUGGLING, PUPPETRY, MIME, COMEDY AND STILT-WALKING. IT WILL START AT 12.30 PMr
/the performers
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
THE PERFORMERS COME FROM BRITAIN, FRANCE, SPAIN AND SINGAPORE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHOW AT THE PAK TEI PLAYGROUND. IT WILL START AT 12.30 PM.
A PRESS LAUNCH, THE CLEMENTI, WILL LEAVE QUEEN’S PIER, CENTRAL, AT 11 AM FOR CHEUNG CHAU.
- - 0 - -
MELODIES TO MARK LUNAR NEW YEAR
*****
THE KWUN TONG MELODIES GALA, A CONCERT SPECIALLY ORGANISED TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) EVENING.
MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE CONCERT WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 7.30 PM IN THE DELIA MEMORIAL SCHOOL IN HIP WO STREET.
THE KWUN TONG ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GARY YEUNG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KWUN TONG CULTURE AND RECREATION PROMOTION ASSOCIATION, MR NG PING-TAK, WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CEREMONY.
THE CONCERT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE KWUN TONG CULTURE AND RECREATION PROMOTION ASSOCIATION, AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
- - 0 - -
/26
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1987
26
SPRING FESTIVAL FUN FOR KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS
*****
KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO AN EVENING OF FUN AND ENTERTAINMENT AT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR SPRING FESTIVAL CARNIVAL ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND.
A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMES HAS BEEN ORGANISED AND INCLUDE LANTERN RIDDLE GAMES STALLS, PERFORMANCES BY POPULAR SINGERS, CANTONESE OPERA, A LION DANCE, CHILDREN GAMES STALLS AND PERFORMANCES BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT DANCING GROUP.
ADMISSION TO THE CARNIVAL IS FREE AND THOSE TRYING THEIR LUCK AT THE RIDDLE GAMES STALLS WILL BE GIVEN A PRIZE FOR CORRECT ANSWER.
THE CARNIVAL WILL LAST FROM 7 PM TO 10.30 PM. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT’S ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR, DR DANIEL TSE= URBAN COUNCILLOR, MISS VICTORIA CHAN’ ASSISTANT KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS DIANA TONG= AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE COUNCIL, MR WU SHING-SHUEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR SPRING FESTIVAL CARNIVAL TO BEGIN AT 7 PM ON SUNDAY AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND.
- 0--------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1987
CONTENTS Page no.
CASTLE PEAK POLICE STATION OPENED .......................... 1
DONATION TO IMPROVE TSING YI COMMUNITY FACILITIES .......... 2
TENDERS INVITED FOR LRT CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS ............ J
JOINT SPRING RECEPTION IN NORTH DISTRICT ................... J
SAI YING PUN CARNIVAL PROMOTES COMMUNITY SPIRIT............. >+
OVER 400 ENTER YAU MA TEI DISTANCE RUN .................*... 4
NEW YEAR FUN FOR SHA TAU KOK RESIDENTS ..................... 5
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT IN LONG KOK ........................... 5
BAN ON BOUNDARY STREET TURN ................................ 6
ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI ................................... 6
NO RIGHT TURN IN LEI YUE MUN ROAD .......................... 6
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1907
1
CASTLE PEAK POLICE STATION OPENED *****
the new castle peak divisional POLICE station IS THE FORERUNNER IN A SERIES OF POLICE STATION PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP POLICE TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE REGIONAL COMMANDER, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
NEW TERRITORIES, MR RICHARD SMALLSHAW,
SPEAKING AT THE STATION’S OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY, MR SMALLSHAW SAID TWO MORE POLICE STATIONS WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN TUEN MUN IN THE COMING YEARS TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.
NOTING THAT THE GROWTH OF THE NT HAD BEEN DRAMATIC IN RECENT YEARS — WITH THE POPULATION OF TUEN MUN RISING BY 138 PER CENT BETWEEN 1981 AND 1986 -- MR SMALLSHAW EMPHASISED THE NEED FOR AN EQUIVALENT EXPANSION OF POLICE MANPOWER AND FACILITIES.
”IT WAS ONLY IN APRIL 1980 THAT TUEN MUN BECOME A SEPARATE POLICE DISTRICT, HAVING PREVIOUSLY BEEN PART OF YUEN LONG, AND A MERE FIVE YEARS AGO THE PRESENT TUEN MUN DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING WAS OPENED,” MR SMALLSHAW RECALLED.
THE NEW CASTLE PEAK DIVISION, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF SOME 94 000, WOULD BE THE SCENE OF MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE, WITH FURTHER AMBITIOUS RECLAMATION PROJECTS AND A GROWTH IN BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THE AREA WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT TRANSPORTATION CENTRE, WITH WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH THE LRT PROJECT VERY MUCH IN EVIDENCE, MR SMALLSHAW SAID, ADDING THAT THE DISTRICT ALSO HAD AN EXTENSIVE RURAL AREA TO POLICE, AS WELL AS THE 'FLOATING POPULATION’ IN CASTLE PEAK BAY, AND THE NEEDS OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO CATER FOR.
GIVING HIS ASSURANCE THAT THE NEW TERRITORIES POLICE WERE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN GOOD LAW AND ORDER, MR SMALLSHAW SAID THAT REPORTED CRIMES IN 1986 HAD DECREASED FROM 22 882 TO 20 047, OR 12.4 PER CENT, WHEN COMPARED WITH 1985.
THIS WAS THE LOWEST FIGURE SINCE 1981, AND WAS ACHIEVED DESPITE THE ENORMOUS INCREASES IN POPULATION, HE OBSERVED.
/SIGNIFICANT DECREASES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1987
- 2
significant decreases were registered for such major crimes AS ROBBERY, BURGLARY AND SERIOUS ASSAULTS, AND ALTHOUGH THE REASONS FOR THIS SUCCESS WERE MANY AND VARIED, ONE FACTOR THAT WAS CONSTANT WAS THE EXECLLENT CO-OPERATION THAT HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC, SAID THE NT POLICE CHIEF.
EMPHASISING THAT TRUST AND MUTUAL CO-OPERATION WERE THE BASIC FOR THE PRESENT EFFECTIVE POLICE SERVICE, MR SMALLS HAW SAID THE DISTRICT COMMANDER/TUEN MUN, AND HIS STAFF, WOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THESE RELATIONSHIPS IN THE FURTHERANCE OF GOOD LAW AND ORDER, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER.
------0-------
DONATION TO IMPROVE TSING Yl COMMUNITY FACILITIES * * * * *
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK, WILL RECEIVE A DONATION ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 9) FROM DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY FOR additional equipment FOR THE CHEUNG CHING estate community CENTRE ON TSING YI.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SEVEN COMMUNITY HALLS AND CENTRES IN lfCOTRT?E^^t?SE.V£NUES r0" FUNCTI0NS 4ND ’ECREATiONAL
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE COMMUNITY FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY F^M THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN JUNE 1985 TO AID COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AREA COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT BOARDS.
KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF, THE CHAIRMEN OF THE AREA COMMITTEES WHO ARE ALSO CHAIRMEN OF COMMUNITY HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, AND MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENING EFFORTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD TO PROVIDE MORE PROGRAMMES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE DISTRICT COMMUNITY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT 11 AM ON MONDAY AT THE CHEUNG CHING ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE TS I NG Y I . ’
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1987
TENDERS INVITED FOR LRT CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS *****
CIVIL ENGINEERING WORK CONNECTED WITH THE TUEN MUN TO YUEN LONG LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL.
TRACK ALONG THE FIRST PHASE OF THE LRT SYSTEM WILL CROSS ROAD JUNCTIONS AND AFFECT OTHER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS. A TRAFFIC SIGNALLING SYSTEM IS THEREFORE REQUIRED TO CONTROL VEHICULAR, PEDESTRAIN AND LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE MOVEMENTS EFFICIENTLY AND SAFELY.
ABOUT 70 JUNCTIONS, ALONG 21 KILOMETRES OF THE ROUTE, ARE REQUIRED TO BE MODIFIED IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THE INCREASED TRAFFIC.
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE 18-MONTH PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES ALL ROAD AND DRAINAGE WORK FOR THE MODIFICATION OF ROAD JUNCTIONS AND ASSOCIATED CIVIL engineering WORKS.
TENDERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 27.
------o-------
JOINT SPRING
RECEPTION IN NORTH DISTRICT
*****
THE SPRING RECEPTION FORMAT THIS YEAR WITH THE
FOR NORTH
DISTRICT WILL TAKE ON A NEW DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD Sn Tnnlv feATiionlJl FUNCTI0N» A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE □AID IODAY ^SATURDAY).
THE JOINT RECEPTION WILL BE HELD ON CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL IN FANLING.
MONDAY (FEBRUARY 9) AT THE
THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR PETER NG, WILL PROPOSE A TOAST AT THE RECEPTION. ALSO OFFICIATING WILL BE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE JOINT SPRING RECEPTION ON MONDAY AT 3 PM AT THE CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL, CHEUNG WAH ESTATE, FANLING.
----o------
A.....
A ”
- BRiAR* 7 , 1987
SAI YING PUN CARNIVAL PROMOTES COMMUNITY SPIRIT
*****
MORE THAN 3 000 RESIDENTS OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT WILL BE TREATED TO AN AFTERNOON OF FUN AND GAMES AT THE K NG GEORGE V MEMORIAL PARK TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
„„„ THE SAI YING PUN lunar NEW YEAR CARNIVAL IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS MEMBERS ELECTED FROM THE SAI YING PUN CONSTITUENCY.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MR LEUNG YING-TEUNG, MR LAI KWOK-HUNG AND MR LEE TAT-YU, AND THE SAI YING PUN AREA COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR LIU LlT-FOR, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 1.45 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SAI YING PUN LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL PARK FROM 1.30 TO 4.30 PM TOMORROW.
-----o------
OVER 400 ENTER YAU MA TEI
*****
DISTANCE RUN
MORE THAN 400 YAU MA TEI RESIDENTS WILL TAKE PART TOMORROW (SUNDAY) IN A LONG DISTANCE RUN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT’S RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
PARTICIPANTS WILL START THE RACE AT GUN CLUB HILL BARRACKS AND RUN ALONG AUSTIN ROAD, COX’S ROAD, JORDAN ROAD AND GASCOIGNE ROAD BEFORE RETURNING TO THE STARTING POINT.
AMONG THOSE STARTING THE RACE AT 9 AM WILL BE THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR AUGUSTINE CHENG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE LONG DISTANCE RUN STARTING AT 9 AM TOMORROW AT THE GUN CLUB HILL BARRACKS (GASCOIGNE ROAD ENTRANCE). A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 11.30 AM AT THE SAME VENUE.
-----o------
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1987
5
NEW YEAR FUN FOR SHA TAU KOK RESIDENTS
*****
HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS IN SHA TAU KOK WERE TREATED TO A LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AT THE SHA TAU KOK PLAYGROUND TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE CARNIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE SHA TAU KOK RURAL COMMITTEE WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, WAS PART OF A SERIES OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS HELD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
TODAY’S PROGRAMME INCLUDED GAMES STALL, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, A LUCKY DRAW AND PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL SINGERS.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, NORTH, MR EDMOND LAUJ THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TAU KOK RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU YUM-MAN• AND THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR PETER LIN.
OTHER LUNAR NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES PLANNED INCLUDED A FUN DAY IN FANLING RECREATION GROUND ON FEBRUARY 21 AND A VARIETY SHOW IN SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND THE FOLLOWING DAY.
-------0----------
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT IN MONG KOK
*****
A LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD IN MONG KOK TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT.
THE CARNIVAL WILL BEGIN WITH A LION DANCE TO BRING GOOD FORTUNE TO THE AUDIENCE. THERE WILL ALSO BE PERFORMANCES BY MAGICIANS, FOLK DANCERS AND POPULAR SINGERS.
CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY VARIOUS GAMES.
THE CARNIVAL IS ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL RECREATIONAL AND SPORT ASSOCIATION, AND JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL AND THE TRUSTEES OF THE HONGKONG BANK FOUNDATION.
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS BRENDA FUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL TO BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW AT MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND, SAI YEE STREET, MONG KOK.
-----0-----
/6........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1987
6
BAN ON BOUNDARY STREET TURN * * * * *
THE TURNING MOVEMENT FROM BOUNDARY STREET EASTBOUND ON TO TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND VIA THE SLIP ROAD, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND POPLAR STREET WILL BE BANNED FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
THE MOVE IS TO FACILITATE THE PROVISION OF A FLOWER BED DIVIDER ON THE CENTRE LANE OF CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD NORTHWEST BOUND.
MOTORISTS ON BOUNDARY STREET EASTBOUND HEADING FOR TAI PO ROAD NORTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO USE YU CHAU STREET AND WONG CHUK STREET.
------o-------
ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI
* * * * *
THE DOWN RAMP OF THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER LEADING TO CANAL ROAD EAST IN WAN CHAI WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) FROM 10 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD REPAIR WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ON SOUTHBOUND CANAL ROAD FLYOVER HEADING FOR LEIGHTON ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED TO TRAVEL VIA THE DOWN RAMP TO MORRISON HILL ROAD.
CROSS-HARBOUR BUSES BOUND FOR HONG KONG ON ROUTES 101, 111, 112, 116, 121 AND 122 AFTER LEAVING THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA EASTBOUND GLOUCESTER ROAD, GLOUCESTER ROAD FLYOVER, INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD, PERCIVAL STREET AND LEIGHTON ROAD BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL ROUTING.
---------------0------- NO RIGHT TURN IN LEI YUE MUN ROAD
* * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10), THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM LEI YU MUN ROAD WESTBOUND ON TO TSUI PING ROAD NORTHBOUND IN KWUN TONG WILL BE BANNED FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO FACILITATE ROAD WORK.
MOTORISTS FROM LAM TIN AND YAU TONG HEADING FOR TSUI PING ROAD NORTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO USE LEI YUE MUN ROAD WESTBOUND, KWUN TONG ROAD WESTBOUND, KWUN TONG ROAD, HOI YUEN ROAD ROUNDABOUT AND KWUN TONG ROAD EASTBOUND.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
DIRECT ELECTION DEALT UITH UT GluLLN PAPUl..................... 1
TRADE OFFICIALS BOUND FOR GENEVA .............................. 3
SUBVENTIONS OFFJRJD FOR ;j)ULT EDUCATION COURSES............... 4
MORE YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE APPRENTICE TOUTING................... 5
LOCAL BODIES ELLP PROMOTE IiEGALATION.......................... 5
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER YOUTH HtOGuAMME..................... 6
SOUTHERN DISTRICT HOLDING YOUTH CHOIR CONCERT ................. 7
CARNIVAL FOR YAU MA TuI RESIDENTS ............................. 7
MAN CIO ANCESTRAL HELL BEING RESTORED.......................... 8
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS TUESDAY.......................... 8
IMMIGRATION INVESTIGATION SUB-DIVISION MOVING.................. 9
+CL2AN HK+ COMMITTEE Tc DISCUSS ITIDLu REHuOSEKTATIGN........ 10
YAU MA TAI HOLDING SPRING xAJCJPTIC1T......................... 11
KGTLCCN CITY DC SIRETG iLXEPTI'JN............................. 11
FCCTBxlIDGE BEING BUILT ACROSS NULL.’Ji ...................... 12
ROAD CLOSED PGxt FOCTEklDGC COJSTAUCTIGN...................... 12
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN UCNG CHUK HANG............................. 13
LION ROCK TUNNEL TUBE IV CLcSE FOR RAFAIL..................... 13
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
1
DIRECT ELECTION DEALT WITH IN GREEN PAPER ' u u u u It
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTION WOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON POLITICAL REFORMS, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE PUBLISHED IN MAY.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE + WALK FOR LUCK* AT THE SHA TIN RACECOURSE, MR FORD SAID THE WHITE PAPER IN 1984 HAD MENTIONED THAT THE SUBJECT OF DIRECT ELECTION SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER.
+IT IS A GENUINE EXERCISE IN SOUNDING PUBLIC OPINION AND THE SUBJECTS WHICH WE SAID WE WOULD INCLUDE, WE WOULD INCLUDE,* HE SAID.
ON REPORTS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT OPPOSED DIRECT ELECTION, MR FORD SAID; +1 THINK THE BEST ADVICE I CAM GIVE ON THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE GREEN PAPER EXERCISE IS FOR PEOPLE TO IGNORE SPECULATION AND TO LISTEN TO WHAT IS BEING SAID.
+THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE THEIR POSITION VERY CLEAR AND THAT IS THAT THEY HAVEN’T YET MADE UP THEIR MIND ABOUT WHAT SHOULD GO INTO THE BASIC LAW. THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE RESULT OF THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE AND MR XU (JIATUN) HIMSELF SAID THIS WEEK THAT NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND NO VIEWS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
+AS FAR AS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS CONCERNED, WE HAVE NOT YET MADE UP OUR MINDS EITHER. WE ARE GOING INTO AN EXERCISE OF CONSULTATION ON THE GREEN PAPER, AND UNTIL THOSE TWO EXERCISES ARE COMPLETE, I THINK THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE IS FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE UP THEIR OWN MINDS AND NOT BE INFLUENCED BY SPECULATION.*
MR FORD STRESSED THAT THE POLITICAL REVIEW WOULD NOT BE DELAYED.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SEEK PUBLIC OPINION ON THE GREEN PAPER, THE OPINION WOULD BE ASSESSED THROUGH A VARIETY OF CHANNELS AND THEN IN THE LIGHT OF THE OPINION, A WHITE PAPER WOULD BE PUBLISHED.
+1 THINK WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL POSSIBLE WAYS OF ASSESSING PUBLIC OPINION. IT COULD INCLUDE THE OPTION OF AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE, A PUBLIC OPINION POLLS, AND THROUGH OUR NORMAL CHANNELS*, HE SAID.
+WE ARE WORKING ON THIS NOW. WE HAVEN’T YET COME TO A CONCLUSION ON IT.*
/COMMENTING........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
2
COMMENTING ON REPORTS THAT CHINA WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, MR FORD SAID THEY WERE ENTIRELY SPECULATIVE.
AS TO WHETHER THERE WERE ANY DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND CHINA AFTER THE DEATH OF THE LATE GOVERNOR, MR FORD SAID s +REGULAR CONTACTS, AS YOU KNOW, HAVE CONTINUED ON A VARIETY OF LEVELS. THAT WILL NO DOUBT CONTINUE THROUGH THE YEAR. THAT IS NOTHING UNUSUAL.+
TURNING TO THE TOPIC OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY DISAGREED WITH A SUGGESTION THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD COME TO A HALT.
+IN FACT, AS A RESULT OF THE REPRESENTATIONS WHICH WERE MADE IN THE LEGCO DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT, THERE IS VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN NOW TO THE PROBLEM IN HONG KONG AND AS THE ACTING GOVERNOR SAID WHEN HE CAME BACK, THIS MATTER IS BEING TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY BY SIR GEOFFREY HOWE PERSONALLY,+ HE ADDED.
ASKED ABOUT THE POST OF A DEPUTY GOVERNOR, MR FORD SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOME MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT SUCH A POST.
♦THERE IS NOT UNDER CONSIDERATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT THE QUESTION OF ESTABLISHING A DEPUTY GOVERNOR. THAT WILL BE A MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, AND IT’S NOT ONE WHICH WE ENVISAGE HAPPENING CERTAINLY IN THE SHORT TERM.
+SEPARATE TO THAT QUESTION IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES’ EXPERIENCE AND HIS WISDOM SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE NEW GOVERNOR ON HIS ARRIVAL. IF YOU ASK FOR MY PERSONAL OPINION ON THAT, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF SIR DAVID’S ADVICE WERE AVAILABLE TO SEE THE NEW GOVERNOR IN FOR A SHORT WHILE, BUT THAT IS A QUESTION WHICH IS PRESENTLY UNDER CONS I DERAT ION.+
ON THE NEW DEFENCE PACT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING DEFENCE COST AGREEMENT WOULD SOON EXPIRE.
+WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT SHOULD BE RENEWED, AND HOW NEGOTIATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED,+ HE ADDED.
ASKED WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY FURTHER RESTRUCTURING IN THE GOVERNMENT, MR FORD SAID: +THE RESTRUCTURING WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED, SO I DON’T THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE PLANNED AT THE MOMENT.+
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 193/
3
TRADE OFFICIALS BOUND FOR GENEVA * * * * *
A TEAM OF TRADE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS WAS DUE TO LEAVE FOR GENEVA LATER TODAY (SUNDAY) FOR TARIFF TALKS WITH THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT).
THE UNITED STATES IS PROPOSING CHANGES IN ITS TARIFF RATES AS A RESULT OF ADJUSTMENTS IN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR TONY MILLER, WHO IS LEADING THE HONG KONG DELEGATION, EXPLAINED THAT A NEW SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS - THE HARMONISED SYSTEM -WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE HARMONISED COMMODITY DESCRIPTION AND CODING SYSTEM IS BEING INTRODUCED INTERNATIONALLY AND IS PROMOTED BY THE CUSTOMS CO-OPERATION COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS. IT AIMS TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM CF CLASSIFICATION OF TRADE WHICH IS ACCEPTED INTERNATIONALLY, WITHOUT COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY VARIATIONS. THIS WILL SIMPLIFY WORLD TRADE - IN PARTICULAR CUSTOMS TARIFFS AND INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL REQUIREMENTS.
THE UNITED STATES WILL CHANGE TO THE HARMONISED SYSTEM IN JANUARY, 1988.
SOME OF THE PROPOSED ALTERATIONS TO TARIFF RATES WHICH ARE REQUIRED IN MAKING THIS CHANGE WOULD RESULT IN ALTERATIONS TO THE DUTY PAYABLE ON MAJOR HONG KONG PRODUCTS IMPORTED INTO THE U.S.A.
FOR INSTANCE, A PRODUCT NOW IN A GROUP SUBJECT TO A PARTICULAR DUTY MAY FIND ITSELF MOVED TO A HARMONISED SYSTEM GROUP WITH A HIGHER DUTY AND SOME MOVES WOULD RESULT IN LOWER DUTIES.
HONG KONG HAS REQUESTED CONSULTATIONS UNDER THE GATT TO DISCUSS CHANGES WHICH WOULD RESULT IN INCREASED DUTIES BEING PAYABLE, MR MILLER SAID.
HONG KONG WILL ALSO ADOPT THE HARMONISED SYSTEM IN JANUARY, .1988 - TOGETHER WITH THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OTHER GATT MEMBER COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE E.E.C. AND CANADA.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW SYSTEM INCLUDE THE FACT THAT COMMON INTERNATIONAL NOMENCLATURE WILL HELP STANDARDISE TRADE DOCUMENTATION AND MAKE IT EASIER TO COLLECT MORE ACCURATE DATA.
SUCH DATA WILL BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AND IN SIMPLIFYING THE APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF CUSTOMS AGREEMENTS.
UNDER THE GATT, ANY NATION WITH SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN PRODUCTS BECOMING SUBJECT TO CHANGES IN TARIFF DUTIES AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW SYSTEM CAN SEEK CONSULTATIONS WITH THE IMPORTING COUNTRY CONCERNED.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
4
SUBVENTIONS OFFERED FOR ADULT EDUCATION COURSES
*****
non-profit-making VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS IN THE 1987-88 EDUCATION SESSION FOR THE OPERATION OF ADULT EDUCATION COURSES AND ACTIVITIES UNDER THE SUBVENTION SCHEME.
THE SUBVENTION SCHEME, WHICH WILL BE IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR OF OPERATION BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO ENABLE THEM TO COMPLEMENT AND SUPPLEMENT GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE ADULT EDUCATION FIELD.
THE SCHEME SPONSORS COURSES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE BASIC LITERACY IN CHINESE J GENERAL EDUCATION FOR PARTICULAR GROUPS, SUCH AS FACTORY WORKERS AND FISHERFOLK, RE-ORIENTATION AND CANTONESE LANGUAGE COURSES FOR NEWCOMERS TO HONG KONG FROM OTHER PARTS OF ASIA, SOCIAL AND MORAL EDUCATION, AND LABOUR EDUCATION INCLUDING LEGAL KNOWLEDGE.
IT ALSO COVERS PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING? SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS, CAREERS EDUCATION, PRE-RETIREMENT AND RETIREMENT EDUCATION , ADULT EDUCATION COURSES AND ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS, JOB-ORIENTED COURSES, AND ACTIVITIES IN GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS NOT COVERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S SERVICES.
THE SUBVENTION COVERS MAINLY THE COST OF TEACHING AND I
ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL STAFF COSTS; THE COST OF BASIC TEACHING AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT , HIRE CHARGES FOR ACCOMMODATION AT THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT RATE, AND A SUM OF ABOUT $500 PER QUARTER TO COVER TELEPHONE, WATER AND ELECTRICITY CHARGES.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED EITHER IN PERSON OR BY POST FROM THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, 33~37 HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY.
APPLICATIONS MUST REACH THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BY APRIL 30.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY CONTACTING MR H.H. WOO OR MR S.K. TSUI ON 5-8392304 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
DURING THE CURRENT SESSION, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TOTALLING $4.1 MILLION WAS SET ASIDE FOR AROUND 50 VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN ORGANISING 159 PROJECTS WHICH WERE BENEFITING MORE THAN 10 000 ADULTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
5
MORE YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE APPRENTICE TRAINING * * * *
THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED APPRENTICES IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR INCREASED BY FOUR PER CENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT REPORTED.
THERE WERE OVER 9 400 REGISTERED APPRENTICES UNDER THREE OR FOUR YEARS TRAINING IN LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
+MORE AND MORE EMPLOYERS RUN PROPER APPRENTICESHlP SCHEMES TO TRAIN THEIR WORKERS AND SUBMIT THEIR CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP TO THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT FOR REGISTRATION AND SERVICES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE, EMPLOYERS IN 42 DESIGNATED TRADES SHOULD DRAW UP AN APPRENTICESHIP CONTRACT WHEN ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 18 AND HAVE IT REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
HE ADDED THAT CONTRACTS FOR APPRENTICES AGED OVER 19 OR FOR NON-DESIGNATED TRADES COULD ALSO BE REGISTERED VOLUNTARILY.
REGISTERED APPRENTICES WOULD BE GRANTED PAID LEAVE BY THEIR EMPLOYERS TO ATTEND RELEVANT PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSES AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR THE POLYTECHNIC. EMPLOYERS WOULD ALSO PAY TUITION FEES.
INSPECTORS FROM THE APPRENTICESHIP SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD PAY REGULAR VISITS TO EMPLOYERS AND APPRENTICES TO SUPERVISE THEIR TRAINING PROGRESS AND TO ASSIST EMPLOYERS IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE TRAINING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ENQUIRIES ABOPUT APPRENTICE TRAINING OR THE ORDINANCE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FIVE BRANCH OFFICES OF THE APPRENTICESHIP SECTION AT: HONG KONG OFFICE (5-8932341 EXT. 325)) TO KWA WAN OFFICE (3-7151249)1 TSIM SHA TSUI OFFICE (3-667463)) TSUEN WAN OFFICE (0-297039) AND KWUN TONG OFFICE (3-491246).
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LOCAL BODIES HELP PROMOTE RECREATION * * * X
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS BRENDA FUNG SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) SUPPORT FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON RECREATION AND SPORTS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT NEW YEAR CARNIVAL, MRS FUNG SAID CONCERTED EFFORTS BY THESE ORGANISATIONS HELPED FOSTER A KEEN INTEREST IN SPORTS AND ALSO PROMOTE THE TRAINING OF ATKETES.
/SHE PAID
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY fl, 1987
6
SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CARNIVAL’S ORGANISER, THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, FOR PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN BOOSTING WHOLESOME RECREATION IN THE DISTRICT.
THE ASSOCIATION ALSO JOINED OTHER LOCAL BODIES, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL IN ORGANISING SPORT EVENTS, COMPETITIONS AND TRAINING CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTHS, SHE NOTED.
+THE LIM POR YEN CENTRE, WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE ASSOCIATION, PROVIDES THE MOST VALUABLE VENUES AND FACILITIES FOR ORGANISING SUCH ACTIVITIES,+ MRS FUNG SAID.
EACH YEAR MORE THAN 10 000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE ASSOCIATION.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI ; URBAN COUNCILLOR, DR RONALD LEUNG; CHAIRMAN OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR LAM KIN-MING} AND MANAGER, MONG KOK BRANCH OF HONGKONG BANK, MR M.D. ELDRIDGE.
ABOUT 3 000 RESIDENTS PACKED THE MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND TO TAKE PART IN GAMES AND WATCH VARIOUS PERFORMANCES.
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FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME
X X X * X
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS IN EASTERN DISTRICT ARE BEING INVITED TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.
THE THEME FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, IS +T0 SHARE THE JOY OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY*.
THE EASTERN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WHICH IS THE CO-ORDINATING BODY FOR THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME, WILL CONSIDER THE APPLICATIONS IN LATE FEBRUARY AND THE RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MID-MARCH.
ANY ORGANISATION WHICH WANTS TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO ORGANISE SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT CAN OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
THE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 21, AND APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE, GROUND FLOOR OF 884-886, KING’S ROAD, QUARRY BAY.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
7
SOUTHERN DISTRICT HOLDING YOUTH CHOIR CONCERT
*****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL CONCERT AT 8 PM ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE CONCERT IS BEING PRESENTED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AND SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE TWO-HOUR SHOW WILL FEATURE A NUMBER OF CHINESE AND WESTERN FOLK AND CLASSICAL SONGS PERFORMED IN SOLO, DUET, GROUP OR MIXED CHORUS.
THE YOUTH CHOIR WAS FORMED IN 1983, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR MUSIC LOVERS OVER 16. MEMBERS PRACTISE WEEKLY AND HAVE ALSO FORMED THEIR OWN ROCK BAND.
THE CHOIR HAS GIVEN A NUMBER OF CONCERTS AND PERFORMED AT VARIOUS JOINT DISTRICT FUNCTIONS AND LOCAL VARIETY SHOWS.
TICKETS PRICED AT $5 AND ftlO ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE IN ABERDEEN CENTRE AND AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AT LEE CHAK HOUSE, AP LEI CHAU ESTATE.
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CARNIVAL FOR YAU MA TEI RESIDENTS
*****
YAU MA TEI RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO A FUN-FILLED LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL NEXT SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AT THE KOWLOON PARK SOCCER PITCH.
ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE EVENT WILL PROVIDE FREE ENTERTAINMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE WILL BE SINGING AND DANCING AS WELL AS ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS. TEN GAMES STALLS WILL BE SET UP BY AREA COMMITTEES AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS WILL INCLUDE LANTERN RIDDLES, WORD PROPHECY AND FORTUNE TELLING.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 490 NATHAN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI SUB-OFFICE AT 40 CARNARVON ROAD AND THE ASSOCIATION’S ACTIVITY CENTRE AT 33 SALISBURY ROAD.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987-
MAN CLAN ANCESTRAL HALL BEING RESTORED * * X- * *
WORK ON THE RESTORATION OF THE MAN LUN FUNG ANCESTRAL HALL IN SAN TIN, YUEN LONG, HAS STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
THE ANCESTRAL HALL IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN BUILT OVER 200 YEARS AGO IN HONOUR OF MAN LUN FUNG, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE CLAN, AND IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF CHINESE TRAD ITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, INTENDED FOR WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS, FESTIVALS, CEREMONIES AND MEETINGS OF THE VILLAGE ELDERS.
THE BUILDING WAS GAZETTED AS A MONUMENT, AND STRUCTURALLY RENOVATED WITH GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IN 1983.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD, MR JASON YUEN, NOTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME A CHINESE TRADITIONAL FAMILY HAD ALLOWED THEIR PREMISES TO BE PRESERVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
IT WAS HOPED THAT MORE TRADITIONAL FAMILIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD FOLLOW SUIT, MR YUEN ADDED.
THE RESTORATION PROJECT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A DONATION OF AROUND $700 000 FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
WITH THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD AS EXPERT ADVISERS, THE RESTORATION WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.
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YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS TUESDAY
X X X X X
THE SEVENTH YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BEGIN ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) EVENING WITH A FREE PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA AT LUT SAU HALL.
PRIOR TO THE CONCERT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, WILL OFFICIATE AT A FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY.
IN THE FOLLOWING THREE WEEKS, .ABOUT 40 PROGRAMMES COVERING OPERAS, DRAMA, FILMS, EXHIBITIONS AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES WILL BE STAGED AT VARIOUS VENUES IN THE DISTRICT.
/TICKETS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
- 9
TICKETS FOR 13 PERFORMANCES IN THE FESTIVAL ARE NOW ON SALE AT LOT SAU HALL AND YUEN LONG TOWN HALL.
THEY INCLUDE MIME THEATRE BY NOLA RAE AND JOHN MOWATJ AN INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT BY THE CENTRAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IN PEKING AND THE POPULAR +T HE GREAT EARTH+ CONCERT CONDUCTED BY MR NG TAI-KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL AT 7.30 PM ON TUESDAY AT LUT SAU HALL, TAI YUK ROAD, YUEN LONG. A RECEPTION WILL BE HELD IN THE YUEN LONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION PREMISES OPPOSITE THE HALL AT 6.30 PM PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY.
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immigration
INVESTIGATION SUB-DIVISION MOVING * * * *
WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, THE INVESTIGATION SUB-DIVISION SECTIONS OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY SITUATED AT THE LI PO CHUN CHAMBERS, CENTRAL AND PARK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, CAUSEWAY BAY, WILL BE REMOVED TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES:
GENERAL INVESTIGATION AND
REPLACEMENT OF IDENTITY CARD INVESTIGATION SECTION
SIXTH FLOOR, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI , HONG KONG.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
FIFTH FLOOR, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
/+AFTER THE.......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
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♦AFTER THE REMOVAL, THE INVESTIGATION HOT-LINE WILL CHANGED FROM 5-420412 TO 5-8933744. EMPLOYERS WHO ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO INSPECT IDENTITY DOCUMENTS OF EMPLOYEES ARE REMINDED THAT THEY CAN SEEK ADVICE FROM THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT BY CALLING ITS NEW HOT-LINEj 5-8933744 DURING OFFICE HOURS,+ AN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦BY USING THE INVESTIGATION HOT-LINE TO CHECK ON ANY DOUBTFUL IDENTITY CARDS, EMPLOYERS ARE NOT ONLY FULFILLING THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE LAW BUT ALSO HELPING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION,+ HE ADDED.
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♦CLEAN HK+ COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS WIDER REPRESENTATION
*****
THE URBAN COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO DISCUSS AMONG OTHER THINGS THE POSSIBILITY OF WIDENING REPRESENTATION OF THE JOINT URBAN COUNCIL-REGIONAL COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE.
IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MILITARY FORCES BE INVITED TO SIT ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM IN CONFERENCE ROOM 2, FOURTH FLOOR, URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, EDINBURGH PLACE.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
11
YAU MA TEI HOLDING SPRING RECEPTION X X X X X
THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD A SPRING RECEPTION FOR DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS TOMORROW (MONDAY) AT THE OCEAN PALACE RESTAURANT.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU WILL *JTEND THE FUNCTION WHICH WILL START AT 3 PM. HE WILL ALSO ' PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO CHAIRMEN OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND LOCAL organisations for their service and contributions to the district.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SPRING RECEPTION WHICH STARTS AT 3 PM TOMORROW AT THE OCEAN PALACE RESTAURANT, FOURTH FLOOR OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON. ’
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KOWLOON CITY DO SPRING RECEPTION X X- X- X X
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HOLD A SPRING RECEPTION TOMORROW (MONDAY) FROM 4 PM TO 6 PM AT THE MARTHA BOSS COMMUNITY HALL.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL ATTEND THE RECEPTION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION AT 4 PM TOMORROW
AT THE MARTHA BOSS COMMUNITY HALL, 89 CHUNG HAU STREET, HO MAN TIN.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
12
FOOTBRIDGE BEING BUILT ACROSS NULLAH * * * *
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $900 000 CONTRACT FOR BUILDING A 19-METRE-LONG FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS TAI TONG ROAD NULLAH AT YUEN LONG, ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING ROAD BRIDGE.
THE PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE BRIDGE WILL BE ABOUT TWO METRES WIDE AND PROVIDE A SEGREGATED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING FOR NEARBY RESIDENTS.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT IS REPLACEMENT OF ROAD BRIDGE FENCING WITH VEHICLE PARAPET FENCING TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY.
WORK STARTED THIS MONTH AND WILL TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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ROAD CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION X X X X X
TO FACILITATE The CONSTRUCTION OF a footbridge, TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ALONG TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD FROM 1.30 AM TO 4.30 AM ON FEBRUARY 11, 13 AND 14.
ON FEBRUARY 11, THE BUS ONLY ROAD BY THE WESTERN SIDE OF TUEN MUN CENTRAL BUS STATION (ADJACENT TO THE TAXI STAND) WILL BE CLOSED.
ON FEBRUARY 13, THE SOUTHBOUND SECTION OF TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD BETWEEN THE ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE TUEN MUN CENTRAL BUS STATION WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC. MOTORISTS WILL BE DIVERTED TO USE THE BUS ONLY ROAD.
THE NORTHBOUND SECTION OF TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD BETWEEN TUEN HING ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED THE FOLLOWING DAY. MOTORISTS ON NORTHBOUND TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD AND TUEN MUN ROAD HEADING FOR PUI TO ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA TUEN HING ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
THOSE ON NORTHBOUND CASTLE PEAK ROAD SOUTH OF TUEN HING ROAD HEADING FOR PU I TO ROAD SHOULD DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1987
13
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN WONG CHUK HANG *****
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN WONG CHUK HANG FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT FROM HEUNG YIP ROAD EASTBOUND ON TO NAM LONG SHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND, WHILE U-TURNS FROM THE E».SJn°nrD LANE °F W0NG CK HANG R0AD To HE WESTBOUND LANE WILL ALSO BE BANNED AT THE JUNCTION WITH NAM LONG SHAN ROAD.
VEHICLES ON HEUNG YIP ROAD EASTBOUND HEADING FOR NAM LONG SHAN ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL VIA HEUNG YIP ROAD EASTBOUND, OCEAN PARK ROAD AND WONG CHUK HANG ROAD WESTBOUND.
- - 0 - -
' L,0N R0CK TmEi T21WE F0» ” “ n- ft
The LI ON FROCK* TUNNEL^ ILL bFoospS^a1^ SHA t,N-BOUND tube of to MARCH 13, BETWEEN 11 PM FR0M FEBRUARY 11 (WEDNESDAY
saturdays, sundaysE an^pJSl^^l^^ blowing day! exception
tunnelDU:IlNlG beHEusCe?SfSrE'tJoH-wJ?Wt?Sfh^nd tube °f the LION rock PLAZA WILL BE SUSPENDED.^ B0UND Bus STOP NEAR LION ROCK TUNNEL
wn?Xsstvlble
CARE AND TEMPORARY
-----0------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE HO.
REVIEW SHOWS RISE IN DOMESTIC PREMISES VACANCY RATE........ 1
THIRD QUARTER CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS RELEASED ..... 5
HALT, TC UTILISE ABANDONED VILLAGE SCHOOLS ................ 7
YEAR OF SUCCESS FOR CUSTOMS ............................... 8
ALL-OUT EFFORT TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION.................. 9
PSPS DEVELOPMENT TO BE BUILT EI TURK KUH .................. 10
VARIETY SHOW TO PROMOTE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT ................. 11
SOUTHER}; DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR CONCERT .................... 11
SPRDIG FESTIVAL CARNIVAL FOR WAN CHAI ..................... 12
SOUTHERN DISTRICT SPRING RECEPTION......................... 12
TRAFFIC CHANGES DI SHEUilG SHUT ........................... 13
WATER CUTS IH 'TWO AREAS .................................. 13
WATER STGcO.GL FIGURE...................................... 13
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
1
REVIEW SHOWS RISE IN DOMESTIC PREMISES VACANCY RATE
*****
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE 1987 PROPERTY REVIEW INDICATE THAT VACANCY RATES IN ALL NON-DOMESTIC SECTORS OF THE PROPERTY MARKET HAVE FALLEN, BUT THE VACANCY RATE FOR PRIVATE DOMESTIC PREMISES HAS RISEN SLIGHTLY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME DETAILS:
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (ALL PREMISES)
JUST OVER 30 000 DOMESTIC UNITS WERE TAKEN UP DURING 1986. THE FIGURE SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE 1985 TAKE-UP OF 29 500 UNITS. T
SUPPLY IN 1986 ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THAT IN 1985, ALTHOUGH IT WAS STILL BELOW THE FORECAST COMPLETION MADE EARLY LAST YEAR. COMPLETION OF 34 100 UNITS DURING THE YEAR, EXCEEDED THfi RECORD FIGURE OF 33 500 IN 1981, AND AS A RESULT VACANCIES INCREASED FROM 22 100 UNITS AT THE END OF 1985 TO 24 700 AT THE END OF 1986, REPRESENTING 3.9 PER CENT OF TOTAL STOCK.
THE SUPPLY OF NEW DOMESTIC FLATS IN 1987 IS EXPECTED TO REACH AN EVEN HIGHER LEVEL.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (LARGER UNITS - 100 SQ. M AND OVER)
TAKE-UP OF LARGE DOMESTIC FLATS IN 1986 DROPPED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN SUCCESSION, TO 1 800 UNITS. AGAINST THIS, SUPPLY INCREASED FROM 1 950 UNITS IN 1985 TO 2 550 UNITS IN 1986. RESULTANT VACANCIES ROSE FROM 2 750 UNITS AT THE END OF 1985 TO 3 300 UNITS AT THE END OF 1986, REPRESENTING 6.6 PER CENT OF TOTAL STOCK.
TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDARD NEW LARGE FLATS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1987.
COMMERCIAL
SUPPLY OF COMMERCIAL SPACE IN 1986 FELL BELOW FORECAST AND WAS THE LOWEST IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. TAKE-UP ALSO DECREASED FROM 264 000 SQ. METRES IN 1985 TO 213 000 SQ. METRES IN 1986, BUT WAS STILL 22 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE YEAR’S COMPLETIONS. CONSEQUENTLY VACANCIES FELL FROM 9.0 PER CENT AT THE END OF 1985 TO 7.8 PER CENT OF TOTAL STOCK AT THE END OF 1986.
/supply of .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9j 1987
2
SUPPLY OF NEW COMMERCIAL PREMISES IN 1987 IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED THE 1986 FIGURE BY ABOUT 70 PER CENT.
FLATTED FACTORIES
TAKE-UP OF FLATTED FACTORY SPACE IN 1986 WAS NEARLY DOUBLE THAT IN 1985. AT 787 000 SQ. METRES, THE 1986 TAKE-UP CONSIDERABLY EXCEEDED THE YEAR’S COMPLETIONS OF 611 000 SQ. METRES. CONSEQUENTLY, VACANCIES FELL TO 516 000 SQ. METRES AT THE END OF 1986, OR ONLY 3.8 PER CENT OF TOTAL STOCK.
COMPLETIONS IN 1986 WERE WELL BELOW FORECAST BUT STILL SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 34 PER CENT OVER THOSE IN 1985.
THE SUPPLY OF NEW FLATTED FACTORIES IN 1987 IS FORECAST TO BE 800 000 SQ. METRES.
OFFICES
SUPPLY IN 1986 SHOWED A DRAMATIC FALL THE 46 000 SQ. METRES OF NEW OFFICE SPACE, THE ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
COMPARED WITH 1985. OF ONLY ONE-THIRD WAS IN
256
SQ. METRES IN 1985 TO
ALTHOUGH TAKE-UP DROPPED FROM 385 000 000 SQ. METRES IN 1986, IT REPRESENTED ........ .......
AND THIS LED TO A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN VACANCIES
_ . — — .‘.J- r* t-o r MT i M/> £ BCD f’CKIT
MORE THAN FIVE TIMES
T0E266A000 SQ^METREs'at'tAE^END OF 1986, REPRESENTING 6 PER CENT
OF TOTAL STOCK.
COMPLETION OF NEW OFFICE SPACE IN 1987 IS FORECAST TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY, TO A LEVEL OF ABOUT 250 000 SQ. METRES.
A SUMMARY OF SUPPLY, TAKE-UP AND VACANCIES IN THE MAIN SECTORS IS SET OUT BELOW.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE FIGURES QUOTED ARE PRELIMINARY FULL DETAILS WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE PROPERTY REVIEW 1987, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED IN APRIL.
THE DEFINITIONS OF FLOOR AREA FOR THE 1987 PROPERTY REVIEW WILL BE THE SAME AS THOSE FOR THE 1986 EDITION.
/private domestic .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
- 3 -
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (ALL PREMISES)
(NO. OF UNITS)
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY
1984 22 300 23 500 22 400 4.0
1985 29 900 29 500 22 100 3.7
1986 34 100 30 300 24 700 3.9
1987 (38 600)
’PRIVATE DOMESTIC’ EXCLUDES FLATS BUILT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
* VACANCY AT THE END OF THE YEAR AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL STOCK.
PRIVATE DOMESTIC (LARGER UNITS - 100 SQ. M AND OVER)
SUPPLY (NO. OF UNITS)
TAKE-UP VACANCY %
1984 1 400 2 850 2 900 6.4
1985 1 950 2 000 2 750 5.8
1986 2 550 1 800 3 300 6.6
1987 (2 900)
COMMERCIAL
(’000 SQ. M)
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY %
1984 255 229 550 9.9
1985 249 264 524 9.0
1986 174 213 466 7.8
1987 (300)
/flatted factories........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
- 4
FLATTED FACTORIES
SUPPLY (’000 SQ. M)
TAKE-UP VACANCY %
1984 429 857 657 5.2
1985 456 397 716 5.5
1986 611 787 516 3.8
1987 (800)
OFFICES (all)
(’000 SQ. M)
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY % I—
1984 219 449 561 13.8
1985 308 385 484 11.1
1986 46 256 266 6.0
1987 (250)
OFFICES (SECTORAL ANALYSIS)
(’000 SQ. M)
SUPPLY TAKE-UP VACANCY !
SECTOR 1 CENTRAL, GRADE A OFFICES
1984 30 33 91 12.2
1985 163 153 101 11.1
1986 7 60 40 4.4
1987 (69)
/sector 11
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 198?
SECTOR II SHEUNG WAN, WAN CHAI, CAUSEWAY BAY AND TSIM SHA TSUI,
GRADE A + CENTRAL, GRADE B OFFICES
1984 11 139 107 8.9
1985 93 90 110 8.5
1986 9 89 30 2.3
1987 (114)
SECTOR 1 1 1 REMAINDER
1984 178 277 363 17.2
1985 52 142 273 12.6
1986 30 107 196 8.9
1987 (67) o •
THIRD QUARTER CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT STATISTICS RELEASED
*****
THE TOTAL GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY ALL CONTRACTORS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 AMOUNTED TO $10 181 MILLION, WHICH WAS 8 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND 13 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS (INCLUDING WORK CARRIED OUT AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, ERECTED BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES, AND OTHER MINOR WORK LOCATIONS) IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 WAS $6 406 MILLION, WHICH WAS 5.3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER AND 8.9 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985. THIS GAVE AN INDEX OF 97.2. THE QUARTERLY AVERAGE OF 1982 WAS TAKEN AS 100 FOR THE INDEX.
/the figures
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
6
THE FIGURES FOR MAIN CONTRACTORS ARE FREE FROM THE EFFECT OF DOUBLE-COUNTING OF CONSTRUCTION VALUE DUE TO THE SUB-CONTRACTING PRACTICE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THEY ARE, THEREFORE, DIFFERENT FROM THE FIGURES ON CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY ALL CONTRACTORS.
THE GROSS VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORK PERFORMED BY MAIN CONTRACTORS AT CONSTRUCTION SITES IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 AMOUNTED TO $5 091 MILLION, WHICH WAS 7.2 PER CENT AND 13.6 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985 RESPECTIVELY.
OF THIS, $1 653 MILLION WAS CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT OF PUBLIC PROJECTS, WHICH RECORDED AN INCREASE OF 8.5 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, OR 7.8 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985.
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT AT SITES, AT $3 438 MILLION, SHOWED INCREASES OF 6.5 PER CENT AND 16.5 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985 RESPECTIVELY.
THE OUTPUT VALUE OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 WAS $1 896 MILLION. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 2.8 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND 23.4 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985.
THE OUTPUT VALUE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS WAS $527 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 11.2 PER CENT IN COMPARISON WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT A DROP BY 29.2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985.
THE OUTPUT VALUE OF COMMERCIAL-RESI DENT I AL (COMPOSITE) BUILDINGS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 WAS $670 MILLION, WHICH WAS 7.5 PER CENT AND 54 PER CENT ABOVE THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985 RESPECTIVELY.
THE OUTPUT VALUE OF INDUSTRIAL AND STORAGE BUILDINGS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 WAS $384 MILLION, WHICH WAS 20.3 PER CENT BELOW THE PRECEDING QUARTER BUT 3.5 PER CENT ABOVE THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985.
THE OUTPUT VALUE OF TRANSPORT PROJECTS WAS $691 MILLION.
THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 56.7 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER AND AN INCREASE OF 42.2 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985. THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WAS DUE IN PART TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK ON THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING.
/more detailed .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 198?
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT IS GIVEN IN THE +REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY SURVEY OF CONSTRUCTION OUTPUT, THIRD QUARTER 1986+ RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE QUARTERLY SURVEY REPORT IS PRICED AT $2 A COPY. IT MAY BE BOUGHT AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT CENTRE OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL. REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 3-7224490 (BEFORE FEBRUARY 15) AND 5-8234860 (AFTER FEBRUARY 15).
-------0----------
CALL TO UTILISE ABANDONED VILLAGE SCHOOLS ***** f
A LARGE NUMBER of VILLAGE SCHOOLS LYING ABANDONED COULD BE CONVERTED INTO RURAL EDUCATION CENTRES FOR THE STUDY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE OR YOUTH HOSTELS TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN AND APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
A MUCH REDUCED POPULATION IN MANY REMOTE VILLAGES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES HAD RESULTED IN THE ABANDONMENT OF NUMEROUS VILLAGE SCHOOLS, SOME OF WHICH STILL HAVE BASIC UTILITIES SUCH AS WATER SUPPLY AND ELECTRICITY, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ROTARY CLUB, DR HAYES SAID THE FACTORS WHICH HAD LED TO THE ABANDONMENT OF THE VILLAGES, WHICH IN MOST CASES WERE CENTURIES OLD, WERE PROBABLY IRREVERSIBLE BUT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE VILLAGE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
+BEING LOCATED IN THE COUNTRY PARKS, PERHAPS THEY COULD BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH COUNTRY PARK ACTIVITIES,* DR HAYES SAID.
+THERE IS ALSO THE PROSPECT THEY MIGHT BE USED AS RURAL EDUCATION CENTRES FOR THE STUDY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE, PROVIDING OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION IN REMOTE PLACES OF GREAT BEAUTY WHERE CHILDREN OR ADULTS COULD BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE.
+SOME, TOO, MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF CONVERSION AS YOUTH HOSTELS,* HE SAID.
+ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN LETTING THEM MOULDER AWAY, AS IS HAPPENING AT PRESENT,* HE ADDED.
------0-------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
8
YEAR OF SUCCESS FOR CUSTOMS
*****
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT HAD A SUCCESSFUL YEAR ALL AREAS OF ENFORCEMENT IN 1986.
IN
APART FROM A RECORD SEIZURE OF 152 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN BASE, REMARKABLE RESULTS WERE ACHIEVED IN THE AREA OF PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
THE SEIZURE OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS ALMOST DOUBLED THAT OF 1985 AND THE SELLING OF SUCH GOODS AT STREET LEVEL WAS SHARPLY CURTAILED.
LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT SEIZED GOODS WORTH A TOTAL OF $243 MILLION AND PROSECUTED 5 769 PERSONS AND FIRMS IN CONNECTION WITH OFFENCES RELATED TO VARIOUS LAWS ENFORCED BY THE DEPARTMENT. FINES TOTALLING $25 MILLION WERE IMPOSED BY THE COURTS.
THESE REPRESENTED INCREASES OF 190 PER 78.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER 1985.
THE SEIZURES INCLUDED 406 KILOGRAMS OF TABLETS WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF $163 MILLION— $66 MILLION- SMUGGLED MERCHANDISE WORTH $12 COMMODITIES WORTH $2.1 MILLION.
CENT, 12.5 PER CENT AND
DRUGS AND 77 355 MANDRAX COUNTERFEIT GOODS WORTH MILLION AND DUTIABLE
ON TRADE MALPRACTICES, 759 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO CONTRAVENTIONS OF FACTORY REGISTRATION CONDITIONS, SUPPLYING OF FALSE INFORMATION IN APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, EXPORTS OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS WITHOUT VALID LICENCES, UNDER-VALUATION OF IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS AND TEXTILE LICENSING FRAUD. THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 36.3 PER CENT OVER 1985.
IN REVENUE COLLECTION, THE DEPARTMENT COLLECTED ABOUT $3.44 BILLION ON DUTIABLE GOODS AS FOLLOWS:
1985 1986 % INCREASE
hydrocarbon-oils $1 111 193 940 si 251 272 394 + 12.61
TOBACCO 1 009 189 544 1 166 144 137 + 15.55
LIQUOR 578 930 848 725 676 636 + 25.35
NON-ALCO HOL IC 124 146 792 170 040 292 + 36.97
BEVERAGES
cosmetics 75 217 644 126 423 462 + 68.08
/methyl alcohol.......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
METHYL ALCOHOL
344 571
375 855 + 9.08
TOTAL S2 899 023 345 $3 439 932 776 + 18.66
__= = = = = = = = = =: = = — = =
IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT COLLECTED $277.04 MILLION IN AD VALOREM CHARGES ON IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS AND $16.81 MILLION IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING LEVIES - AN INCREASE OF 18.7 PER CENT AND 20.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER 1985.
A SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN 1987 THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS IN THE SUPPRESSION OF NARCOTIC DRUGS, SMUGGLING BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA AND COUNTERFEITING ACTIVITIES.
-------0----------
ALL-OUT EFFORT TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION
*****
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE IS MAKING AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE DISTRICT, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE DISTRICT’S SPRING RECEPTION, MR FONG SAID THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAD TAKEN THE LEAD IN LAUNCHING THE YEAR-LONG CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SINCE LAST APRIL TO COINCIDE WITH POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE TERRITORY.
IN ADDITION, A +CIVIC AMBASSADOR SCHEME* HAD ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED TO HELP PROMOTE CIVIC AWARENESS AMONG RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND TO FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION AMONG THEM.
+THE ULTIMATE AIM OF THESE ACTIVITIES IS TO AROUSE RESIDENTS’ CONCERN ABOUT CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVE DISTRICT AFFAIRS,* MR FONG SAID.
+EVERY CITIZEN, THEREFORE, HAS HIS OWN ROLE TO PLAY TOWARDS MAKING THE DISTRICT A BETTER COMMUNITY TO LIVE IN,* HE ADDED.
/MR FONG .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
- 10
MR FONG ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE DISTRICT’S AREA COMMITTEES, VARIOUS WELFARE AND VOLUNTARY AGANCIES, INCLUDING KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION IN PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF RESIDENTS.
IN PARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS MEMBERS HAD BEEN PLAYING AN ACTIVE PART IN ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON ALL MATTERS AFFECTING THE LIVELIHOOD OF RESIDENTS.
MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE INCLUDING THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T. H. CHAU, MEMBERS OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS AND KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ATTENDFD THE RECEPTION.
------0-------
PSPS DEVELOPMENT TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN * * * * *
A PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME DEVELOPMENT COMPRISING 2 200 TO 2 400 RESIDENTIAL UNITS IS TO BE BUILT ON A 22 240-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT TSI NG CHUNG KOON ROAD IN TUEN MUN.
THE LEASE ON THE LAND, WHICH WAS OFFERED FOR SALE BY TENDER, WAS BOUGHT FOR 35210 MILLION BY LEADCHOICE LIMITED. IT WAS SIGNED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER, TUEN MUN, MR R.B.J. CROSS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PURCHASER.
MR CROSS SAID THE SITE WAS LOCATED WITHIN EASY REACH OF TWO LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT STATIONS AND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO TUEN MUN HOSPITAL, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF FIVE 36- TO 37-STOREY BLOCKS. ABOUT HALF THE RESIDENTIAL FLATS WILL HAVE FLOOR AREAS OF BETWEEN 45.1 AND 55 SQUARE METRES EACH.
INDIVIDUAL FLOOR AREAS OF THE REMAINING UNITS WILL BE BETWEEN 35 AND 45 SQUARE METRES.
MR CROSS SAID AT LEAST HALF THE UNITS WOULD HAVE THREE BEDROOMS.
THERE WILL BE A THREE-STOREY BLOCK PROVIDING 3 000 SQUARE METRES OF COMMERCIAL AREA AND 284 CAR PARKING SPACES.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A CLINIC, A KINDERGARTEN WITH A MINIMUM OF NINE CLASSROOMS, NURSERY AND RESIDENTS’ MEETING AREAS.
LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACE AND SITTING-OUT AND RECREATIONAL AREAS, INCLUDING CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS, TWO BADMINTON COURTS, A ROLLER SKATING RINK, AND A PUBLIC GARDEN WITH A POND AND A PAVILION ARE TO BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1989. SALE OF UNITS WILL TAKE PLACE BY MID-1988.
------0-------
/11......
11
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
VARIETY SHOW TO PROMOTE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT
*****
A TWO-HOUR VARIETY SHOW, BLENDING LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT AND CLEAN ENVIRONMENT MESSAGES, WILL BE STAGED AT THE WILLOW STREET PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
POPULAR DISC JOCKEYS, SINGERS AND TELEVISION ARTISTES WILL APPEAR IN THE SHOW THAT WILL FEATURE SINGING AND DANCING.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO WIN PRIZES IN A LUCKY DRAW.
THE FUNCTION, WHICH MARKS THE CLOSING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, IS SPONSORED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD.
ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND TAI KOK TSUI BRANCH OFFICE, 85 IVY STREET.
-------0---------
SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR CONCERT
*****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL CONCERT AT 8 PM FEBRUARY 28 IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE CONCERT IS PRESENTED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AND SPONSORED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE TWO-HOUR SHOW WILL FEATURE A NUMBER OF CHINESE AND WESTERN FOLK AND CLASSICAL SONGS PERFORMED IN SOLO, DUET, GROUP OR MIXED CHORUS.
THE YOUTH CHOIR WAS FORMED IN 1983 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR MUSIC LOVERS OVER 16. MEMBERS HAVE WEEKLY PRACTICES AND HAVE FORMED THEIR OWN ROCK BAND.
THE CHOIR HAS HOSTED A NUMBER OF CONCERTS AND PERFORMED AT VARIOUS JOINT DISTRICT FUNCTIONS AND LOCAL VARIETY SHOWS.
TICKETS FOR THE CONCERT AT AND «1O ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE IN ABERDEEN CENTRE AND AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARTS AND CULTURE ASSOCIATION AT LEE CHAK HOUSE, AP LEI CHAU ESTATE.
------0-------
/12 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
12
SPRING FESTIVAL CARNIVAL FOR WAN CHAI
*****
A SPRING FESTIVAL CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS AT 7.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND TO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE VALENTINE DAY.
THERE WILL BE SINGING, DRAMA, AND CANTONESE OPERATIC PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS A LUCKY DRAW.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE VARIOUS GAMES STALLS FEATURING CHINESE CHESS, PALM READING, SHADOW CUTTING AND PORTRAIT DRAWING. ADMISSION IS FREE.
THE CARNIVAL IS ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND SPONSORED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR LEE KON, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE CARNIVAL, MR HO YUK-WING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL ON WEDNESDAY AT 7.30 PM AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND.
-------0---------
SOUTHERN DISTRICT SPRING RECEPTION * * * *
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE’S SPRING RECEPTION WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) FROM 3.30 PM TO 5.30 PM AT the jumbo floating restaurant.
miccTQ INVITFD INCLUDE THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG s?UNTHERNDN J??TR??i ™nIgEHMe£tH^^
LEADERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS;
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY AT 3.30 PM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE RESTAURANT AT SHUM WAN, ABERDEEN.
- - 0 - -
/13........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1987
13
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN SHEUNG SHU I * * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SHEUNG SHU I FROM 2.30 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO FACILITATE ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORK.
TRAFFIC BETWEEN KAM TSIN AND CHAU TAU WILL BE DIVERTED FROM THE NORTHERN CARRIAGEWAY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD TO THE SOUTHERN CARRIAGEWAY OF THE ROAD.
THE SECTION OF ROAD SR6 NEAR ITS ACCESS TO CHAU TAU WILL BE CONVERTED TO A CUL-DE-SAC.
MEANWHILE, ACCESS TO CHAU TAU AND PAK SHEK AU WILL BE DIVERTED TO ROAD T3 AND ROAD SR6.
- - 0 - -
WATER CUTS IN TWO AREAS
*****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN RENNIE’S MILL AND CLEAR WATER BAY PENINSULA WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORK.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE AFFECTED:
* PREMISES IN RENNIE’S MILL AREA, INCLUDING THOSE IN MA YAU TONG, ALL VILLAGES ALONG PO LAM ROAD AND HAVEN OF HOPE HOSPITAL 1
* PREMISES IN CLEAR WATER BAY PENINSULA, INCLUDING THOSE IN ALL VILLAGES ALONG CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD FROM HIRAM’S HIGHWAY TO TAI 0 MUN, SHAW’S FILM STUDIO, SILVER STRAND ROAD, SILVER CREST ROAD, SILVER TERRACE ROAD, A KUNG WAN, HANG HAU AND YAU YUE WAN J AND
* PREMISES AND VILLAGES ALONG HIRAM’S HIGHWAY BETWEEN CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AND HO CHUNG.
- - 0 - -
WATER STORAGE FIGURE * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 57.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 335.984 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 362.158 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 61.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES TO BE SPECIAL ADVISER ................. 1
SIR DAVID PLEASED WITH NEW aPPOINITiENT ..................... 1
APPOINTMENT TO JLG ANNOUNCED ................................ 2
NO EFFECT ON WORK OF JLG, ACTING GOVERNOR ................... 3
EXCO WELCOMES APPOINTMENT ................................... 3
FOREIGN INVESTMENT GROWTH CONFIRMS HK SUCCESS ............... 4
PRICE, VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF NOVEMBER EXTERNAL TRaDE .......... 5
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ..................................... 10
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENED .............................. 10
WAN CHAI BUILDING DECLARED DANGEROUS......................... 'll
PUBLIC URGED TO HELP SOLVE STRAY DOG PROBLEM ................ 12
BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF TUEN MUN ELDERLIES ................ 13
SHA TIN POPULATION BOOST WITH MA ON SHAN INTaKE ............. 13
SCHOOL MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD FINaLS OU SaTURDaY .............. 14
Valentine’s day Dance night organised ....................... 14
MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR KWaI CHUNG ................. ,15
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS ............... 15
LhNTERN FESTIVAL NIGHT FOR SHaM SHUI PO RESIDENTS............ 16
BRIEFING ON LiRD-BOILING FACTORIES RELOCATION ............... 16
eastern district to hold spring reception ................... 17
DISCUSSION ON SHIt.G MUN RIVER .............................. 17
traffic management scheme reviewed .......................... 18
LION ROCK TUNNEL ROaD LaNEI TO BE CLOSED .................... 18
EDINBURGH PLi.CE NORTH CLOSED FOR CHaRITY RIDE .............. 19
SPEED LIMIT ON SHa TaU KOK ROaD ............................. 19
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
1
SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES TO BE SPECIAL ADVISER * * * *
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT DAVID AKERS-JONES WOULD BE APPOINTED AS SPECIAL ADVISER TO GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG WHEN SIR DAVID WILSON TAKES UP HIS POST
SIR THE
AS GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IN APRIL.
SIR DAVID WILL SERVE AS SPECIAL ADVISER UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1987.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE APPOINTMENT WAS BEING MADE UPON THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE SO AS TO MAKE USE OF SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES’S WIDE EXPERIENCE IN THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ARRIVAL OF SIR DAVID WILSON.
THE APPOINTMENT WOULD BE OF CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT IN MAINTAINING CONTINUITY AT THE MOST SENIOR LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND IN PROVIDING THE NEW GOVERNOR WITH ADVICE ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS FOR SOME MONTHS AFTER HE HAS TAKEN UP HIS POST.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT MR DAVID FORD WILL BE APPOINTED AS CHIEF SECRETARY WITH EFFECT FROM FEBRUARY 12, 1987.
-------0--------
SIR DAVID PLEASED WITH NEW APPOINTMENT *****
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (TUESDAY) SAID HE WAS VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO STAY ON FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THE CAPACITY AS SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THIS MORNING'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING, SIR DAVID SAIDx + I’M VERY GLAD TO HAVE BEEN ASKED BY SIR DAVID WILSON TO STAY ON FOR A FEW MONTHS IN THIS SPECIAL CAPACITY AND I LOOK FORWARD VERY MUCH TO THOSE FEW MONTHS.*
ASKED WHETHER THE APPOINTMENT WAS +T00 SHORT*, HE SAID IT WOULD BE JUST RIGHT, +JUST EXACTLY WHAT SIR DAVID WILSON HAS ASKED.+
SIR DAVID SAID HE INTENDED TO LIVE IN HONG KONG AFTER RETIREMENT, ALTHOUGH HE HAD NO SPECIFIC POST-RETIREMENT PLANS AT THE MOMENT.
COMMENTING ON SIR DAVID’S NEW APPOINTMENT, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT SIR DAVID WOULD STAY ON FOR A PERIOD LONGER.
/+! THINK .......
TUE10AY, FEBRUARY 10, 198?
2
+l THINK HIS EXPERIENCE IN HONG K0N6 IS UNIQUE. I THINK |T IS VERY GOOD FOR HONG KONG, IT IS VERY GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT AND I'M PERSONALLY VERY PLEASED ABOUT IJ,+ HE 8AI
MR FORD ADDED THAT HIS FUTURE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH SIR DAVID WOULD BE A VERY GOOD ONE.
ASKED WHETHER THERE WOULD BE ANY OVERLAP IN THE WORK BfiTWHN THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE SPECIAL ADVISER, MR FORD SAID THE BAIIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY WOULD BE UNCHANGED.
IN REPLY TO A SIMILAR QUESTION FROM REPORTERS EARLIER, , DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MRS IRENE YAU, S|l&» tTHERt 1 VERY CLEARLY DEFINED STRUCTURE IN THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION AND IN THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE GOVERNOR, CHIEP‘tlCRftTARP, ♦ POLITICAL ADVISER AND BRANCH SECRETAR IES.
■ ■1 *!' ' w
♦there will be no change to THIS STRUCTURE « IT VILL BE FOB J I, THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE WHEN TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE SPECIAL ADV I SER,+ SHE ADDED.
ASKED WHETHER THE SPECIAL ADVISER WOULD HAVE ANY SPECIAL TASKS. MRS YAU SAID IT WAS NOT ENVISAGED THAT HE WOULD BE GIVEN PART I GU^ft SUBJECTS TO DEAL WITH ON AN EXECUTIVE BASIS. t
______p_______ M ; v.’W*
APPOINTMENT TO JLG ANNOUNCED ***** 1 h ♦ < THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT
MR ROBIN MCLAREN, AT PRESENT BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE PHILIPPINES, WILL SUCCEED SIR DAVID WILSON AS SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRITISH SIDE ON THE SI NO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON HONG KONQ.
THIS IS CONSEQUENT UPON HIS APPOINTMENT TO SUCCEED SIR DAV|fl AS ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE (ASIA) AT THE FOREIGN AND V COMMONWEALTH OFFICE.
THERE WILL BE ONE FURTHER CHANGE TO THE BRITISH SI PE FOR ( THE NEXT MEETING OF THE JLG, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN HONG KONG FROM MARCH 17 TO 20s MR DICK CLIFT, POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG, Wl^L SUCCEED MR BOYD, THE FORMER POLITICAL ADVISER, AS A MEMBER QF group. ' •’ ’ ’• T i
IT HAS ALSO BEEN ANNOUNCED THAT MR DONALD LIAO, THE SECRET AM FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, WILL REPLACE MR ERIC HO AS A MEMBRfi''’ OF THE JOINT liaison group AFTER THE FORTHCOMING MEETING.
-------0 --------
/3........
!
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
3
NO EFFECT ON WORK OF JLG, ACTING GOVERNOR *****
THE APPOINTMENT OF THREE NEW MEMBERS TO THE BRITISH SIDE OF THE SI NO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON HONG KONG WOULD NOT AFFECT THE WORK OF THE JLG, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING-
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE ANNUAL SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, HE SAID EVERY MEMBER WAS VERY familiar with the work of the JLG and with THE current state of RELATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA.
+ 1 THINK WE SHOULD BE VERY PLEASED IN HONG KONG THAT WE HAVE MR MCLAREN IN LONDON, SIR DAVID WILSON AS GOVERNOR, AND MR CLIFT AS OUR POLITICAL ADVISER. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG TEAM,+ HE SAID.
ASKED ABOUT MR DONALD LIAO REPLACING MR ERIC HO ON THE JLG, SIR DAVID SAID HIS APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY BOTH SIDES. HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT ISSUE A BRITISH PASSPORT TO MR LIAO.
COMMENTING ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS THE NEW GOVERNOR’S SPECIAL ADVISER SIR DAVID SAID; +1 AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE BEEN INVITED BY SIR DAVID WILSON TO HELP DURING THE FIRST TWO OR THREE MONTHS OF HIS OFFICE HERE AS GOVERNOR.
+1 AM WORKING FOR SIR DAVID WILSON AND IT WILL DEPEND UPON HIM HOW HE USES ME.+
- - o -
EXCO WELCOMES APPOINTMENT * * *
AT THEIR MEETING TODAY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ASKED THAT THEIR WARM CONGRATULATIONS BE CONVEYED TO MR ROBIN MCLAREN ON HIS APPOINTMENT AS ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE (ASIA) AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AND SENIOR BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE ON THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. THEY WERE DELIGHTED THAT MR MCLAREN’S EXPERIENCE OF HONG KONG WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THIS DEMANDING POST.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
4
FOREIGN INVESTMENT growth CONFIRMS HK SUCCESS
*****
THE GROWTH OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT INTO HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY CONFIRMS THE SUCCESS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT RATHER THAN SPECIAL SUBSIDY AND TAX CONCESSIONS, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, SIR DAVID SAID THIS INVESTMENT HAD ALSO ENCOURAGED LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO SHIFT TOWARDS HIGHER QUALITY AND TO DIVERSIFY THEIR PRODUCTS.
+A RECENT SURVEY SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 500 FACTORIES WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT HAVE MOVED TOWARDS HIGHER TECHNOLOGY,+ HE SAID.
+THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE INSTALLATION OF COMPUTER ASSISTED DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT MACHINES FROM 200 IN 1984 TO NEARLY 1 000 IN 1986.+
REGARDING SUPPORT TOWARDS HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT REGULARLY REVIEWED THE ADEQUACY OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES IT PROVIDED.
+IT LOOKS AT WHAT OUR COMPETITORS DO IN THIS FIELD AND MAKES SUGGESTIONS FOR WHAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE IN HONG KONG.
+THIS HAS LED TO A WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSION RECENTLY IN THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
+THE ACTIVE DEBATE CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE IN HONG KONG ABOUT THE ROLE OF INDUSTRY AND THE DIRECTION WE SHOULD TAKE IS A MOST HEALTHY AND ENCOURAGING SIGN.*
ON THE FEDERATION ITSELF, SIR DAVID SAID IT HAD GROWN WITH THE INDUSTRIES IT REPRESENTED. IT WAS FORMED TO REPRESENT INDUSTRY’S VIEWS TO GOVERNMENT.
+IT CAN BEST FULFIL THIS PURPOSE BY MAKING ITS MEMBERSHIP AS WIDELY REPRESENTATIVE OF INDUSTRY AS POSSIBLE,+ HE SAID.
SIR DAVID SAID SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDS, THE FEDERATION WOULD BECOME AN INDEPENDENT ORGANISATION FREE FROM GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY, HE SAID THOSE WHO REMEMBERED HONG KONG INDUSTRIES OF THE EARLY 196O’S COULD TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR GROWTH SINCE THEN.
/♦THE CHANGES .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 5 -
♦ THE CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC BOTH IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY.
♦THEIR NUMBER HAS MULTIPLIED BY ALMOST NINE TIMES AND THE RANGE AND SOPHISTICATION OF THEIR PRODUCTS HAS DEVELOPED BEYOND ANYTHING WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED IN THE DARK AND DIFFICULT YEARS WHEN THE FEDERATION WAS FORMED.
♦DESPITE GROWTH IN OTHER DIRECTIONS - PARTICULARLY IN TOURISM AND THE FINANCIAL SERVICE SECTOR - INDUSTRY REMAINS THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY! THE EMPLOYER OF NEARLY 900 000 MEN AND WOMEN AND THE CONTRIBUTOR OF 24 PER CENT TO OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT,+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS HAD EXTENDED THEIR ACTIVITIES BY INVESTMENT IN BRANCH FACTORIES IN MANY PARTS OF CHINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY IN THE SHENZHEN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND THEY HAD EXPANDED OVERSEAS TO MANY COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
♦THESE DEVELOPMENTS GIVE AN INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION AND AN ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR ECONOMY,+ HE ADDED.
--------0----------
PRICE,
VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF
NOVEMBER EXTERNAL TRADE
X X
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS
STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY . ... __
DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS GREW BY 16 PER CENT IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1986 AS COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1985. THE VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT. HENCE, THERE WAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF 14 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS.
IMPORTS INCREASED BY 13 PER CENT IN VOLUME. ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS BOTH ROSE BY 2 PER CENT, SO THAT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS PRICES ALSO
INCREASED BY 2 PER CENT.
EXPORT PRICE
PRICES OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 5 PER CENT. AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF THE TOTAL INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) DROPPED BY 3 PER
CENT.
/COMPARING NOVhNBER........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 6 -
COMPARING NOVEMBER 1986 WITH NOVEMBER 1985, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 23 PER CENT AND 37 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. HENCE, TOTAL EXPORTS GREW BY 29 PER CENT IN VOLUME. IMPORT VOLUME INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 5 PER CENT WHILE THOSE OF RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 3 PER CENT. IMPORT PRICES ROSE BY 5 PER CENT.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED, EXCEPT FOR SOME SELECTED COMMODITIES FOR WHICH SPECIFICATION PRICE INDEXES ARE COMPILED. THE VOLUME OF TRADE IS DERIVED FROM TRADE VALUES BY DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF COMPARISON TO THE 12 MONTHS ENDING NOVEMBER 1986 WITH THE 12 MONTHS ENDING NOVEMBER 1985, THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT WHILE THAT OF REEXPORTS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT, THEREBY GIVING AN INCREASE OF 14 PER CENT IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS.
THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 13 PER CENT. OVER THE
SAME PERIOD, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 1 PER CENT WHILE THOSE OF RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 2 PER CENT. IMPORT PRICES ROSE BY 4 PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY COMMODITY GROUP FOR NOVEMBER 1986 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1
AS CAN BE SEEN FROM TABLE 1, DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS SHOWN THEREIN INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985. THESE INCLUDED TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (+8 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+7 PER CENT); CLOTHING (+6 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS ( + 5 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (+4 PER CENT); TEXTILE FABRICS (+4 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+2 PER CENT) AS WELL AS DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+2 PER CENT).
DECREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICES WERE, HOWEVER, RECORDED IN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (-5 PER CENT); RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (-3 PER CENT) AS WELL AS METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-2 PER CENT). PRICES OF FOOTWEAR REMAINED ALMOST UNCHANGED.
THE DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985, INCLUDING TEXTILE FABRICS (+65 PER CENT); TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+59 PER CENT); RADIOS OF ALL KINDS (+51 PER CENT); DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+33 PER CENT); METAL MANUFACTURES (+28 PER CENT); FOOTWEAR (+24 PER CENT); TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (+23 PER CENT); WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+19 PER CENT); CLOTHING (+12 PER CENT); ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+10 PER CENT) AS WELL AS TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES (+9 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE IN DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME WAS RECORDED IN METAL ORES AND SCRAP (-18 PER CENT).
/THE CHANGES .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
7
the changes in the value, unit value and volume of imports by END-USE CATEGORY FOR NOVEMBER 1986 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.
AS PRESENTED IN TABLE 2, IMPORT PRICES OF MOST END-USE CATEGORIES ROSE IN NOVEMBER 1986 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985, RANGING FROM 3 PER CENT FOR FOODSTUFFS TO 11 PER CENT FOR CAPITAL GOODS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IMPORT PRICES OF FUELS DROPPED BY 38 PER CENT.
MANY OF THE MAJOR IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS INCREASED IN VOLUME IN NOVEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985. SIGNIFICANT GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN FISH AND FISH PREPARATIONS? SUGAR? LIVE POULTRY AS WELL AS MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE AND EGGS. HOWEVER, NOTABLE DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR TEA AND COFFEE? FRUIT AS WELL AS SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD.
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST CONSUMER GOODS INCREASED, THE MORE SUBSTANTIAL ONES BEING RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, GRAMOPHONES, RECORDS, TAPE RECORDERS AND AMPLIFIERS? CLOTHING? WATCHES? HOUSEHOLD-TYPE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AS WELL AS MISCELLANEOUS MADE-UP ARTICLES OF TEXTILE MATERIAL. HOWEVER, DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR TOBACCO MANUFACTURES AS WELL AS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985. THE MAJOR INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR? WOOD, LUMBER AND CORK? CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS? THERMIONIC, CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND ELECTRONIC MICROCIRCUITS? BASE METALS, EXCLUDING IRON AND STEEL AS WELL AS PLASTIC MOULDING MATERIALS. HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS RECORDED IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF RAW COTTON.
IMPORTS OF FUELS INCREASED BY 94 PER CENT IN VOLUME IN NOVEMBER 1986 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITIES IN THE CAPITAL GOODS CATEGORY INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1986 WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985 THE SUBSTANTIAL ONES BEING OFFICE MACHINES? TEXTILE MACHINERY? TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY OTHER THAN TEXTILE AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY. ON THE OTHER HAND, A DECREASE IN THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY WAS RECORDED.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY FOR NOVEMBER 1986 AS COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985 ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3-
AS DEPICTED IN TABLE 3, THE RE-EXPORT VOLUME OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED IN NOVEMBER 1986 WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1985, RANGING FROM 3 PER CENT FOR CAPITAL GOODS TO 321 PER CENT FOR FUELS.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE NOVEMBER 1986 ISSUE OF +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS+ AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AROUND FEBRUARY 12 AT $2.5 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS REPORT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG, ON 5-214375 AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE INDEXES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 5-444584.
8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1?8?
Table 1;
Increases in domestic exports
by commodity group
Comparing Jan-Nov 1986 Comparing November 1986
with Jan-Nov 1985 with November 1985
Commodity group Value % Unit Value % Volume % Value % Unit Value % Volume %
Clothing 16 2 14 19 6 12
Textile fabrics 46 -2 48 71 4 65
Textile yarn and thread 26 -1 27 63 2 59
Textile made-ups and related articles 12 3 8 33 7 23
Radios of all kinds 14 -9 24 47 -3 51
Electronic components -2 1 -3 5 -5 10
Footwear 18 1 17 25 * 24
Metal manufactures 15 * 16 34 4 28
Metal ores and scrap -32 -7 -27 -20 -2 -18
Watches and clocks 25 7 17 25 5 19
Travel goods, handbags and similar articles * 7 -6 18 8 9
Domestic electrical appliances 5 -5 10 35 2 33
ALL COMMODITIES 18 2 16 30 5 23
Notes: * Insignificant, i.e. less than 0.5%
Percentage changes are calculated from trade indexes taken to more decimal places than those to be published in the "Hong Kong Trade Index Numbers”. They may therefore differ from the percentage changes to be computed from the published figures.
/Table 2:
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 9 -
Table 2*. Increases in imports by end-use category
Comparing Jan-Nov 1986 Comparing November 1986
with Jan-Nov 1985 with November 1986
End-use category Value % Unit Value % Volume % Value % Unit Value % Volume %
Foodstuffs 14 ♦ 14 11 3 7
Consumer goods 28 10 16 31 8 21
Raw materials and semi-manufactures 22 3 19 31 6 24
Fuels -18 -33 23 20 -38 94
Capital goods 7 16 -8 28 11 16
ALL COMMODITIES 19 5 13 28 5 22
Table 3: End-use category Increases in re-exports by end-use category
Comparing Jan-Nov 1986 with Jan-Nov 1985 Comparing November 1986 with November 1985
Value % Unit Value Volume Value % Unit Value % Volume %
% %
Foodstuffs 39 2 36 59 4 63
Consumer goods 27 4 22 54 3 50
Raw materials and semi-manufactures 13 -3 16 36 ♦ 36
Fuels 92 -32 183 175 -35 321
Capital goods -14 10 -22 11 8 3
ALL COMMODITIES 15 2 12 41 3 37
--------0---------
/10........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
10
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED * * *
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCES PASSED ON LAM HO-YEE SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
LAM WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF CHAN PO-KI NG ON NOVEMBER 20, 1985 AND OF MA CHlK-LAU AND TSE CHAN ON MARCH 27, 1986.
- 0 -
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENED
X X X X X
THE SEVENTH YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL, ONE OF THE MORE COLOURFUL CULTURAL EVENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, WAS OPENED THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING WITH A PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA AT THE LUT SAU HALL.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, DR JAMES HAYES, NOTED THAT THE FESTIVAL HAD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS FOR THE DISTRICT SINCE IT WAS LAUNCHED IN 1981.
HE POINTED OUT THAT EVERY YEAR THE ORGANISERS HAD BEEN ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER AN INTERESTING AND EXCITING PROGRAMME WITH THE RIGHT BLEND OF PERFORMANCES IN BOTH EASTERN AND WESTERN ARTS.
HE SAID THAT THIS YEAR'S PROGRAMME PUT SPECIAL EMPHASIS
ON STIMULATING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR PURSUIT OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES BY PROVIDING A FORUM FOR ARTS APPRECIATION AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES.
+ FURTHERMORE, IT IS OFTEN THROUGH THIS KIND OF EVENT THAT EAST AND THE WEST COME TOGETHER, THUS BROADENING THE LOCAL ARTS SCENE,+ HE ADDED.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, DR TANG SIU-TONG, POINTED OUT THAT CONSIDERING THE REMOTENESS OF YUEN LONG WHERE FIRST-CLASS ARTS PRESENTATIONS WERE NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE, THE ANNUAL FESTIVAL WAS ALL THE MORE MEANINGFUL TO LOCAL RESIDENTS.
+IN DRAWING UP OUR PROGRAMME, WE HAVE SPECIALLY ARRANGED FREE ADMISSION TO A WIDE VARIETY OF EVENTS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE ARTS TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AS WELL AS DIFFERENT INTEREST.
/+IN ADDITION
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
11
+ |N ADDITION TO SEEING THE MORE POPULAR AND TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCES, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE TEMPTED TO ATTEND EVENTS WHICH ARE NEW TO YUEN LONG AND WHICH HAVE COME HERE WITH GOOD REVIEWS AT OTHER VENUES IN HONG KONG,+ DR TANG SAID.
THE THREE-WEEK FESTIVAL FEATURES 39 EVENTS INCLUDING CONCERTS, DRAMAS, OPERAS, DANCES, FILMS, EXHIBITIONS TOGETHER WITH A WIDE SELECTION OF FRINGE ARTS PRESENTATIONS SUCH AS FUKINESE PUPPET SHOW, MIME THEATRE, AND MANY OUTDOOR SHOWS IN VARIOUS RURAL AREAS.
THE FESTIVAL, WHICH WILL RUN UNTIL MARCH 1, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE. THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT ARTS COMMITTEE, THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.
OF THE TOTAL BUDGET OF $560 000 FOR THE FESTIVAL, THE DISTRICT BOARD IS CONTRIBUTING $300 000, WHILE THE BALANCE WILL COME FROM TICKET PROCEEDS AND LOCAL SPONSORESHlP.
-----o-------
WAN CHAI BUILDING DECLARED DANGEROUS
* * X M- *
A BUILDING AT 21 WING FUNG (TUESDAY) DECLARED DANGEROUS BY
STREET IN WAN CHAI WAS TODAY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR (PgBS) SAID THE BUILDING WAS A FOUR-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING WITH TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF, REINFORCED IN PLACES WITH CONCRETE BEAMS ON LOAD-BEARING BRICK WALLS.
HE SAID THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR - NO. 19 - WAS DEMOLISHED FOR REDEVELOPMENT LAST YEAR, LEAVING THE COMMON STAIRCASE FOR USE BY NO. 21.
RECENT INSPECTIONS HAD REVEALED SOME CRACKS IN THE ARCHES OVER THE OPENINGS IN THE PARTY WALL BETWEEN NOS. 19 AND 21 AND NUMEROUS OTHER CRACKS IN THE BEAMS AND THE STAIRCASE ENCLOSING WALLS.
THE COMMON STAIRCASE WAS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR.
+THE MAIN BUILDING IS LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS THROUGH LACK OF A FIRE ESCAPE WHEN THE STAIRCASE IS REMOVED.
♦THEREFORE, IT IS NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THE WHOLE BUILDING,+ THE PGBS SAID.
THE AUTHORITY IS TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER ON THE BUILDING IN HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 10 AND POSTED NOTICES OF ITS INTENTION TO DO SO ON THE BUILDING TODAY.
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/12........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 12 -
PUBLIC URGED TO HELP SOLVE STRAY DOG PROBLEM *****
DOG OWNERS WERE URGED TO HELP ERADICATE THE STRAY DOG PROBLEM IN HONG KONG BY KEEPING THEIR PETS UNDER CONTROL AT ALL TIMES AND BY HANDING UNWANTED DOGS TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT’S SENIOR VETERINARY CFFICER, DR NORMAN CHENG, WHEN ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF A DISTRICT ANTI-RABIES INOCULATION DRIVE TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS IN SAI KUNG AND SHA TIN.
HE SAID THAT INOCULATION AND CONTROL OF STRAY DOGS WERE THE PRIMARY WAYS TO PREVENT A RABIES OUTBREAK.
+THE DEPARTMENT HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL ANTI-RABIES INOCULATION CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR, COVERING MORE THAN 43 530 DOGS, AN INCREASE OF 55 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 28 136 DOGS.
♦DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE DEPARTMENT’S DOG CONTROL UNIT ROUNDED UP 15 218 STRAYS COMPARED WITH 12 980 STRAYS IN 1985. THE INCREASING NUMBER OF STRAYS IS POSING A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH.
♦THE MAJORITY OF STRAY DOGS ARE THOSE LET LOOSE OR ABANDONED BY THEIR OWNERS. I URGE OWNERS TO REFRAIN FROM DOING SO TO MINIMISE THE POTENTIAL RISK.+
HE SAID THAT ANY DOG OWNER WHO ALLOWED HIS DOG TO ROAM FREELY ON A PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE WAS COMMITTING AN OFFENCE UNDER THE DOGS AND CATS ORDINANCE AND WOULD BE LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 009 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
DR CHENG SAID AN INOCULATION DRIVE WOULD BE MOUNTED IN SAI KUNG IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS WHILE THE DEPARTMENT’S MOBILE INOCULATION TEAMS WOULD ALSO VISIT VILLAGES IN SHA TIN AND YUEN LONG THIS MONTH.
THE SAI KUNG VILLAGES INCLUDE PAK KONG, TSIU HANG, TUI MIN HOI, CHE KENG TUK, HO CHUNG, PAK WAI, PAK SHA WAN, KAU SAI SAN TSUEN, TA HO TUN, SHA HA, TAI MONG TSAI, WONG KENG TEI, WO MEI, NAM WAI, PAK KONG AU, PO LO CHE, WONG Yl CHAU, PAK TAM CHUNG, PING TUN, TIT KIM HANG, TAI PO TSAI, TAM WAT, WONG CHUK WAN AND NGONG WO.
THE VILLAGES IN SHA TIN ARE SHA HA WAI, TSOK POK HANG, FUI YIU HA, SHA TIN WAI, TO SHEK TSUEN, CHAP WAI KON, NGAU PEI SHA, SIU LEK YUEN, WONG NAI TAU, TAI CHE, TAI NAM LIU, SHEK KWU LUNG, A KUNG KOK, MUI TSZ LAM, TAI SHU I HANG, MA ON SHAN, WU KAI SHA, SHA TIN TAU AND SHA TIN TAU SUN TSUEN.
THE YUEN LONG VILLAGES ARE SHEK WU TONG, KAM TSIN WAI, TA SHEK WU, NG KA TSUEN, PANG KA TSUEN, TSAT SING KONG, TAI KONG PO AND CHEUNG KONG TSUEN.
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/13........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 1? -
BANQUET HELD IN HONOUR OF TUEN MUN ELDERLIES *****
ABOUT 1 200 ELDERLY PEOPLE AGED 60 OR ABOVE IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT WERE TREATED TO A BANQUET TODAY (TUESDAY) AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESPECT FOR THE AGED ASSOCIATION AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE FEAST WAS AIMED AT FOSTERING RESPECT FOR SENIOR RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SPEAKING AT THE BANQUET, THE ASSOCIATION’S CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SHU, SAID SINCE THE SETTING UP OF THE ASSOCIATION IN 1981 IT HAD ORGANISED VARIOUS FUNCTIONS FOR MEMBERS, INCLUDING +HEALTH FORTNIGHT FOR THE ELDERLY+ AND +GAMES DAY FOR THE ELDERLY*.
OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE BANQUET INCLUDED DISTRICT OFFICER, W STEPHEN SELBY, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER AND RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT, AND SENIOR SOCIAL WORK OFFICER, MR YIP TAK-CHU.
THE OLDEST MAN AND WOMAN, AGED 97 AND 93 RESPECTIVELY, WERE EACH AWARDED A GOLD MEDAL WHILE TEN OLDEST PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED GIFT PACKETS.
-----0-------
SHA TIN POPULATION BOOST WITH MA ON SHAN INTAKE
*****
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MA ON SHAN WOULD INCREASE SHA TIN’S POPULATION BY ABOUT 30 000 AND EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO HELP NEW RESIDENTS SETTLE IN, SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LEO KWAN, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT A SPRING RECEPTION CELEBRATION, MR KWAN SAID THERE WERE NUMEROUS ORGANISATIONS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO NEW RESIDENTS, THE FIRST BATCH OF WHICH WOULD MOVE INTO MA ON SHAN NEXT MONTH.
+IN ORDER TO HELP THE EMIGRANTS ADAPT TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENT AND TO CULTIVATE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY, THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND SERVICE TO
THEM,* HE SAID.
+THERE ARE AT PRESENT 202 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND 21 OWNERS CORPORATIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND IT IS HOPED THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN FORMING RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS AND OTHER LOCAL BODIES,* HE ADDED.
MR KWAN ALSO URGED VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS, RURAL COMM TTEES AND BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS IN THE DISTRICT TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT BOARD AND DISTRICT OFFICE IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT YEAR’S DISTRICT BOARD
ELECTIONS.
+WE WILL BE ENCOURAGING THE NEW RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED AS VOTERS TO DO SO,* HE SAID.
/1U......
- - 0 -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
SCHOOL MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD FINALS ON SATURDAY * X * * *
MATHEMATICS WHIZ KIDS FROM 40 SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL COMPETE FOR TOP HONOURS IN THE FINALS OF THE FOURTH HONG KONG MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD AT NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14).
THE MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD 1986/87, OPEN TO ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MATHEMATICS SECTION OF THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT OF NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
A TOTAL OF 183 SCHOOLS ENTERED THE COMPETITION LATE LAST YEAR. SCHOOLS WHICH SECURED THE TOP 40 PLACES AT THE HEATS WILL COMPETE IN THE FINALS WHICH INCLUDE FIVE INDIVIDUAL AND FIVE GROUP EVENTS.
PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS AFTER THE FINALS BY PROFESSOR Y.C. WONG OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND MR HO SIU-LUN, PRINCIPAL OF THE NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FINALS AT 21 SASSOON ROAD, POKFULAM, BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND NOON ON SATURDAY.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE EVENT, MISS TSO CHEE-HING, WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
- 0 - -
VALENTINE'S DAY DANCE NIGHT ORGANISED K * * * *
DANCE ENTHUSIASTS ARE INVITED TO DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY ON VALENTINE’S DAY THIS SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14) AT THE YAU MA TEI HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT SOCIAL DANCE NIGHT IS ORGANISED TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO GET TOGETHER FOR SOME FUN DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
LIVE BAND MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.
TO ENHANCE RESIDENTS’ INTEREST AND SKILLS IN SOCIAL DANCING, THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS DANCES INCLUDING THE FOX TROT, QUICK WALTZ, TANGO AND CHA CHA BY PROFESSIONAL DANCERS.
THE FUNCTION IS ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK EAST AREA COMMITTEE AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ENQUIRIES FOR ADMISSION CAN BE MADE TO THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE ON 3-802251.
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/15
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR KWAI CHUNG
*****
A $145 000 CONTRACT FOR BUILDING AN OPEN SPACE AT KWAI CHUNG HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO KIN MING AND COMPANY.
THE OPEN SPACE, COVERING AN AREA OF 375 SQUARE METRES, IS LOCATED AT SHEK YAM ROAD.
FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A CONCRETE CHESS TABLE AND CHAIRS, LANDSCAPED AREA, HEDGES AND A LAWN FRONTING THE ROAD.
WORK WILL START AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- o -
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING EVENTS
*****
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVITED FROM VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN SHAM SHU I PO TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES WITH DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE, 39 TONKIN STREET, KOWLOON, AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE OR ITS SUB-OFFICES BEFORE FEBRUARY 27 FOR THE VETTING SUB-COMMITTEE CF SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AT ITS MEETING ON APRIL 9.
EACH APPLICATION FORM SHOULD BE USED TO APPLY FOR SPONSORSHIP CF ONE ACTIVITY ONLY.
SINCE THE DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES ARE LIMITED, APPROVED APPLICATIONS MAY NOT RECEIVE FULL SPONSORSHIP.
ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF FUNDS, THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD ONLY PROVIDE FULL SPONSORSHIP FOR ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL AND WHERE PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT CHARGED, SUCH AS FUNCTIONS FOR THE ELDERLY AND THE HANDICAPPED, COMMUNITY SERVICES, RESEARCH PROJECTS, EXHIBITIONS AND COMPETITIONS, CARNIVALS AND VARIETY SHOWS, AS WELL AS SEMINARS FOR THE PUBLIC.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
16
LANTERN FESTIVAL NIGHT FOR SHAM SHU I PO RESIDENTS * * * * *
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AT THE MAPLE STREET PLAYGROUND IN CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, SHAM SHU I PO, FOR RESIDENTS TO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL.
THE CARNIVAL, FEATURING SINGING PERFORMANCE, MAGIC SHOW, PALM READING AND FORTUNE TELLING, LANTERN RIDDLES AND CHILDREN GAMES STALLS, WILL START AT 6.30 PM TILL 10 PM.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS AND GAMES STALL COUPONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE, NAM CHEONG SUB-OFFICE, 4 UN CHAU STREET, AND THE EIGHT KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE CARNIVAL IS ORGANISED BY THE EIGHT KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS IN SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT, CO-ORGANISED BY SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE, AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
- 0 -
BRIEFING ON LARD-BOILING FACTORIES RELOCATION
*****
MEMBERS OF THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE RELOCATION OF LARD-BOILING FACTORIES IN THE DISTRICT AT A MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE BRIEFING BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED AREA TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXISTING FACTORIES AWAY FROM DENSELY-POPULATED AREAS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING BEGINNING AT 10 AM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, 13TH FLOOR. TAI KIU GOVERNMENT OFFICES, YUEN LONG.
- - C -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
17
EASTERN DISTRICT TO HOLD * * * * *
SPR ING RECEPTION
HOLD ITS ANNUAL SPR ING PM AT THE CITY PLAZA
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL RECEPTION TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 4.30
PALACE RESTAURANT.
ABOUT 800 LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, WILL ATTEND THE FUNCTION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION TOMORROW AT 4.30 PM ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF CITY PLAZA, TAI KOO SHING.
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DISCUSSION ON SHING MUN RIVER
*****
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS THE AERATION AND MAINTENANCE DREDGING OF SHING MUN RIVER AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE INFORMED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROPOSED LICENSING CONTROL OF BILLIARD ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.
INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA ARE PROGRAMMES OF THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 87 AND THE 1987-88 ESTIMATES AND APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TOMORROW AT 2.30 PM ON THE SIXTH FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, KCR HOUSE.
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/18......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 18 -
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME REVIEWED 0*0
A MEETING TO REVIEW THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME IMPLEMENTED IN NGAU TAU KOK AREA SINCE JANUARY 20 THIS YEAR WAS HELD YESTERDAY (MONDAY).
THE MEETING, ATTENDED BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT AND^ CONCERNED PARTIE§, WAS OF THE VIEW THAT THE SCHEME HAD HELPED IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
HOWEVER, TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT SCHEME, THL^ DEPARTMENTS 1GREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT NGAU JAU KOK FOURTH STREET — WILL BE ROUTED TWO-WAY TO ENABLE VEHICLES TO RE-ENTER NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AFTER PICKING UP AND LETTING DOWN PASSENGERS IN NGAU TAU KOK FOURTH AND FIFTH STREETS.
THE IMPROVEMENT MEASURE WAS MEANT TO MINIMISE INCONVENIENCE TO PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PASSENGERS.
RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS WILL SORT OUT DETAILS OF THE IMPROVEMENT MEASURE TO IMPLEMENT THE MEASURE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
- - o -
LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD LANES TO BE CLOSED K * * *
TRAFFIC LANES ON THE NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAYS OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) TO FACILITATE ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.
FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO 19 BETWEEN 9 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY THE SOUTHBOUND SECTION BETWEEN THE TUNNEL TOLL PLAZA AND HUNG MIU KUK INTERCHANGE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, WHILE THE NORTHBOUND SECTION WILL BE CLOSED FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO 16 BETWEEN 11 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHBOUND SECTION BETWEEN HUNG MIU KUK INTERCHANGE AND SHA TIN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM FEBRUARY 23 TO MARCH 2 BETWEEN 9 PM AND 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND THE NORTHBOUND SECTION FROM FEBRUARY 23 TO 26 BETWEEN 11 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
AS TRAFFIC DELAY IS EXPECTED DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS SHOULD DRIVE WITH PATIENCE AND CARE.
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/19........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1987
- 19 -
EDINBURGH PLACE NORTH CLOSED FOR CHARITY RIDE
*****
EDINBURGH PLACE NORTH BETWEEN QUEEN’S PIER AND HMS TAMAR WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 6.30 AM TO 9 AM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12).
THE MOVE IS TO FACILITATE THE LAUNCHING OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE +RIDE THE TAXI FOR THE CHEST+ FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN.
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SPEED LIMIT ON SHA TAU KOK ROAD
*****
A SECTION OF SHA TAU KOK ROAD WILL BE SUBJECT TO A SPEED LIMIT CF 50 KILOMETRES PER HOUR FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13).
THE AFFECTED SECTION RUNS FROM A POINT OF ABOUT 100 METRES SOUTH OF SHA HO BRIDGE TO A POINT OF ABOUT 750 METRES SOUTH OF THE ERIDGE.
0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED. 1
DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY APPOINTED ..................... 1
PRAISED FOR PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ........ 2
KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE ON THE AG’UDA ............. 2
SPECIAL DRIVING INSTRUCTORS' LICENCE APPLICATION CLOSING ... 3
EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS VISIT SEX EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE 4
FLYOVER ACROSS CASTLE PEAK ROAD HIOPOSED ................ 5
CROSS BORDER PERMIT OFFICE MOVING ....................... 5
VARIETY SHOW TO CLOSE LUNAR NEU YEAR PROGRAMME........... 6
TENDERS INVITED FOR WORKSHOP, STORAGE SITES ............. 6
NEW WATER PUNTING STATION FOR CHAI WAN AREA ............. 7
NT EAST INTER-DISTRICT WORKING CROUP TO MEET............. 7
LABOUR RELATIONS TO HOST SPRING RECEPTION ............... 7
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN ABERDEEN ............................. 8
PROHIBITED ZONES ON HONG KONG ISLAND
8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
1
LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED *****
THE BOARD OF THE PROVISIONAL LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
HAS APPOINTED MR ABRAHAM RAZACK AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CORPORATION AND HE WILL TAKE UP THE APPOINTMENT WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1 FOR THREE YEARS.
MR RAZACK IS CURRENTLY COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON CORPORATION AND PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED A NUMBER OF HIGH-LEVEL POSTS IN THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY HERE AND IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
HIS DUTIES AS COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR HAVE INCLUDED THE NEGOTIATION OF SEVERAL LARGE-SCALE PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
MR GRAHAM BARNES, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SAID THAT MAJOR FACTORS IN THE SELECTION OF MR RAZACK FOR THE POST HAD BEEN HIS FINANCIAL EXPERTISE, ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP ABILITY. THESE, COMBINED WITH HIS RECENTLY-ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPERTY MARKET AND SELF-EVIDENT ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM, WOULD MAKE HIM AN IDEAL CANDIDATE.
THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE FOR THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS THE FIRST PRACTICAL STEP TOWARDS ESTABLISHING THE CORPORATION. AT THE SAME TIME DRAFT LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED WHICH IT IS HOPED TO ENACT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY APPOINTED
*****
A SPOKESMAN FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT MR PAUL LEUNG SAI-WAH, AGED 39, HAS BEEN APPOINTED DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.
MR LEUNG, WHO JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1971 AND IS CURRENTLY THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, WILL TAKE UP HIS POST ON MARCH 16.
HE REPLACES MR KEVIN MAK WHO HAD EARLIER BEEN APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES.
0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
2
PRAISED FOR PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES
*****
WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE DISTRICT CAN BE FURTHER IMPROVED THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND THE PROVISION OF MORE CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT SPRING FESTIVAL CARNIVAL AT THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND, MR GARCIA SAID THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE AREA COMMITTEES HAD CONTRIBUTED A LOT IN IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT.
HE PRAISED THE CARNIVAL’S ORGANISER, THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, FOR ORGANISING A NUMBER OF MAJOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT DURING THE PAST YEAR.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAD RAISED ENOUGH FUNDS FOR A CLUB PREMISES UNDER THE TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, URBAN COUNCIL MEMBER, MR SAMUEL WONG-DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR LEE KON- CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE CARNIVAL, MR HO YUK-WING- AND PRESIDENT OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ARTS, CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR HO PAK-TO.
HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS WATCHED THE SINGING, DRAMA AND CANTONESE OPERATIC PERFORMANCES AND SHARED THE FUN IN GAMES STALLS PUT UP AT THE CARNIVAL.
THE CARNIVAL IS ORGANISED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AND SPONSORED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
- - 0 - -
KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE ON THE AGENDA * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY CLEARANCE BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION (SPECIAL DUTIES), MR H.T. LUI, AT THEIR 13TH MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
AT THE SAME TIME, A DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR FONG PUI -SHEUNG, WILL SUBMIT A PAPER URL I NG THE GOVERNMENT TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL RELICS OF THE WALLET CITY AND TURN THEM INTO ATTRACTIONS FOR VISITORS.
/members will
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE ROUND-THE CLOCK HOTLINE SERVICE TO COLLECT VIEWS FROM RESIDENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT AND COMMUNITY MATTERS.
ANOTHER ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE PROPOSED OCCUPATION ARRANGEMENT FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL KOWLOON CITY COMPLEX.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 2.15 PM TOMORROW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 141 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD. THE MEETING WILL BE IN CHINESE AND NO SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE.
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SPECIAL DRIVING INSTRUCTORS’ LICENCE APPLICATION CLOSING
*****
APPLICANTS FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS’ LICENCES ARE REMINDED TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY 4 PM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13) AT THE LATEST.
+COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SHA TIN DRIVING TEST OFFICE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 0-6061676,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
DRIVERS WHO HAVE HELD A DRIVING LICENCE FOR ALL KINDS OF GOODS VEHICLES FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS WERE INVITED LAST MONTH TO APPLY FOR THE ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS’ LICENCE, THE FIRST EVER TO BE ISSUED.
AN APPLICANT MUST ALSO HAVE GOOD DRIVING SKILL, BE FULLY CONVERSANT WITH THE ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION AND DRIVING INSTRUCTION RULES AND MUST NOT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY SERIOUS TRAFFIC OFFENCES DURING THE FIVE YEARS PRECEDING HIS APPLICATION.
SINCE APPLICATION OPENED ON JANUARY 14, OVER 1 000 FORMS HAVE BEEN HANDED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT AND ABOUT 500 FORMAL APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW FIRST AND THOSE WHO PASS WILL THEN HAVE TO SIT FOR A WRITTEN TEST FOLLOWED BY A ROAD TEST.
/INTERVIEWS........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 198?
- 4 -
INTERVIEWS FOR THE FIRST LOT OF APPLICANTS WILL START NEXT MONDAY (FEBRUARY 16) AND ROAD TESTS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT THE END OF THE MONTH. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE FIRST DRIVING INSTRUCTORS’ LICENCE FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLES COULD BE ISSUED BY THE END OF MARCH.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE MOVE TO LICENSE DRIVING INSTRUCTORS FOR ARTICULATED VEHICLES IS TO TIE IN WITH THE EXPIRY OF THE THREE-YEAR TRANSITIONAL PERIOD STIPULATED IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS AFTER WHICH HOLDERS OF THE +ALL GOODS VEHICLES+ DRIVING LICENCE ISSUED BEFORE AUGUST 25 1984 WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES.
♦WHEN THE GRACE PERIOD EXPIRES ON AUGUST 24 THIS YEAR, THOSE LEARNING TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY LICENSED DRIVING INSTRUCTORS JUST AS PRIVATE CAR LEARNER DRIVERS ARE,+ HE NOTED.
-------0----------
EDUCATION BOARD MEMBERS VISIT SEX EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE X X X X *
SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING VISITED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S SEX EDUCATION RESOURCE CENTRE AT NORTH POINT WHICH PROVIDES CENTRAL REFERENCE, INFORMATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES ON THE TEACHING OF SEX EDUCATION IN SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
THEY WERE MISS MARION FANG, PROFESSOR B.L. COOKE, MR CHAN YING-LUN, MR TAM MAN-KWAN, MR TIMOTHY HA, MRS PEGGY LAM AND MR M. PAGLIARI.
ACCOMPANYING THE MEMBERS ON THE VISIT WERE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MR SO FAI-CHO, AND PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (GEOGRAPHY, SOCIAL STUDIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION), MR CHU SAU-KUEN.
THE MEMBERS SHOWED INTEREST IN THE DISPLAY AT THE CENTRE WHICH INCLUDED A VARIETY OF RESOURCE MATERIALS AND AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS SUCH AS BOOKS, TEACHING KITS, MODELS, TAPES AND SLIDES.
THE VISITORS WERE TOLD THAT MORE THAN 530 TEACHERS HAD VISITED THE CENTRE, INCLUDING 12 GROUP VISITS, SINCE THE CENTRE OPENED IN EARLY DECEMBER.
- 0
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
5
FLYOVER ACROSS CASTLE PEAK ROAD PROPOSED
*****
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT A FLYOVER ACROSS CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT SHA TSUI ROAD TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC AT THE TSUEN KING CIRCUIT - CASTLE PEAK ROAD JUNCTION.
the project includes constructing a footbridge under the FLYOVER AND A SUBWAY, WIDENING A SECTION OF SHA TSUI ROAD AND BUILDING A SECTION OF ROAD LINKING THE NORTHERN END OF THE FLYOVER WITH THE EXISTING CIRCUIT.
DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING WORKS WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED.
THERE WILL BE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC DIVERSION DURING THE WORKS PERIOD AND TRAFFIC FLOW WILL BE MAINTAINED.
ON COMPLETION OF THE WORKS, THE AT-GRADE JUNCTIONS OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND ON YUK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND SHA TSUI ROAD, SHA TSUI ROAD AND PAK TIN PAR STREET, THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD NEAR SHA TSUI ROAD, THE RIGHT TURNING LANE ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO SHA TSUI ROAD AND A SECTION OF PAK TIN PAR STREET WILL BE CLOSED.
ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE WORKS SHOULD WRITE TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT BY APRIL 7.
-------0---------
CROSS BORDER PERMIT OFFICE MOVING
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 16) THE CROSS BORDER PERMIT OFFICE CURRENTLY SITUATED AT 61 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, WILL MOVE TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION (TEL: O-6O65336).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR CLOSED ROAD PERMITS FOR EITHER MAN KAM TO OR SHA TAU KOK SHOULD GO TO THE NEW OFFICE FROM THAT DAY, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
AFTER THE REMOVAL, OFFICE HOURS OF THE CROSS BORDER PERMIT OFFICE WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 AM TO 12.45 PM
2 PM TO 4.30 PM
SATURDAY 9 AM TO 12.30 PM
FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING THE INFORMATION OFFICE ON 3-7333111.
- - 0 - -
/6
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987 .
6
VARIETY SHOW TO CLOSE LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME * * * * *
ABOUT 800 TAI PO RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO A VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE TO MARK THE END OF THE DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME.
BEGINNING AT 8 PM, THE VARIETY SHOW WILL FEATURE CHINESE SONGS, POPULAR MUSIC, DANCES, A MAGIC SHOW AND ACROBATICS.
THE NEW YEAR PROGRAMME WAS ORGANISED BY THE 1987 TAI PO DISTRICT LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMME CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG RESIDENTS AND TO CULTIVATE A FESTIVE ATMOSPHERE.
APART FROM TOMORROW’S VARIETY SHOW, OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED 12 GALA EVENTS STAGED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, VILLAGES AND TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, A DISCO NIGHT, BASKETBALL AND BADMINTON COMPETITIONS AND A FEAST FOR SOME 1 500 ELDERLY.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE SHOW HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO RESIDENTS THROUGH THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, ITS SUB-OFFICES AND THE CIVIC CENTRE.
OFFICIATING AT THE VARIETY SHOW AND THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR PETER NG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT AT 8 PM TOMORROW AT THE TAI PO CIVIC CENTRE, ON PONG ROAD, TAI PO.
------0-------
TENDERS INVITED FOR WORKSHOP, STORAGE SITES
******
EIGHT WORKSHOP SITES IN SAI KUNG AND A STORAGE SITE IN WONG CHUK HANG ARE BEING OFFERED ON SHORT-TERM TENANCIES BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THE SAI KUNG SITES, EACH MEASURING 135 SQUARE METRES, ARE SITUATED AT TUI MIN HOI.
THE INITIAL TENANCY IS FOR THREE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE WONG CHUK HANG SITE MEASURES 640 SQUARE METRES AND CAN BE USED FOR OPEN STORAGE OF THE TENANT’S GOODS, VEHICLES (EXCLUDING CONTAINERS), CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS EXCLUDING THE OPERATION OF A CONCRETE BATCHING PLANT.
THE INITIAL TENANCY IS FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY
afterwards.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON FEBRUARY 27.
------0-------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
- 7 -
NEW WATER PUMPING STATION FOR CHAI WAN AREA *****
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS TO BUILD A FRESH WATER PUMPING STATION IN CHAI WAN ROAD NEAR TAI TAM ROAD TO COPE WITH AN INCREASE IN DEMAND IN THE AREA.
TENDERS FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION, ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED MAINLAYING WORKS, ARE BEING INVITED.
WORK ON THE NEW STATION IS EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL AND TAKE ABOUT 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. IT WILL BE A REINFORCED CONCRETE BUILDING WITH BASEMENT TO HOUSE PIPEWORKS.
------0-------
NT EAST INTER-DISTRICT WORKING GROUP TO MEET * * * *
THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL AND APPROACHES FEASIBILITY STUDY REPORT WILL BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION AT THE NEW TERRITORIES EAST INTER-DISTRICT WORKING GROUP MEETING ON LION ROCK TUNNEL TRAFFIC PROBLEM TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED BUS ONLY LANE AT THE LION ROCK TUNNEL.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOH ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 9.30 AM TOMORROW ON THE SIXTH FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, KCR HOUSE.
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LABOUR RELATIONS TO HOST SPRING RECEPTION * * * *
THE LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL HOST A SPRING RECEPTION TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 3 PM ON THE 25TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL.
ABOUT 500 GUESTS FROM MAJOR EMPLOYERS’ AND EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATIONS, TRADE UNIONS AND PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES HAVE BEEN INVITED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
------0--------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1987
8
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN ABERDEEN * * * * JI-
MOTOR I STS ARE URGED TO WATCH OUT FOR TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN ABERDEEN FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13) IN CONNECTION WITH ROAD WORK ON CHENGTU ROAD.
FUNG TIN STREET BETWEEN ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD AND NAM NING STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY NORTFWEST-BOUND TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE SAME ROAD SECTION WILL BECOME A 24-HOUR DAILY URBAN CLEARWAY WITHIN WHICH NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS. IN ADDITION, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE BANNED FROM THE ROAD SECTION FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
OTHER ROADS IN THE VICINITY WILL ALSO BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS OPERATING ROUND-THE-CLOCK. THESE INCLUDE A SMALL SECTION OF NAM NING STREET AND THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD NEAR THEIR JUNCTIONS WITH FUNG TIN STREET WHERE THE URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IN FORCE FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS.
MEANWHILE, THE URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS ON A SECTION OF CHENGTU ROAD BETWEEN ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD AND WU PAK STREET, AND SECTIONS OF LOK YEUNG STREET, SAI ON STREET AND NAM NING STREET NEAR THEIR JUNCTIONS WITH CHENGTU ROAD WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR ABOUT TEN WEEKS.
BESIDES, NO VEHICLE EXCEEDING FOUR TONNES GROSS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SECTION OF LOK YEUNG STREET BETWEEN TUNG SING ROAD AND CHENGTU ROAD FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
AFFECTED VEHICLES, INCLUDING BUSES ON ROUTES 70, 70M, 72 AND 107, WILL BE DIVERTED TO ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD WESTBOUND AND CHENGTU ROAD ON THEIR JOURNEYS TO ABERDEEN.
BUS STOPS FOR THE ABOVE ROUTES ON THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF THIS SECTION OF LOK YEUNG STREET WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.
- - 0
PROHIBITED ZONES ON HONG KONG ISLAND * * X * *
NO VEHICLE EXCEEDING 10 TONNES GROSS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER SEVERN ROAD ON THE PEAK FROM ITS WESTERN JUNCTION WITH PLANTATION ROAD FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14).
AT THE SAME TIME, ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT TAXIS WILL BE BANNED FROM THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO THE TAXI STAND ON DRAKE STREET AT ADMIRALTY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW GOVERNOR ARRIVING APRIL 9 ................................. 1
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING GOVERNOR ................................ 1
WRONG TO PREDICT OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS - SIR DrtVID ........ 2
AWARENESS OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS +A HEALTHY SIGN+ .......... 5
OVERSEAS EDUCATION PURSUIT aN ENCOURAGING SIGN ................ 5
SIR DAVID VISITS WELFARE FACILITIES ........................... 6
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS AT WORK OF EPD .......................... 7
UK EDUCATION SECRETARY VISITS TECHNICAL SCHOOL ................ 8
NEW HONG KONG ASSOCIATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA .............. 9
EXTERNAL TRhDE STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER AND 1986 RELEASED ... 10
Latest statistics on «ids surveillance programme released .. 19
TELEVISION, SOUND BROaDCASTING SURVEY TO START MONDAY ........ 21
NEED FOR FIRST-CLhSS CRAFTSMEN STRESSED ...................... 21
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR REPLACING AEROBRIDGES ................... 22
FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL FOR KOWLOON CITY ........................ 22
FOLK aRT CARNIVAL FOR CENTRAL, WESTERN DISTRICT .............. 2?
LUNaR NEW YEAR BruLL FOR 400 YOUTHS .......................... 24
COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS RENT aND ENVIRONMENT .................... 25
DISCUSSION ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN PaK TIN ................... 25
CARPENTER ROAD TO BE WIDENED................................ 26
PLB PROHIBITED ZONE SET UP IN YUEN LONG ...................... 26
ROaD CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ...................... 26
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
1
NEW GOVERNOR ARRIVING APRIL 9 *****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG IN THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 9. HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LADY WILSON AND THEIR YOUNGER SON ANDREW.
FOLLOWING TRADITIONAL PRACTICE, SIR DAVID WILL INSPECT A GUARD OF HONOUR AT QUEEN'S PIER AND WILL BE SWORN-IN AT CITY HALL. DETAILED ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CEREMONY WILL BE ANNOUNCED ONCE THEY ARE FINALISED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT SIR DAVID HAS DECIDED WHEN HE ASSUMES THE GOVERNORSHIP TO ADOPT A NEW CHINESE NAME THAT IS A MORE ACCURATE REFLECTION IN CANTONESE OF HIS ENGLISH NAME. HE WILL BE KNOWN AS WEI YIXIN (CANTONESE WAI YIK-SHUN).
- 0 - -
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING GOVERNOR * * * *
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUITY OF SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES’S APPOINTMENT AS ACTING GOVERNOR.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SIR DAVID ASSUMED THE DUTIES OF ACTING GOVERNOR UNDER ARTICLE XVI I(1)(B) OF THE LETTERS PATENT WHICH PROVIDES THAT WHEN THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR IS VACANT AND NO PERSON IS SPECIFICALLY APPOINTED BY THE QUEEN UNDER ARTICLE XVIl(l)(A) THE DUTIES OF GOVERNOR SHALL FALL ON +THE PERSON LAWFULLY DISCHARGING THE FUNCTIONS OF CHIEF SECRETARY*.
WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF MR DAVID FORD TO THE SUBSTANTIVE RANK OF CHIEF SECRETARY ON FEBRUARY 12, IT BECAME NECESSARY TO REGULARISE SIR DAVID’S POSITION.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS THEREFORE BEEN PLEASED TO DESIGNATE BY INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XVIl(l)(A) OF THE LETTERS PATENT SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES TO ASSUME AND PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS AND OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
- - 0 - -
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987'
2
WRONG TO PREDICT OUTCOME OF CONSULTATIONS - SIR DAVID
*****
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY said that it would be wrong now to predict the outcome CONSULTATIONS ON HONG KONG’S POLITICAL REFORMS AND THE
(THURSDAY) OF
BASIC LAW.
SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING A BRITISH EDUCATION FAIR.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON REMARKS BY MR LU PING, DEPUTY SECRETARYGENERAL OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN KUNMING YESTERDAY, SIR DAVID SAID THE HONG KONG AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE CONSULTING HONG KONG OPINION ON POLITICAL REFORMS LATER ON THIS YEAR.
HE NOTED THAT CONSULTATION WAS ALSO GOING ON WITH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ABOUT THE BASIC LAW.
+ NOW, THESE TWO PROCESSES OF CONSULTATION, WHILE THEY ARE GOING ON IN PARALLEL, THE CONSULTATION IS WITH THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE,* HE SAID.
+AND I HOPE THE HONG KONG PEOPLE WILL GIVE THE SAME SORT OF RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATIONS FROM THESE TWO DIRECTIONS.*
HE STRESSED THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG NOW TO PREDICT THE OUTCOME OF THE CONSULTATIONS WHEN HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEM, AND A GREEN PAPER WAS TO BE PUBLISHED LATER ON.
SIR DAVID’S REMARKS WERE ECHOED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, WHEN HE SPOKE TO REPORTERS AFTER A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE YOUNGER MANAGERS’ CLUB.
MR FORD SAID: +IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT TRY TO LEAD PUBLIC OPINION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT WHAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT HAPPEN AT THE END OF THIS EXERCISE.
+ 1 THINK THERE IS A DANGER THAT BY DRAWING PEOPLE OUT AT THIS STAGE BEFORE THEY HAVE SEEN THE GREEN PAPER AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH THEIR POSITIONS AT THIS STAGE BEFORE THE GREEN PAPER IS EVEN PUBLISHED IS NOT VERY HELPFUL DEVELOPMENT FOR HONG KONG.*
HE STRESSED THAT THE CONSULTATIONS WOULD BE GENUINE EXERCISES, AND HE ADVISED PEOPLE TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS FREELY ABOUT HOW THEY BEST SEE THE FUTURE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, +AND I THINK THAT, AT THIS STAGE, WE CAN DO NO MORE.*
/MR FORD
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 198?
- 3 -
MR FORD ADDED THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO DISCUSS, AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH POINT TO SPECULATE AT THIS STAGE, ON WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AT THE END OF THE CONSULTATION EXERCISES UNTIL PUBLIC OPINION WAS KNOWN.
HE SAID THE GREEN PAPER WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN MAY AND THERE WOULD BE A CONSULTATION PERIOD OF ABOUT FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, FOLLOWING WHICH A WHITE PAPER WOULD BE PUBLISHED PROBABLY EARLY NEXT YEAR.
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE TO CONSIDER PUBLIC OPINION, HE SAID A DECISION WOULD BE MADE WITHIN ONE MONTH’S TIME.
♦IT WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BY THE TIME THE GREEN PAPER IS ISSUED, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN MAY. SO ALL THE MECHANISMS, IF WE HAVE AN OFFICE, WILL OBVIOUSLY BE WELL ORGANISED IN TIME FOR THE ISSUE OF THE GREEN PAPER IN MAY,+ MR FORD ADDED.
SPEAKING ABOUT HIS FIRST DAY AS CHIEF SECRETARY, MR FORD SAID HE FELT +VERY PLEASED+ AND +HONOURED+.
HE SAID HIS FIRST PRIORITY WAS TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY WAS IN GOOD HEART, WORKING WELL, SENSITIVE TO PUBLIC OPINION, HAD A HIGH MORALE AND WAS AN EFFICIENT ORGANISATION.
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AWARENESS OF RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS + A HEALTHY SIGN+ * * * * M-
THE FACT THAT OUR COMMUNITY NOW HAS A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AND OF THE AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO LAY A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UP TO AND AFTER 1997 IS A HEALTHY SIGN, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
IN HIS FIRST SPEECH AS CHIEF SECRETARY, MR FORD TOLD MEMBERS OF THE YOUNGER MANAGERS’ CLUB THAT PUBLIC OPINION WOULD DECIDE THE FUTURE SHAPE OF THE GOVERNMENT.
♦THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY COMMITTED TO A GENUINE REVIEW DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN 1987,+ HE SAID.
OF
A GREEN PAPER WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN MAY TO CONSULT THE PUBLIC ON A WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
+WHATEVER EMERGES FROM THE 1987 REVIEW, IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT NOT ONLY IS THE FACE OF GOVERNMENT LIKELY TO CHANGE BUT ITS STYLE ALSO,* HE CONTINUED.
/SPEAKING ON
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 4 -
SPEAKING ON +THE CHANGING FACE OF GOVERNMENT*, MR FORD SAID CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD HAVE TO BECOME MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC NEEDS? THE PATERNALISTIC STYLE OF GOVERNMENT WOULD NO LONGER MEET PRESENT DAY ASPIRATIONS.
+ BUT THAT SAID, BOTH THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PUBLIC MUST LEARN TO ACCOMMODATE EACH OTHER IN THEIR CHANGING ROLES AND THERE ARE COMPROMISES TO BE MADE ON BOTH SIDES,* HE ADDED.
DESCRIBING THE ECONOMY AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR AFFECTING HONG KONG’S FUTURE, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EXTEND ITS ACTIVITIES TO CREATE A FAVOURABLE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AGAINST THE RISE OF PROTECTIONISM.
+QUITE UNPRECEDENTED HAS BEEN THE NEW ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR, SENIOR MEMBERS OF OMELCO AND OFFICIALS WHO HAVE ALL ENGAGED IN THE FREQUENT SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY BETWEEN HONG KONG, THE UNITED STATES, EUROPE AND THE ASIAN COUNTRIES IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS,* MR FORD SAID.
STRESSING THAT ALL WOULD CONTINUE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE UNITED EFFORT AGAINST PROTECTIONISM WHICH STILL THREATENED US IN 1987, MR FORD SAID THE MAIN CONCERN WOULD BE THE UNITED STATES WHICH ABSORBED OVER 45 PER CENT OF OUR EXPORTS.
A PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANTS FIRM HAD JUST COMPLETED A STUDY TO EVALUATE HONG KONG’S IMAGE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS STRATEGY IN THE U.S.
+IN EUROPE A HONG KONG CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN BRUSSELS IN MAY AND A HIGH POWERED DELEGATION WILL ATTEND FROM HONG KONG.
+IN ASIA OUR PRIMARY OBJECT IS TO OPEN UP THE JAPANESE MARKET AND HERE AGAIN THE GOVERNMENT IS CLOSELY INVOLVED IN CO-ORDINATING EFFORTS AND IN THE PLANNING OF THE STRATEGY.*
ON ECONOMIC DI VERS IFICAI ON, MR FORD SAID: +FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT AND TRAINING.
+WITH THE PROVISION OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, WE HAVE NOW MOVED INTO THE AREA OF GRANTING LAND ON COMPETITORS TERMS TO INDUSTRIES WHICH WILL HELP HONG KONG DIVERSIFY ITS PRODUCTS AND BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED.
+MORE WILL BE DONE IN THE YEARS AHEAD TO PROVIDE BETTER MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR STAFF AT SUPERVISORY AND MID-MANAGEMENT LEVELS IN DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.*
THE APPLICATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES WOULD BE PROMOTED AND THE SCOPE OF THE EXISTING CONSULTANCY SERVICES EXTENDED, HE SAID.
/+WE WILL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 5 -
+WE WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH QUALITY PROMOTION TO GAIN 1NJERNATIONAL recognition for our calibration and test certificates and examine THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING RECOGNITION FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN TESTING LABORATORIES TO RECOGNITION FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION,+ MR FORD SAID.
+AS REGARDS INWARD INVESTMENT PROMOTION, WE WILL ENDEAVOUR TO IMPROVE THE MECHANISM FOR TARGETTING FOREIGN MANUFACTURING FIRMS, TO DEVELOP CONTACTS WITH FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS WITH A VIEW TO FACILITATING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TO STRENGTHEN OUR OVERSEAS PROMOTION OFF ICES.+
TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, MR FORD SAID IN THE LAST TWO DECADES +OUR POLICY HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT NON-INTERVENTI ON IST+.
+AN ADMINISTRATION WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HOUSING HALF THE POPULATION THROUGH ITS PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME, WHICH PROVIDES COMPULSORY FREE EDUCATION AND PROTECTED LABOUR LEGISLATION, WHICH PROVIDES HEAVILY SUBSIDISED MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES CAN HARDLY BE DESCRIBED AS NON-INTERVENTION I ST IN SOCIAL TERMS.
♦ THERE SHOULD BE NO ILLUSION HOWEVER THAT HONG KONG IS MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF A WELFARE STATE WITH ALL THAT HAS COME TO MEAN IN TERMS OF WESTERN DEMOCRACIES.*
HOWEVER, MR FORD ADDED, WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A CAPITALIST ECONOMY, WHICH THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS GUARANTEED FORLEAST 50 YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE THE FIRST TO RECOGNISE MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO FURTHER IMPROVE THE WELFARE AND QUALITY OF THE'
50 YEARS
COMMUNITY.
LOOKING AHEAD, HE SAID FRESH INITIATIVES AND A NEW DETERMINATION WERE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE WHAT THE NEW GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID WILSON, HAD ALREADY INDICATED — +THAT WE SHOULD BE
A HUMANE GOVERNMENT*.
-----0------
OVERSEAS EDUCATION PURSUIT AN ENCOURAGING SIGN * * * * *
THE PURSUIT OF OVERSEAS EDUCATION BY SOME 10 000 LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE EACH YEAR IS A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRENGTH FOR THEY WILL BRING BACK WITH THEM THE KNOWLEDGE TO BETTER EXPLOIT THE NATURAL ASSET OF HONG KONG’S GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
TO EXPLOIT SUCH AN ASSET OF HONG KONG’S LOCATION ON THE WORLD MAP, MUCH WOULD DEPEND ON HONG KONG’S ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEMS OF OTHER NATIONS, TO SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE AND TO MATCH THEIR STANDARDS.
/SPEAKING AT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 6 -
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE BRITISH EDUCATION EXHIBITION SIR DAVID SAID WITH THE RETURN OF THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS, THEY COULD GO ON BUILDING THE HONG KONG OF THE FUTURE AND MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE REGION AND THE DESTINY OF THIS UNIQUE CITY.
+THEY WILL RETURN BRINGING WITH THEM A FAMILIARITY WITH THE TOOLS OF LEARNING, THE TOOLS OF INDUSTRY, AND MOREOVER FRIENDSHIP FOR THE COUNTRIES IN WHICH THEY HAVE STUDIED,* HE SAID.
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT THE TWO MAJOR ASSETS OF HONG KONG WERE ITS GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND ITS PEOPLE.
+IF WE ARE GOING TO MEET THE GROWING ASPIRATIONS OF OUR PEOPLE AND FULFIL OUR DESTINY, WE MUST EXPLOIT THEM TO THE FULL,* HE SAID.
IT WAS, HOWEVER, MOST UNLIKELY THAT HONG KONG WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEED AND THE DEMAND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FROM ITS OWN RESOURCES.
SIR DAVID SAID THE FIRST BRITISH EDUCATION EXHIBITION, WITH THE OBJECT OF CULTIVATING HUMAN ASSET, CAME AT A MOST OPPORTUNE TIME.
+THIS EXHIBITION IS INDICATIVE OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM PLACES ON STRENTHEN ING THE RELATIONSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN US,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE NOW ABOUT 11 OOO STUDENTS FROM HONG KONG IN BRITAIN AND 6 000 OF THEM WERE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
--------o ---------
SIR DAVID VISITS WELFARE FACILITIES * * H * X
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED WELFARE FACILITIES RUN BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND A BOYS’ HOME OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SIR DAVID FIRST VISITED PO LEUNG KUK WHERE HE WAS GREETED BY MEMBERS OF THE KUK’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MRS LISA CHEE, THEN LED THE PARTY ON A GUIDED TOUR OF THE BABIES SECTION AND THE SHELTERED WORKSHOP.
/THE SECTION
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 7 -
THE SECTION PROVIDES DAY CARE AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO 112 BABIES WHILE THE WORKSHOP CATERS FOR 60 HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
SIR DAVID THEN VISITED THE PUI CHI BOYS’ HOME OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR 60 BOYS AGED SEVEN TO 14 WHO HAD BEEN SENT THERE EITHER UNDER PROBATION ORDER OR CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER.
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOME, MR TSANG YIU-CHO, BRIEFED SIR DAVID ON THE TRAINING PROGRAMME, THE EMPHASIS OF WHICH IS ON PREPARING BOYS FOR EVENTUAL RETURN TO NORMAL SCHOOLING.
HE ALSO TOURED THE PREMISES AND CHATTED WITH BOYS PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS CLASSES INCLUDING FOLK DANCE, MODEL-MAKING, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND BASKETBALL TRAINING.
SIR DAVID THEN WENT TO THE BAPTIST 01 KWAN SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE WHICH HE OPENED IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IN 1982.
HE TOURED THE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE BUILDING WHERE A GROUP OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE LEARNING ENGLISH WHILE ANOTHER GROUP WAS HAVING THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE TAKEN.
SIR DAVID FINALLY VISITED THE LILY VALE COMMUNITY COFFEE SHOP IN THE CENTRE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE USUALLY GATHER FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE EVENING.
--------o----------
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS AT WORK OF EPD
*****
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON VISITED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT TO SEE HOW IT OPERATES AND HOW HONG KONG IS TACKLING THE FIGHT AGAINST POLLUTION.
HE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, AND SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS.
MR FORD WAS GIVEN A GENERAL VIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES SINCE ITS REORGANISATION AND EXPANSION IN APRIL LAST YEAR.
/THESE include
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 8 -
THESE INCLUDE THE FORMULATION OF POLICY IN WATER AND AIR POLLUTION; NOISE, WASTES MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT; PLANNING FOR THE DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTES AND WASTE WATERS I ENFORCEMENT OF POLLUTION CONTROL LEGISLATION AND THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF MAJOR POLICIES AND DEVELOPMENT
HE WAS ALSO TOLD OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MORE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COMING 12 MONTHS WHICH INCLUDE THE ISSUE OF THE NOISE CONTROL BILL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, ENFORCEMENT OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS IN THE FIRST WATER CONTROL ZONE IN TOLO HARBOUR, THE REVISED AND REINFORCED SCHEME FOR VEHICLE SMOKE EMISSIONS CONTROL AND THE REVIEW OF THE SEWAGE DISPOSAL STRATEGY FOR THE TERRITORY.
THE BRIEFING WAS FOLLOWED BY A SHORT TOUR AROUND THE DEPARTMENT IN WHICH MR FORD WAS ABLE TO FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH THE WORK OF ITS TWO MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE-ENGINEERING DIVISIONS COVERING WASTE-WATER AND AIR-NOISE.
HE WAS ALSO SHOWN SOME OF THE SOPHISTICATED MONITORING AND TEST EQUIPMENT AND THE PROCEDURES THAT THE DEPARTMENT USES TO TACKLE EXISTING POLLUTION PROBLEMS AND HOW TO PREVENT THE OCCURENCE OF NEW ONES.
--------0 --------
UK EDUCATION SECRETARY VISITS TECHNICAL SCHOOL
*****
THE VISITING SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE, MR KENNETH BAKER TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE TANG SHlU KIN VICTORIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT SECONDARY LEVEL IN HONG KONG.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, MR BAKER WAS GIVEN A CONDUCTED TOUR OF THE SCHOOL PREMISES BY THE PRINCIPAL, MR PAUL LU I.
DURING THE HOUR-LONG VISIT, HE WAS TOLD HOW COMMERCIAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COULD BE EFFECTIVELY BLENDED INTO THE CURRICULUM WHICH ALSO AIMED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH GENERAL ACADEMIC EDUCATION CONSISTING OF ENGLISH, CHINESE, MATHEMATICS, ARTS AND SCIENCE SUBJECTS.
HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BOYS IN THE SCHOOL WERE OFFERED A GENERAL DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY COURSE UP TO FORM 2 BEFORE THEY WERE STREAMED INTO EITHER METAL OR WOOD BIASED CLASSES. ^IRl-S WERE OFFERED THE OPTIONS OF EITHER THE SCIENCE, COMMERCE OR HOME ECONOMICS STREAM.
MR BAKER NOTED THAT THE SCHOOL OFFERED MATRICULATION CLASSES FOR STUDENTS PREPARED TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES IN ENGINEERING AND SOCIAL SCIENCE IN UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS.
-------0 - -
/9........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 9 -
NEW HONG KONG ASSOCIATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA *****
HONG KONG’S SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, MR BILL DORWARD, TODAY (HK TIME) REITERATED THAT HONG KONG OFFERS OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN INTERESTS AS A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.
MR DORWARD WAS SPEAKING IN LOS ANGELES AT THE FIRST SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THIS IS THE THIRD SUCH ASSOCIATION TO BE LAUNCHED IN THE UNITED STATES, AFTER NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO.
WELCOMING ITS FORMATION, HE SAID SUCH ASSOCIATIONS FURTHER STRENGTHEN HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC LINKS WITH THE UNITED STATES, BRINGING TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH OR AN INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND OFFERING SPEAKERS TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON HONG KONG’S FAST-CHANGING COMMUNITY.
HE SUGGESTED THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR TWO REASONS: +FIRST HONG KONG OFFERS AND WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN INTERESTS AS A PLACE IN WHICH, WITH WHICH AND THROUGH WHICH TO DO COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND MOST OTHER KINDS OF BUSINESS.
+SECONDLY, THE UNITED STATES HAS A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN FURTHERING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY THROUGH THE PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONALISATION OF THIS REMARKABLE CITY WHICH SITS STRATEGICALLY AT THE CENTRE OF A WHEEL WHICH COMPASSES ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF THIS PLANET. +
STRESSING THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS TO MUTUAL ADVANTAGE, MR DORWARD SAID THAT HONG KONG OFFERS THE UNITED STATES THE FREEST MAJOR MARKET IN ITS OWN RIGHT AS WELL AS THE MOST EFFICIENT AND CONVENIENT BASE FOR REGIONAL ACTIVITIES ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE PACIFIC RIM.
+TODAY OVER 16 OOO AMERCIAN CITIZENS LIVE AND WORK IN HONG KONG AND OVER 900 AMERICAN OR AMERCI AN-CONTROLLED FIRMS ARE LOCATED THERE, INCLUDING 19 BANKS, 46 INSURANCE COMPANIES AND OVER 140 MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS.+
MR DORWARD SAID THAT HONG KONG SOLD ABOUT #8 BILLION OF ITS OWN PRODUCTS TO THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR AND BOUGHT ABOUT S3 BILLION WORTH OF U.S. GOODS.
YET NOTING THAT THIS MIGHT LOOK AS IF HONG KONG IS CONTRIBUTING DISPROPORTIONATELY TO THE U.S. TRADE DEFICIT PROBLEM, MR DORWARD CITED THREE FACTORS IN HONG KONG’S FAVOUR.
/+FIRST, THERE.........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
10
+FIRST, THERE ARE NO BARRIERS TO U.S. EXPORTS, SO THAT THEIR VOLUME REFLECTS EITHER THEIR COMPETITIVENESS IN AN OPEN MARKET OR THE EFFORT WHICH HAS BEEN MADE TO SELL THEM.
+SECONDLY, THE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL BUT UNQUANTIFIABLE EARNINGS FROM THE SALE OF U.S. SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
+AND THIRDLY, THE PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION OF U.S. PRODUCTS BY THE FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILLION PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IS, AT AROUND $545, FAR HIGHER THAN IN THE MARKET OF ANY MAJOR U.S. TRADING PARTNER IN EUROPE OR ASIA.
+IF TAIWAN, SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN, FOR EXAMPLE. TOOK AS MUCH PER CAPITA, THE U.S. TRADE DEFICIT WOULD DISAPPEAR OVERNIGHT,+ MR DORWARD POINTED OUT.
------0 ------
EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER AND 1986 RELEASED * X * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED TRADE VALUE STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER AND THE WHOLE YEAR OF 1986. COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1985, TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN DECEMBER 1986, VALUED AT $55 459 MILLION, GREW BY 26 PER CENT.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 25 PER CENT TO $15 365 MILLION IN DECEMBER 1986 WHILE RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 33 PER CENT TO $12 626 MILLION, THUS BRINGING TOTAL EXPORTS IN DECEMBER 1986 TO $27 991 MILLION, 28 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN DECEMBER 1985. IMPORTS INCREASED BY 24 PER CENT TO $27 468 MILLION IN DECEMBER 1986.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO ALL MAJOR MARKETS INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS BETWEEN DECEMBER 1985 AND DECEMBER 1986. THE GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG TO JAPAN (86 PER CENT), CHINA (54 PER CENT), FRANCE (37 PER CENT), THE NETHERLANDS (34 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (25 PER CENT).
IMPORTS FROM MOST MAJOR SUPPLIERS GENERALLY INCREASED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1985 AND DECEMBER 1986 ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (78 PER CENT), TAIWAN (40 PER CENT), SWITZERLAND (32 PER CENT), CHINA (31 PER CENT) AND JAPAN (25 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE (-19 PER CENT) AND THE UNITED KINGDOM (-1 PER CENT).
/RE-EXPORTS TO
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
11
RE-EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, TAIWAN, THE U.S., THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BY 115 PER CENT, 63 PER CENT, 55 PER CENT, 47 PER CENT AND 43 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN THE YEAR OF 1986, VALUED AT $552 484 MILLION, INCREASED BY 18 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1985. ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 19 PER CENT TO $153 983 MILLION WHILE RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT TO $122 546 MILLION SO THAT, FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, THE TRADE VALUE INCREASED BY 18 PER CENT.
IMPORTS INCREASED BY 19 PER CENT TO $275 955 MILLION. WITH IMPORTS INCREASING SLIGHTLY MORE RAPIDLY THAN TOTAL EXPORTS, A SMALLER MERCHANDISE TRADE SURPLUS OF $575 MILLION WAS RECORDED IN 1986 AS COMPARED TO THE SURPLUS OF $3 733 MILLION IN 1985.
COMPARING 1986 WITH 1985, DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO ALL PRINCIPAL MARKETS INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS. THE MARKETS WITH RAPID GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCLUDED FRANCE (45 PER CENT), JAPAN (39 PER CENT), THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (38 PER CENT), THE NETHERLANDS (35 PER CENT) AND SINGAPORE (25 PER CENT). DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S TWO LARGEST MARKETS, THE U.S. AND CHINA, HOWEVER, GREW LESS RAPIDLY, BY 11 PER CENT AND 19 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
IMPORTS FROM MAJOR SUPPLIERS GENERALLY INCREASED BETWEEN 1985 AND 1986, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM SWITZERLAND (52 PER CENT), CHINA (38 PER CENT), THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (32 PER CENT), ITALY (23 PER CENT) AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY (21 PER CENT). A DECREASE WAS, HOWEVER, RECORDED IN IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE (-4 PER CENT).
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, RE-EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE U.S., THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND TAIWAN INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BY 102 PER CENT, 73 PER CENT, 52 PER CENT, 51 PER CENT AND 37 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. ON THE OTHER HAND, RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA RECORDED A DECLINE -11 PER CENT).
ALL TRADE STATISTICS PRESENTED HERE ARE MEASURED AT CURRENT PRICES AND NO ACCOUNT HAS BEEN TAKEN OF THE CHANGES IN PRICES BETWEEN THE PERIODS OF COMPARISON. A SEPARATE ANALYSIS OF THE PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR 1986 WILL BE RELEASED IN EARLY MARCH 1987.
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S TEN MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 198?
12 -
COMPARING 1986 WITH 1985, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S. INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT. ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY *2 131 MILLION OR 9 PER CENT); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY *2 004 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT) 5 AS WELL AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY Si 175 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN TRAVEL GOODS. HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS (BY #123 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT); AS WELL AS TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD VEHICLES (BY *43 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT).
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CHINA INCREASED BY 19 PER CENT IN VALUE. INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILES (BY *1 529 MILLION OR 72 PER CENT); MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY *659 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT); AS WELL AS CLOTHING (BY *293 MILLION OR 60 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY *850 MILLION OR 79 PER CENT) I AS WELL AS LEATHER, LEATHER MANUFACTURES AND DRESSED FURSKINS (BY *26 MILLION OR 12 PER CENT).
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY INCREASED BY 38 PER CENT IN VALUE. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY *1 767 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT); AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY *412 MILLION OR 117 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (BY *107 MILLION OR 79 PER CENT).
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WERE UP BY 16 PER CENT, WITH INCREASES IN CLOTHING (BY *997 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PARTS AND ACCESSORIES THEREOF (BY *207 MILLION OR 18 PER CENT).
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN INCREASED BY 39 PER CENT, WITH GROWTH IN CLOTHING (BY *731 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF PRECIOUS OR SEMI-PRECIOUS MATERIALS (BY *330 MILLION OR 48 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY *249 MILLION OR 45 PER CENT).
/THE CHANGES
THUR! DAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISION ARE PRESENTED IN TABLE 2.
THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG’S TEN MAJOR SUPPLIERS ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
IMPORTS FROM CHINA INCREASED BY 38 PER CENT IN VALUE IN 1986 AS COMPARED WITH 1985. INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR CLOTHING (BY $6 024 MILLION OR 57 PER CENT)5 TEXTILES (BY #5 083 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY #2 285 MILLION OR 55 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (BY #525 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT J AS WELL AS TEXTILE FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (BY #475 MILLION OR 23 PER CENT).
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM JAPAN INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT. INCREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY #1 719 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT)’ PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY #815 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT); AS WELL AS TEXTILES (BY #746 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ROAD VEHICLES, INCLUDING AIR CUSHION VEHICLES (BY #1 756 MILLION OR 45 PER CENT); AS WELL AS OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY #372 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT).
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM TAIWAN WAS UP BY 15 PER CENT. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN TEXTILES (BY #1 856 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT); AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY #294 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR IRON AND STEEL (BY #255 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT).
IMPORTS FROM THE U.S. WERE UP BY 6 PER CENT, WITH INCREASES IN TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN ROAD VEHICLES (BY #767 MILLION
OR 91 PER CENT); AS WELL AS ARTIFICIAL RESINS, PLASTIC MATERIALS, CELLULOSE ESTERS AND ETHERS (BY #405 MILLION OR 51 PER CENT).
IMPORTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ROSE BY 32 PER CENT, WITH INCREASES IN TEXTILES (BY $935 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PARTS AND ACCESSORIES THEREOF (BY #511 MILLION OR 104 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR IMPORTS FROM THE U.S. OF OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $370 MILLION OR 14 PER CENT).
/TABLE 4 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 198?
14
TABLE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISION.
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS TO HONG KONG’S TEN MAJOR MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 5.
COMPARING 1986 WITH 1985, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA DECREASED BY 11 PER CENT. ANALYSED BY COMMODITY, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $2 097 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT) 5 ROAD VEHICLES, INCLUDING AIR CUSHION VEHICLES (BY $2 081 MILLION OR 75 PER CENT)’ AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $1 580 MILLION OR 38 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN TEXTILES (BY SI 634 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT)’ AND PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (BY $504 MILLION OR 228 PER CENT).
ON THE SAME BASIS OF COMPARISON, RE-EXPORTS TO THE U.S. INCREASED BY 52 PER CENT IN VALUE. COMMODITIES WITH INCREASES INCLUDED CLOTHING (BY $3 834 MILLION OR 98 PER CENT)5 MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY $1 780 MILLION OR 52 PER CENT) ? AS WELL AS TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR CONTAINERS (BY $394 MILLION OR 32 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR MEDICINAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS (BY $61 MILLION OR 66 PER CENT)5 AS WELL AS CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS (BY $50 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT).
THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN WAS UP BY 22 PER CENT. INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN FISH, CRUSTACEANS AND MOLLUSCS, AND PREPARATIONS THEREOF (BY $392 MILLION OR 68 PER CENT)' AS WELL AS MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES, INCLUDING MAINLY BABY CARRIAGES, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS (BY $244 MILLION OR 98 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR NON-FERROUS METALS (BY $327 MILLION OR 75 PER CENT).
RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN ROSE BY 37 PER CENT, WITH INCREASES IN ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $906 MILLION OR 78 PER CENT)! AS WELL AS TEXTILES (BY $122 MILLION OR 46 PER CENT).
/THE INCREASE........
THURSDAY, FKBRUARY 12, 1987
- 15 -
THE INCREASE TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA WAS 51 PER CENT, WITH GROWTH IN TEXTILES (BY #614 MILLION OR 61 PER CENT)? AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY #489 MILLION OR 94 PER CENT). HOWEVER, A DECREASE WAS REGISTERED FOR RE-EXPORTS TO TAIWAN OF NON-FERROUS METALS (BY $107 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT).
TABLE 6 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISION.
THE DECEMBER 1986 ISSUE OF THE + HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS -SUMMARY* WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AROUND FEBRUARY 20 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 DECEMBER 1986 WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY MARCH AT #13.50 PER COPY.
IMPORTS
ENQUIRIES REGARDING REGULAR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE $E£ORTS _ MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG, ON 5-214375 AND ENQUIRIES ON TRADE STATISTICS 10 THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 5*444436.
/Table 1:
- 16 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 198?
Table 1‘ Domestic exports by ten major markets
Major Market Jan-Dec • 1986 (HKD Mn.) Jan-Dec ’86 over Jan-Dec *85 ( % ) December 1986 (HKD Mn.) Dec ’86 over Dec *85 ( % )
U.S.A. 64,219 11 5,829 14
China 18,022 19 2,004 54
F.R. of Germany 11,003 38 1,343 23
U.K. 9,918 16 1,043 5
Japan 6,212 39 659 86
Canada 4,880 11 472 1
Australia 3,376 1 327 15
Netherlands 2,803 35 359 34
Singapore 2,794 25 235 25
France 2,640 45 288 37
Table 2: Domestic exports by major commodity division
Commodity Jan-Dec Jan-Dec *86 December Dec *86
division 1986 over 1986 over
Jan-Dec *85 Dec *85
(HKD Mn.) ( % ) (HKD Mn.) ( % )
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 52,162 16 5,849 16
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly baby carriages,toys,games and sporting goods) 25,430 24 2,166 34
Photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical goods, watches and clocks 13,041 21 1,106 16
Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment 11,681 30 1,231 64
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof 11,214 12 1,070 37
Textile yarn,fabrics, made-up articles and related products 10,955 40 1 , 176 39
/Table J:
Table 3: Imports from ten major suppliers
Major Supplier Jan-Dec . 1986 (HKD Mn.) Jan-Dec over Jan-Dec ( ’86 ’85 % ) December 1986 (HKD Mn.) Dec ’86 over
Dec ’85
( % )
China 81,633 38 8,746 31
Japan 56,398 6 5,637 25
Taiwan 23,977 15 2,592 40
U.S.A. 23,198 6 1,935 11
Republic of Korea 10,970 32 1,239 78
Singapore 10,882 -4 947 -19
U.K. 9,347 11 852 -1
F.R. of Germany 8,041 21 708 12
Switzerland 5,543 52 518 32
Italy 4,413 Table 4: Imports by major 23 378 commodity division 4
Commodity Jan-Dec Jan-Dec ’86 December Dec ’86
division 1986 over Jan-Dec ’85 1986 over Dec ’85
(HKD Mn.) ( % ) (HKD Mn.) ( X )
Textile yarn,fabrics, made-up articles and related products 42,585 27 4,423 17
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof 23,642 24 2,482 73
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 19,701 51 1,970 40
Photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical goods, watches and clocks 16,360 23 1,482 11
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly baby carriages,toys,games and sporting goods) 14,714 32 1,485 34
Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment 13,870 14 1,548 55
/Table 5
18
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
Table 5: Re-exports by ten major markets
Major Market Jan-Dec 1986 (HKD Mn.) Jan-Dec ’86 over Jan-Dec ’85 ( % ) December 1986 (HKD Mn.) Dec ’86 over Dec ’85 ( % )
China 40,894 -11 4,658 20
U.S.A. 22,362 52 2,168 55
Japan 6,676 22 674 31
Taiwan 5,939 37 562 63
Republic of Korea 5,843 51 572 43
Singapore 5,259 20 465 5
F.R. of Germany 2,688 73 319 47
Macau 2,584 1 237 17
U.K. 2,489 102 294 115
Indonesia 2,407 5 188 4
Table 6: Re-exports by major commodity division
Commodity division Jan-Dec 1986 (HKD Mn.) Jan-Dec ’86 over Jan-Dec ’85 ( % ) December 1986 (HKD Mn.) Dec ‘86 over Dec *85 ( % )
Textile yarn,fabrics, made-up articles and related products 20,094 26 2,126 33
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories 13,366 75 1,239 59
Miscellaneous manufactured articles (mainly baby carriages,toys,games and sporting goods) 10,343 44 1,016 79
Electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances, and electrical parts thereof 9,618 7 1,022 56
Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment 6,680 • -5 791 68
Photographic apparatus, equipment and supplies, optical goods, watches and clocks 5,735 4 588 28
0 «• M «B /19
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 19 -
LATEST STATISTICS ON AIDS SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME RELEASED *****
ANOTHER FOUR PERSONS IN HONG KONG WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INFECTED BY THE VIRUS WHICH CAUSES AIDS (ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME) DURING THE QUARTER FROM OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 1986.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHEN RELEASING THE LATEST STATISTICS ON THE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME FOR THE INFECTION.
THE FIGURES BRING TO 72 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS DETECTED BY HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) ANTIBODY TESTS TO BE INFECTED BY THE AIDS VIRUS IN HONG KONG.
UP TO THE END OF DECEMBER 1986, 38 312 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR HIV ANTIBODIES (EVIDENCE OF INFECTION BY THE AIDS VIRUS) BY THE DEPARTMENT’S VIRUS UNIT, AS PART OF THE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME.
THE TESTS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED ON GROUPS WHO ARE AT RISK OF BEING INFECTED BY THE VIRUS AND INCLUDE SEXUALLY PROMISCUOUS INDIVIDUALS, MULTITRANSFUSED PATIENTS AND INTRAVENOUS DRUG ABUSERS.
OF THE 72 PERSONS FOUND TO HAVE HIV ANTIBODIES, 44 WERE HAEMOPHILIACS, SEVEN WERE PATIENTS OF SOCIAL HYGIENE (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE) CLINICS, 12 WERE REFERRALS FROM THE PRIVATE AND SUBVENTED SECTORS AND NINE WERE PATIENTS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CL IN ICS.
THE HONG KONG RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE REPORTED NO hEW POSITIVE HIV ANTIBODY TESTS IN THE SAME QUARTER. A TOTAL OF 37 366 UNITS OF BLOOD WERE SCREENED DURING THE PERIOD.
SINCE THE RED CROSS STARTED ITS MANDATORY SCREENING PROGRAMME CF BLOOD DONOR UNITS FOR THE PRESENCE OF AIDS VIRUS-HIV ANTIBODIES IN AUGUST 1985, A TOTAL OF 194 076 DONOR UNITS HAVE BEEN SCREENED. THREE OF THESE WERE DETECTED TO BE POSITIVE FOR HIV ANTIBODIES.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE LATEST FIGURES ON THE SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME HAD SHOWN NO SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE INCIDENCE OF AIDS VIRUS INFECTION IN HONG KONG.
OF THE FOUR PERSONS RECENTLY DETECTED TO HAVE AIDS ANTIBODIES, THREE WERE THOUGHT TO BE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED AND THE FOURTH WAS A HAEMOPHILIAC PATIENT, WHO HAD NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY TESTED AND WAS PROBABLY INFECTED BY CONTAMINATED IMPORTED FACTOR VIII BEFORE AUGUST 1985 WHEN HEAT-TREATED BLOOD PRODUCTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG.
/LATEST STATISTICS .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
20 -
LATEST STATISTICS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT THE TWO MAJOR MODES OF INFECTION BY THE AIDS VIRUS IN HONG KONG ARE BY THE USE OF UNTREATED IMPORTED FACTOR VIII AND BY THE SEXUAL ROUTE AND THAT CASUAL NON-SEXUAL CONTACT DOES NOT TRANSMIT THE VIRUS, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SAFER HEAT-TREATED FACTOR VIII AND MANDATORY BLOOD DONOR UNIT SCREENING IN HONG KONG, TRANSFUSION RELATED INFECTION BY THE AIDS VIRUS SHOULD BE CURTAILED, HE ADDED.
+THE GREATEST RISK OF THE SPREAD OF AIDS IN HONG KONG CURRENTLY IS BY SEXUAL TRANSMISSION. PREVENTION OF SEXUAL TRANSMISSION CAN BE ACHIEVED BY AVOIDING PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS. THE USE OF PHYSICAL BARRIERS LIKE CONDOMS AFFORD PROTECTION FROM INFECTION AND SHOULD BE USED,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
INDIVIDUALS WHO FEAR THEY MAY HAVE CONTRACTED THE AIDS VIRUS CAN MAKE USE OF THE COUNSELLING SERVICE ON AIDS, A SPECIAL COUNSELLING CLINIC ESTABLISHED IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.
THE CLINIC IS MANNED BY A SENIOR HEALTH NURSE AND A PHYSICIAN, AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TELEPHONE NUMBER 3“71O2553. ALL INFORMATION IS KEPT CONFIDENTIAL AND CALLERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO GIVE THEIR NAMES. WHEN NECESSARY, BLOOD SCREENING TEST CAN BE CARRIED OUT FOR CALLERS IN THE CLINIC.
SO FAR, A TOTAL OF 3 226 CALLERS WERE RECEIVED BY THE CLINIC AND 310 BLOOD TESTS WERE CONDUCTED FOR CALLERS.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY SET UP A COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON AIDS IN A BID TO STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY EFFORTS ON THE DISEASE.
IT IS FELT THAT SINCE THERE IS AT PRESENT NO EFFECTIVE CURE FOR AIDS, MORE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON PREVENTION THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION.
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
THE COMMITTEE WILL FORMULATE STRATEGIES ON PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY AND WILL ALSO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT THE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT A NEW PUBLICITY PROGRAMME ON AIDS WILL BE LAUNCHED IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
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/21 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 21 -
TELEVISION, SOUND BROADCASTING SURVEY TO START MONDAY *****
THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) HAS COMMISSIONED AGB MCNAIR, AN INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANISATION IN HONG KONG, TO CONDUCT A SURVEY ON TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCASTING, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, MR HAROLD KWOK, ANNOUNCED TODAY (THRUSDAY).
THIS IS A RESEARCH STUDY ON THE ATTITUDES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TOWARDS THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF TELEVISION AND RADIO programmes.
THE INTENTION IS TO USE THIS INFORMATION AS GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCASTING.
BEGINNING ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 16), INTERVIEWERS WILL BE VISITING HOUSEHOLDS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY TO SPEAK WITH A MEMBER OF EACH SELECTED HOUSEHOLD. THE RESEARCH COMPANY HAS SENT A LETTER TO THESE HOUSEHOLDS A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE VISIT. THE ENTIRE FIELD WORK IS EXPECTED TO LAST SIX WEEKS.
MR KWOK SAID THE SURVEY WAS DESIGNED IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. THE STUDY IS BASED ON A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG PREPARED BY PROBABILITY SAMPLING TECHNIQUES.
MR KWOK EMPHASISED THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE REPRESENTATIVENESS OF THE PREPARED SAMPLE, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED THROUGH THE SAMPLING PROCESS SHOULD BE INTERVIEWED. HE, THEREFORE, URGED FAMILY MEMBERS OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS TO ASSIST IN THE SURVEY BY CO-OPERATING WITH THE INTERVIEWERS IN
ORDER THAT MEANINGFUL RESULTS COULD BE COLLECTED.
ANY INFORMATION GATHERED COLLECTIVELY AND WILL BE KEPT
FROM THE INTERVIEWS WILL BE ANALYSED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE, HE ADDED.
-----o-----
NEED FOR FIRST-CLASS CRAFTSMEN STRESSED
*****
GRADUATING GOVERNMENT CRAFT APPRENTICES WERE TOLD TODAY (THURSDAY) THERE WAS LITTLE DOUBT THAT, AS HONG KONG WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY AN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY, THE NEED TO MEET THE DEMANDS FOR FIRST-CLASS CRAFTSMEN IN THE WORKFORCE WAS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF HONG KONG.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR MIAO CHI, WAS SPEAKING AT THE 26TH COMPLETION OF APPRENTICESHIP CEREMONY AT WHICH 89 GRADUATES WERE PRESENTED WITH CERTIFICATES AND TROPHIES.
/+WE SHARE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 22 -
+WE SHARE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE GOOD TRAINING FACILITIES AND PROGRAMMES, AND ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN INDUSTRY SO THAT HONG KONG, WITH ITS SKILLED WORKFORCE, CAN COMPETE FAVOURABLY WITH OTHER COUNTRIES,* HE SAID.
HE TOLD GRADUATING APPRENTICES AND THOSE STILL UNDER TRAINING THAT THERE WAS A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD OF THEM.
THE LAISHLEY CUP FOR THE BEST CRAFT APPRENTICE WAS AWARDED TO MR LAI CHUEN-CHEONG WHILE THE HOWES PLAQUE FOR THE BEST CRAFT APPRENTICE IN BASIC TRAINING WENT TO MR CHAN PUI-LAM.
-----0------
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR REPLACING AEROBRIDGES
*****
THE FIXED AND MOVING AEROBRIDGES AT THREE PARKING BAYS AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ARE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $15.6 MILLION.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR MIAO CHI, TODAY (THURSDAY) SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH MR A. ODAKE OF MITSUBISHI CORPORATION FOR THE PROJECT.
IT INCLUDES REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING SIX AEROBRIDGES AT BAYS 6, 7 AND 8 AND THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF THREE FIXED AND THREE MOVING BRIDGES.
THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO START AT THE END OF THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF 1988.
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FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL FOR KOWLOON CITY
* * * * *
KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS WILL BE TREATED TO AN AFTERNOON OF beNhe?d atTtRheAargyle strTeeHt playgroJnd‘onHTsaturdayA(february 14).
KOWLOON WEST, THE CARNIVAL WILL START AT Z.30 PM.
TMFRF WILL BE 21 GAMES STALLS, AN EIGHT-METRE-TALL INFLATABLE ELEPHANT FOR CHILDREN, A LUCKY DRAW, PERFORMANCES BY THE TAI TAM ^rls’Precision marching team and dancing by school pupils.
/THE POLICE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 25 -
THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU WILL ALSO SET UP A MOBILE EXHIBITION TO GIVE ADVICE ON CRIME PREVENTION TO RESIDENTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, 22 RECIPIENTS, AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 72, WILL BE PRESENTED WITH PRIZES AND SOUVENIRS, IN A +FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND CITIZENS AWARD* PRESENTATION.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING WILL BE A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MRS ROSANNA TAM, KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG, DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR NG CHING-KWOK, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR CHENG WOO-YICK.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL AND THE PRESENTATION AT 2.30 PM ON SATURDAY.
-----o------
FOLK ART CARNIVAL FOR CENTRAL, WESTERN DISTRICT X X X X *
A FUN-PACKED CARNIVAL, FEATURING TRADITIONAL FOLK ART, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AFTERNOON FOR RESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
THE ■♦■YEAR OF THE RABBIT* CARNIVAL IS TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING to the community among participants under a joyous ATMOSPHERE.
APART FROM PERFORMANCES BY THE PAN ASIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THEREWILL BE VARIOUS GAMES STALLS FEATURING PALM READING, LANTERN RIDDLES, CHINESE CHESS GAMES AND DRAWING FOR CHILDREN. ADMISSION IS FREE.
THE FUNCTION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
/OFFICIATING AT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 24 -
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR VINCENT KO, URBAN COUNCIL MEMBER, MR CHOW WAI-KEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CARNIVAL’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR YUEN BUN-KEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN), MR WU CHOR-NAM, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ELIZABETH TSE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL AT 1.30 PM ON SUNDAY AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
-------o----------
LUNAR NEW YEAR BALL FOR 400 YOUTHS * * * * *
ABOUT 400 YOUTHS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT WILL CELEBRATE THE SPRING FESTIVAL AND ST. VALENTINE’S DAY AT A BALL ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14).
THE BALL PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO get together to enjoy friendship and the fun of dancing.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE. THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE FUNCTION ALSO AIMS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SPIRIT.
PROGRAMMES INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY POP SINGERS, DISCO DANCES. GAMES AND A LUCKY DRAW. THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS ELIZABETH TSE, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS OF THE LUCKY DRAW.
THE BALL, STARTING FROM 7 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT, WILL BE HELD AT THE AS I AN I A RESTAURANT IN WAN CHAI.
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/25........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
- 25 -
COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS RENT AND ENVIRONMENT
*****
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD’S DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND THE RENT POLICY OF THE HOUSING SOCIETY.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN KA TIN, SHA TIN WAI, SHA TIN TAU, LEI UK TSUEN, FO TAN AND TAI SHU I HANG AND THE FORMATION OF ROADS AND DRAINS.
THE TATE’S CAIRN TUNNEL FEASIBILITY REPORT WILL ALSO BE TABLED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BE HELD ON THE SIXTH FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, KCR HOUSE TOMORROW AT 9.30 AM.
-------o ---------
DISCUSSION ON PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN PAK TIN *****
SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL FROM THE PAK TIN AREA COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN-CROSSING FACILITY AT THE JUNCTION OF PAK TIN STREET AND PAK WAN STREET.
THE AREA COMMITTEE IS ALSO SEEKING INFORMATION FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON THE STANDARD FOR THE PROVISION OF PEDESTRIAN-CROSSING FACILITIES.
OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF PARKING METERS ALONG KWEILIN STREET AND PEI HO STREET- AND PROPOSED SHORTENING OF THE OPERATION PERIOD OF SOME GOODS VEHICLE PARKING METERS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 2.15 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD, 39 TONKIN STREET, SECOND FLOOR, KOWLOON.
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/26......
26
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1987
CARPENTER ROAD TO BE WIDENED
*****
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR WIDENING CARPENTER ROAD IN KOWLOON CITY TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
STORMWATER DRAINS ALONG CARPENTER ROAD WILL BE DUPLICATED TO AVOID FLOODING IN LOW-LYING AREAS NEARBY.
WORK WILL START IN APRIL AND TAKE 13 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-------o ---------
PLB PROHIBITED ZONE SET UP IN YUEN LONG
TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN YUEN LONG WILL BE MADE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONES 24 HOURS DAILY FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THEY ARE TONG YAN SUN TSUEN ROAD FROM A POINT ABOUT 150 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND MA FUNG LING ROAD.
NO PUBLIC LIGHT BUS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE PROHIBITED AREA.
MEANWHILE, TONG YAN SUN TSUEN ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 150 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED A PLB RESTRICTED ZONE.
NO PLB WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS THERE.
--------0 ---------
ROAD CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
* * * * *
CASTLE PEAK ROAD NEAR PING SHAN WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BETWEEN 1 AM AND 6 AM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THE MOVE IS TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOOTBRIDGE IN THE AREA.
-------0----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUaRY 13, 1987
CONTENTS PaGE NO.
FIN4'vL PHASE OF HUNG HOM BAY RECLAMATION PROPOSED.......... 1
WORK TO START ON FIN.X SECTION OF IEC ...................... 1
TEHaNCY TENDERS C..LLED FOR HUNG HOM PREMISES .............. 2
OLD I.D. CARDS FOR WOMEN DECLARED INVALID ................ 2
WAN CH.il CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL ORGANISED .............. 3
CARNIV.LL FOR «REa FOUR RESIDENTS Di TUEN MUN ............ 4
APPLIC-iNTS SOUGHT FOR +LOVE SYMPHONY+ CjJIP ............... 4
'KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY’ EXHIBITION FOR KWUN TONG ............. 5
TOWN H,iLL TO BECOME -lRTS R.IR ............................ 6
SEMINARS, TRAINING COURSE FOR KWaI TSING RESIDENTS ......... 6
WONG T.il SIN TO HOLD SPRING RECEPTION ..................... 7
INAUGURATION CEREI-iONY .................................... 7
NEW GREEN MINIBUS SERVICE FOR TSING YI ..................... 8
GOODS VEHICLE, PLB RESTRICTED DOTIES SET UP.............. 8
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1987
1
FINAL PHASE OF HUNG HOM BAY RECLAMATION PROPOSED
*****
A PROPOSAL ON THE SECOND AND LAST PHASE OF RECLAMATION WORK AT HUNG HOM BAY TO PROVIDE A FURTHER 26.5 HECTARES OF LAND WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
ABOUT 23.2 HECTARES OF THE LAND WILL BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL-RESIDENTIAL development; government-institution-community facilities; open space; and the reprovisioning of the existing HUNG HOM FERRY PIERS AND FERRY CONCOURSE.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SENT IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS BY APRIL 12.
AT PRESENT, WORK ON THE FIRST PHASE, WHICH INVOLVES 20.5 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED NEAR THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY TERMINAL BUILDING, IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY.
IT WILL BE USED TO EXPAND THE RAILWAY’S KOWLOON GOODS YARD.
WORK ON THE #14.8 MILLION PROJECT STARTED IN JULY LAST YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1988.
-------o----------
WORK TO START ON FINAL SECTION OF I EC *****
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FINAL SECTION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR FROM SHAU KEI WAN TO WING TAI INTERCHANGE IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR BUILDING THE 800-METRES-L0NG DUAL TWO-LANE ELEVATED ROAD AND ABOUT 1.6 KILOMETRES OF DUAL TWO-LANE GROUND-LEVEL ROAD.
SLIP ROADS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE CORRIDOR FROM A KUNG NGAM, HENG FA CHUEN DEVELOPMENT AND WING TAI ROAD.
LOCAL SERVICE ROADS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT A KUNG NGAM TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
LANDSCAPE WORKS, DRAINAGE, SEWERAGE AND OTHER SERVICES WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN
EARLY 1990.
SITE FORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR STARTED IN 1976 AND THE FIRST STAGE, COSTING #485 MILLION, WAS OPENED IN JUNE 1984.
/THE LECOIID..........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
THE SECOND STAGE WAS BUILT IN TWO PHASES AT A COST OF $260 MILLION AND WAS OPENED IN 1985.
PART OF THE THIRD STAGE CONNECTING WING TAI INTERCHANGE AND CHAI WAN ROUNDABOUT, BUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $50 MILLION, WAS OPENED IN UULY 1985.
TENANCY TENDERS CALLED FOR HUNG HOM PREMISES
*****
THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT IS LETTING BY TENDER THE GROUND FLOOR AND COCKLOFT OF A BUILDING AT 80, WUHU STREET IN HUNG HOM.
THE PREMISES, MEASURING 136.3 SQUARE METRES, ARE FOR NONINDUSTRIAL -- EXCLUDING GODOWN — USAGE.
TENANCIES ARE FOR THREE YEARS INITIALLY, RENEWABLE MONTHLY AFTERWARDS. THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 13.
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SECTION OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD.
OLD I.D. CARDS FOR WOMEN DECLARED INVALID
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT ALL OLD IDENTITY CARDS BELONGING TO WOMEN BORN IN OR BEFORE 1934 WILL CEASE TO BE LEGAL DOCUMENTS FROM FEBRUARY 22 THIS YEAR. A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT APPEARS IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THIS WILL BE THE EIGHTH BATCH OF IDENTITY CARDS TO BE DECLARED INVALID SINCE THE NEW I.D. CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME STARTED.
+ONCE AN OLD CARD IS DECLARED INVALID, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY PURPOSE,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
/♦FOB INSTANCE,
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1J, 1987
- 3 -
+FOR INSTANCE, WOMEN OF THE ABOVE AGE GROUP STILL HOLDING THE OLD TYPE OF I.D. CARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A TRAVEL DOCUMENT AFTER FEBRUARY 22,+ HE ADDED.
THOSE WHO HAD MISSED THEIR SPECIFIED CARD RENEWAL PHASE DUE TO ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG OR ANY OTHER REASONS SHOULD APPROACH THE REGULAR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES IMMEDIATELY.
+ THESE CASES WILL BE LOOKED INTO THOROUGH.Y AND DEALT WITH ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL MERITS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
----c------
WAN CHAI CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL ORGANISED
*****
WAN CHAI RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE PART IN A VARIETY OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD.
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MR LEE KON, SAID THAT DURING THE ONE-WEEK FESTIVAL BEGINNING ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15) RESIDENTS CAN TAKE PART IN THE OPEN CHINESE CHESS COMPETITION AND ENJOY FREE LUNCH-TIME CONCERTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, FAMOUS LOCAL PAINTERS, CALL IGRAPHISTS AND MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILLS AT A GATHERING TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 22.
THE PURPOSE OF T HE FESTIVAL IS TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND TO PROMOTE CHINESE CULTURE IN THE DISTRICT, MR LEE SAID.
THE CHINESE CHESS COMPETITION WILL BEGIN WITH A GAME AMONG OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDING THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS CARMAN CHIU, DISTRICT BORAD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, MR LEE KON.
THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE EVENTS HELD DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD AND ADMISSION IS FREE. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD OR ON 5-742281.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY ON SUNDAY AT 2 PM AT THE HAPPY VALLEY AND CANAL ROAD KAI FONG ASSOCIATION PREMISES UNDER THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER IN WAN CHAI.
- 0 -
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 198/
CARNIVAL FOR AREA FOUR RESIDENTS IN TUEN MUN
*****
A CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD THIS SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15) TO MARK THE CLOSE OF A TWO-MONTH PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE RECREATION ACTIVITIES TO RESIDENTS OF A LARGE PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN TUEN MUN.
THERE WILL BE A VARIETY SHOW AND SEVERAL INTERESTING GAMES STALLS STARTING FROM 1.15 PM TO 5.30 PM AT TSI NG LING PATH.
THE + AREA FOUR LOVELY HOME PROJECT+ STARTED IN LATE DECEMBER WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING RESIDENTS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF RECREATION AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ENTERTAINMENT, FILM SHOWS, CROSS-WORD PUZZLE AND SLOGAN COMPETITIONS. FAMILY PICNICS AND TEA GATHERINGS WERE ALSO ORGANISED.
AREA FOUR IS A LARGE PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREA LOCATED NORTHEAST OF THE NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT WAS ORGANISED BY THE AREA FOUR LOVELY HOME PROJECT ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND CO-ORGANISED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE AND YAN 01 TONG WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER T HE CLOSING CEREMONY AT 1.15 PM THIS SUNDAY IN TSING LING PATH. IT WILL BE OFFICIATED BY THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDWARD YAU, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MESSRS CHUNG CHI—FEI AND WAN CHI-YAU, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF YAN Ol TONG AND A LOCAL RESTAURANT.
- - 0 -
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR t-LOVE SYMPHONY* CAMP
*****
YOUNG PEOPLE INCLUDING THE DISABLED ARE BEING INVITED TO A TWO-DAY CAMP ENTITLED THE *LOVE SYMPHONY*.
PARTICIPANTS WILL EXCHANGE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES ON +FR I ENDS HI P* , ^-COURTSHIP* AND *MARR I AGE* IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS, WORKSHOPS, GAMES AND DRAMA.
THE PROJECT AIMS TO PROMOTE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 28.
/JOINTLY ORGANISED
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
- 5 -
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY, THE CAMP WILL BE HELD FROM FEBRUARY 28 TO MARCH 1 AT THE POKFULAM PHAB CENTRE.
ENROLMENT IS LIMITED TO 74. THOSE INTERESTED MAY CONTACT THE WESTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 36A WESTERN STREET, SAI YING PUN. THE FEE IS $40.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 5-495141 OR 5-463024.
-------0----------
'KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY’ EXHIBITION FOR KWUN TONG
*****
A +KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY* EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD IN KWUN TONG TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND ON SUNDAY.
THE EXHIBITION IS PUT UP BY THE KWUN TONG SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE, ICAC KWUN TONG SUB-OFFICE, LIONS CLUB OF KWUN TONG, AND CO-ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE EXHIBITS, IN THE FORM OF PHOTOGRAPHS, CHARTS, ILLUSTRATIONS, ARE FROM 19 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE EXHIBITION TOMORROW WILL BE HELD FROM 2.30 PM TO 6 PM AND ON SUNDAY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM AT THE DELIA MEMORIAL SCHOOL IN HIP WO STREET.
OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE OPENING CEREMONY INCLUDE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MRS RITA FAN, KWUN TONG ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS ROSANNA URE, AND KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM HANG-FAI.
-----0------
/6........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1987
6
TOWN HALL TO BECOME ARTS FAIR
*****
THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL WILL BE TURNED INTO AN ARTS FAIR TOMORROW (SATURDAY) WHERE A WIDE RANGE OF CHINESE CULTURAL ARTS ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD.
IN THE FORM OF A FLEA MARKET, THE FAIR WILL PROVIDE RESIDENTS OF YUEN LONG WITH THE CHANCE TO APPRECIATE AND SHARE THE ARTISTIC INSPIRATION OF PERFORMERS IN VARIOUS FORMS OF THE ARTS.
THESE INCLUDE DEMONSTRATION OF CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY, PAINTING, CHESS AND FISH LITHOGRAPHY, AN ART FORM WHICH IS NOW WANING.
THE FAIR WILL ALSO BE BACKED UP BY CHINESE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES TOGETHER WITH A DISPLAY OF CHINESE HANDICRAFT SUCH AS GRASSHOPPER WEAVING, FLOUR DOLLS, CARICATURE AND PAPER SILHOUETTE CUTTING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ARTS FAIR WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2 PM TOMORROW IN THE AUDITORIUM AND PLAYGROUND OF THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL, TAI YUK ROAD, YUEN LONG.
-----0 ------
SEMINARS, TRAINING COURSE FOR KWAI TSI NG RESIDENTS
*****
SEMINARS AND A TRAINING COURSE ARE BEING ARRANGED FOR KWAI TSI NG RESIDENTS BY WORKING GROUPS UNDER THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT BOARD BETWEEN THE END OF FEBRUARY AND EARLY MARCH.
SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE SEMINAR ON PROVIDENT FUND WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 22 FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM AT THE KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL, ADJACENT TO KWAI FONG MTR STATION.
SPEAKERS INCLUDE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHEUNG KAM-CHUEN AND MR TAI CHIN-WAH, A LECTURER OF THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, MR TANG KWONG-LEUNG, A MEMBER OF THE BASIC LAW CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE, MR LEE KAI-MING, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AIA, MR LAM LAP-KUEN.
A THREE-SESSION TRAINING COURSE ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT WILL START AT 8 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE, SUPPLEMENTED BY A SEMINAR SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT THE COMMUNITY HALL ON MARCH 8.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE ON 0-246989 AND 0-212855 E 251.
-------o ---------
/7........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1937
7
? ' it’ *
WONG TAI SIN TO HOLD * * * *
SPRING RECEPTION *
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD A SPRING RECEPTION THIS SUI^AY (FEBRUARY 15) FOR ABOUT 500 GUESTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICHOLAS YEK, WILL ALSO ATTEND.
HE WILL PRESENT THE BOARD’S CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO IQ LOCAL PERSONALITIES AND ORGANISATIONS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE RECEPTION ON SUNDAY AT 3 PM IN THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 104, CHING TAK STREET, LOWER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE.
--------o ---------
INAUGURATION CEREMONY
*****
VIETNAMESE REFUGEE GIRLS AT TUEN MUN CLOSED CENTRE WHO HAVE FORMED A GIRL GUIDE COMPANY AND A BROWNIE PACK WILL BE STAGING THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY AT THE CENTRE AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION LADY AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. TRANSPORT FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE LEAVING FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT AT 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, BY 1 PM TOMORROW.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1987
8
NEW GREEN MINIBUS SERVICE FOR TSING Yl
*****
A NEW OVER-NIGHT CIRCULAR CHEUNG HONG ESTATE IN TSING Yl INTRODUCED ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY
GREEN MINIBUS SERVICE, PLYING BETWEEN AND KWAI FONG MTR STATION, WILL BE 15).
THE NEW SERVICE, ROUTE 88S, WILL PROVIDE A CONVENIENT LINK BETWEEN THE ISLAND A^D KWAI CHUNG DURING THE EARLY MORNING BEFORE THE FRANCHISED BUS SERVICE COMES INTO OPERATION.
OPERATING FROM 2 AM TO 5.15 AM, THE SERVICE WILL RUN AT 15 TO 20-MINUTE INTERVALS. THE FARE WILL BE S2 PER SINGLE JOURNEY.
-------0---------
GOODS VEHICLE, PLB RESTRICTED ZONES SET UP
*****
THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE SECTION OF CARGO CIRCUIT FRONTING THE ENTRANCE TO HONG KONG AIR CARGO TERMINALS LIMITED WILL BE MADE A GOODS VEHICLE RESTRICTED ZONE 24 HOURS DAILY FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRURAY 16).
NO GOODS VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED AREA.
WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME TIME, THE UNNAMED ROAD LEADING FROM CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD TO CLEAR WATER BAY FILM STUDIO WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONE.
NO PLB WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE RESTRICTED AREA.
- - o -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED ..... 1
talks end on u.s. Harmonised system ...................... 2
PUBLIC SUPPORT TO FIGHT CRIME STRESSED.................... 3
FIRST GIRL GUIDE GROUP IN REFUGEE CAMP SET UP............. 3
SUPPORT TO SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND CONTINUES ............
VARIETY SHOW TO BOOST HOME SAFETY ........................ 5
CARNIVAL TO PROMOTE CONCEPT OF +QUALITY+ ................. 6
IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS .... 6
FINED FOR WORKING ON SPECIFIED REST DaY .................. 7
NEW ROAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN KOWLOON TONG ............... 8
REGISTER OF FIRMS USEFUL FOR SURVEYS .................... 9
MONG KOK ENVIRONMENT CAMPAIGN TO CLOSE ................... 9
NEW YE J? CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK ...................... 10
PILED FOUNDATION CONTRACTS AWARDED ...................... 11
NEW CARGO WORKING aRE... FOR WESTERN .................... 11
TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR YU IN LONG CLEARANCE ................ 12
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
1
UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS RELEASED
*****
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IMPROVED WHILE THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION REMAINED STABLE IN THE QUARTER OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986, COMPARED WITH THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1986, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986 WAS 2.2 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE RATES OF 2.8 PER CENT FOL ■THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1986 AND 3.1 PER CENT FOR THE SAME QUARTER IN 1985.
THE DECREASES OF 0.6 PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PREVIOUS QUARTER AND OF 0.9 PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985 ARE BOTH STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN THE PERIOD OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986 WAS ESTIMATED AT 59 400, LESS THAN THE FIGURE OF 75 000 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1986 AND OF 83 300 FOR THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985.
A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT 2.2 PER CENT IS THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RECORDED SINCE THE NEW SERIES OF UNEMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985. WITH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AT SUCH A LOW LEVEL, THE LABOUR FORCE AS A WHOLE WAS EFFECTIVELY FULLY EMPLOYED.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986 WAS 1.2 PER CENT, WHICH COMPARED WITH THE RATE OF 1.3 PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1986. THE RATE FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1985 WAS 2.3 PER CENT.
THE DECREASES OF 0.1 PERCENTAGE POINT BELOW THE PREVIOUS QUARTER IS STATISTICALLY NOT SIGNIFICANT, WHILE THE DECREASE OF 1.1 PERCENTAGE POINTS BELOW THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985 IS STATISTICALLY SIGN IF ICANT.
THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986 WAS 31 800, COMPARED WITH THE FIGURE OF 36 600 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1986 AND OF 62 100 FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1985.
CONSISTENT WITH THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION (ILO), PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK DUE TO ECONOMIC REASONS (SUCH AS SLACK WORK, MATERIAL SHORTAGE, MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN AND INABILITY TO FIND FULL-TIME WORK) WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE EITHER SEEKING OR AVAILABLE FOR MORE WORK.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (THAT IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES THAT HAD BEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME.
/THE COMMISSIONER
.ATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
- 2
THE COMMISSIONER ADDED THAT, BASED ON A SYSTEM OF MANUAL EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION FROM SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES FOR THE LATEST MONTH, PROVISIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATES COVERING THE LATEST THREE-MONTH PERIOD COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SURVEY.
THESE PROVIDE AN EARLY INDICATION OF THE LATEST TREND IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION. THE PROVISIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) FOR NOVEMBER-JANUARY 1987 WAS 1.9 PER CENT AND THE PROVISIONAL UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS 1.1 PER CENT. (THE UNADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR OCTOBER-DECEMBER 1986 WAS 2.2 PER CENT.)
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT. THIS SURVEY COVERS A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 14 OOO HOUSEHOLDS OR 50 000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTI TUTIONAL 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. IN THE SURVEY, THE DEFINITIONS USED IN MEASURING UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOLLOW CLOSELY THOSE RECOMMENDED BY THE ILO.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF 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 DECEMBER 1986 SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AROUND MARCH 20 AT $8.50 PER COPY.
----' _ o------
TALKS END ON U.S. HARMONISED SYSTEM * * X X X
TRADE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ENDED THEIR FIRST FORMAL ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE UNITED STATES ON THE NEW TARIFF CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (U.S. HARMONISED SYSTEM) YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) IN GENEVA.
A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS WILL BE HELD IN APRIL.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR TONY MILLER, WHO LED THE HONGKONG DELEGATION, SAID THE WEEK-LONG TALKS HAD BEEN USEFUL AND HAD ENABLED BOTH SIDES TO FOCUS ON AREAS OF CONCERN.
+SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE BUT NO CONCLUSION COULD BE REACHED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE U.S. SIDE STILL NEEDS TO CONDUCT NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITS OTHER MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS. BOTH SIDES NEED TIME TO REFLECT FURTHER ON PROPOSALS MADE SO FAR,+ HE SAID.
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/3........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
- 3 -
PUBLIC SUPPORT TO FIGHT CRIME STRESSED *****
PUBLIC SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT TO FIGHT CRIME AND MAINTAIN A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY, CHAIRMAN OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR WONG WING-PIU, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
+ IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO RELY SOLELY ON THE POLICE TO COMBAT CRIME. I HOPE THROUGH THIS KIND OF ACTIVITIES, IT CAN AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS ON FIGHTING CRIME AND TO STRENGTHEN THE TIE BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC,* MR WONG SAID DURING THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL HELD AT THE ARGYLE STREET PLAYGROUND.
TODAY’S EVENT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, KOWLOON LOK SIN TONG AND SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST.
THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAD ORGANISED A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS DURING THE CARNIVAL. THESE INCLUDED GAMES STALLS ON THE THEME OF FIGHT CRIME, A LUCKY DRAW, PERFORMANCES BY THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PRECISION MARCHING TEAM AND DANCING BY SCHOOL PUPILS.
TWENTY-TWO KOWLOON CITY RESIDENTS WHO HAD HELPED THE POLICE TO FIGHT CRIME ALSO RECEIVED PRIZES AND SOUVENIRS TODAY DURING THE +FRIENDS OF THE POLICE AND CITIZENS AWARD* PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
THE RECIPIENTS, 21 MEN AND A WOMAN AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 72, HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THE POLICE AND AREA COMMITTEES.
------0--------
FIRST GIRL GUIDE GROUP IN REFUGEE CAMP SET UP *****
HONG KONG’S FIRST GIRL GUIDE GROUP OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WAS OFFICIALLY SET UP AT TUEN MUN CLOSED CENTRE TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE 243RD NEW TERRITORIES GIRL GUIDE COMPANY, WITH 20 MEMBERS AGED BETWEEN 11 AND 16, IS THE FIRST GROUP ESTABLISHED IN CLOSED CAMPS RUN BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE YOUNGER REFUGEE GIRLS OF THE CAMP ALSO HAD THEIR BROWNIE PACK SET UP TODAY. THE 243RD NEW TERRITORIES BROWNIE PACK HAS 22 MEMBERS.
CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDE ASSOCIATION, LADY AKERS-JONES, WHO OFFICIATED AT THEIR INAUGURATION CEREMONY INSPECTED THE GUIDES AND BROWNIE TOGETHER WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR CHAN WA-SHEK.
/THE GIRL......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1U, 1987
4
THE GIRL GUIDE MOVEMENT INVOLVING VIETNAMESE REFUGEE GIRLS
WAS INITIATED IN NOVEMBER 1985 WHEN THE DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION, FORMED THE FIRST BROWNIE GROUP AT CHIMAWAN CLOSED CENTRE.
EARLY LAST YEAR, A BROWNIE PACK WAS SET UP AT THE REFUGEE UNIT OF THE CAPE COLLINSON CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. THE PACK WAS DISBANDED FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF THE UNIT IN APRIL.
AS A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF THE REFUGEES FROM CAPE COLLINSON WERE TRANSFERRED TO TUEN MUN CLOSED CENTRE, THE BROWNIE GROUP WAS RE-INSTATED.
IN HIS WELCOMING ADDRESS, MR CHAN SAID THE CEREMONY HERALDED A NEW ERA IN GUIDING DEVELOPMENT. +IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OUR FIRST GIRL GUIDE COMPANY. +
MR CHAN THANKED LADY AKERS-JONES AND STAFF OF THE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY EFFORTS AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN THE DEPARTMENT’S GUIDING ACTIVITIES.
-------0 ---------
SUPPORT TO SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND CONTINUES
*****
COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT CONTINUED TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND. *
APART FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEES WHICH HAVE EARLIER GIVEN THEIR DONATIONS, SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE ALSO RESPONDED ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO THE FUND.
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICHOLAS YEK, YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR J14 700 FROM THE DEPUTY HEADMISTRESS OF THE ST. BONAVENTURE PRIMARY SCHOOL, MISS CHAN KIT-CHEUNG REPRESENTING DONATIONS FROM STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.
HEADMASTER OF THE SCHOOL, MR AU KAI-YEE, SAID THAT STUDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THE FUND TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION OF SIR EDWARD’S DEVOTION TO THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY.
HE SAID THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE THE BENEFICIARY OF THE FUND WHICH WOULD BE USED FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG
/MR YEK .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
MR YEK SAID THAT MORE AND MORE DONATION HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND HE CALLED ON RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO GIVE THEIR DONATIONS THROUGH THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS TWEE BRANCH OFFICES. CONTRIBUTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A RECEIPT CAN BE PUT INTO DONATION BOXES PLACED AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES, HE SAID.
- - 0 -
VARIETY SHOW TO BOOST HOME SAFETY
A SPECIAL VARIETY SHOW FEATURING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HOME SAFETY WILL BE HELD IN KWUN TONG TOMORROW (SUNDAY) TO AROUSE PEOPLE’S AWARENESS ON SAFETY ASPECTS IN HOUSEHOLDS.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDING DRAMAS AND POPULAR SONGS CARRYING THE MESSAGE THAT +A SAFE HOME IS A HAPPY HOME* WILL BE STAGED IN THE MAIN SQUARE OF TELFORD CENTRE STARTING AT 3 PM.
THE SHOW, THE 13TH AND FINAL EPISODE OF THE INFORMATION '86 SERIES, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.
SUBJECTS INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION '86 SERIES WERE FIGHT CRIME, INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, ANT I-NARCOTICS, CLEAN HONG KONG AND SEVERAL OTHER GOVERNMENT PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS.
’ TO SUPPLEMENT THE STAGE SHOW TOMORROW, AN EXHIBITION
ILLUSTRATING THE SAFE USE OF GAS AND FIRE PREVENTION IN HOMES WILL ALSO BE HELD IN THE SHOPPING MALL OF THE TELFORD CENTRE FOR A WEEK UNTIL FEBRUARY 22.
RESIDENTS OF TELFORD GARDENS AND VISITORS TO THE TELFORD CENTRE ARE WELCOME TO THE SHOW AND THE EXHIBITION WHILE THE ENTIRE PROGRAMME WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RTHK CHANNEL 5.
- 0 - -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
- 6 -
CARNIVAL TO PROMOTE CONCEPT OF +QUALITY+ *****
MORE THAN 1 000 PEOPLE WILL BE TREATED TO AN AFTERNOON OF FUN AND GAMES AT THE KWAI TSI NG INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE CARNIVAL TO BE HELD IN THE HING FONG ROAD PLAYGROUND TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
SPONSORED BY THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT BOARD, THE CARNIVAL IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF +QUALITY+ AMONG WORKERS IN CARRYING OUT THEIR DAILY WORK AS WELL AS LEADING A MEANINGFUL LIFE.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT IDEAS TO IMPROVE RELATIONSHIP AMONG EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AND TO ENHANCE BETTER FAMILY RELATIONSHIP THROUGH EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY AND BOOKLETS AVAILABLE AT THE CARNIVAL.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE VARIOUS GAMES STALLS, A TELE-MATCH, A QUIZ COMPETITION AND A LUCKY DRAW.
KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO TUNG-CHING, CHIEF OF LABOUR AND POPULATION TEAM FOR ASIA AND PACIFIC, MR K.S. BAWA, PRESIDENT OF CHINESE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, MR LAWRENCE CHU, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR DARWIN CHAN, AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF FAMILY PLANNING SOCIETY, MRS PEGGY LAM, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
ALSO HELD ON THE SAME DAY WILL BE AN ALL-STAR SHOW FEATURING WELL-KNOWN SINGERS WHO WILL APPEAR ON THE SHOW WITH LIVE BAND MUSIC. THE SHOW WILL START AT 8 PM AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CARNIVAL AT 2 PM TOMORROW AT THE HING FONG ROAD PLAYGROUND IN KWAI SHING, ADJACENT TO THE KWAI HING MTR STATION.
-----0 -----
IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS
*****
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD FIVE PART-TIME IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS FOR THE YEAR 1987-88.
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM SERVING UNTRAINED TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE FREE TRAINING COURSES IN EITHER CHINESE OR ENGLISH.
/THE COURSES
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
- 7 -
THE COURSES INCLUDE TWO PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSES LASTING TWO YEARS AND THREE 12-WEEK DAY RELEASE OR EVENING COURSES RUN BY THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
ON COMPLETION OF THE TWO-YEAR COURSES OR THE 12-WEEK COURSES, TRAINEES WILL BE AWARDED THE STATUS OF +QUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHER* AND +QUALIFIED ASSISTANT KINDERGARTEN TEACHER* RESPECTIVELY. THEY WILL ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION TO THE DEPARTMENT'S REGISTER OF TEACHERS.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE; THE DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON SUB-OFFICE AT KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SIXTH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, YAU MA TEI; AND THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ANNEXE ON THE NINTH FLOOR, ARGYLE CENTRE, PHASE 1, 688 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD REACH THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION JOINT SELECTION BOARD AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ANNEXE BY MARCH 4.
------0-------
FINED FOR WORKING ON SPECIFIED REST DAY
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) REMINDED FACTORY PROPRIETORS THAT IT WAS AN OFFENCE TO EMPLOY WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS TO WORK ON SPECIFIED REST DAYS.
THIS FOLLOWS A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH THE PROPRIETOR OF A GARMENT FACTORY IN TO KWA WAN WAS FINED S5 000 BY A SAN PO KONG MAGISTRATE FOR EMPLOYING 32 WOMEN ON A SUNDAY WHICH WAS THEIR SPECIFIED REST DAY.
+THE FINE IMPOSED WAS THE MAXIMUM PENALTY LAID DOWN UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS,* A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
UNDER THE REGULATIONS, WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY ARE ENTITLED TO A DAY OFF EVERY WEEK AND ARE NOT PERMITTED TO WORK ON THAT DAY.
/+THE REIT........
{SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
+THE REST DAY SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED UNLESS THE EMPLOYER HAS NOTIFIED THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR OF HIS INTENTION TO MAKE SUCH A CHANGE 48 HOURS BEFORE IT COMES INTO OPERATION,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦ THE REGULATIONS ALSO STIPULATE THAT SUCH CHANGE SHOULD NOT BE MADE MORE THAN ONCE IN EVERY MONTH, EXCEPT WITH THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAS PUBLISHED A GUIDE BOOK WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP EMPLOYERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS CONCERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY AND WORKERS TO KNOW THEIR ENTITLEMENTS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS.
IT IS AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS IN HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL, OR ANY OF ITS BRANCH OFFICES.
- - 0 -
NEW ROAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN KOWLOON TONG X X X X *
A NEW ROAD LINKING NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK ROADS IN KOWLOON TONG WILL BE BUILT TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO T HE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY INTERCHANGE.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE NEW ROAD WHICH WILL BE BUILT ADJACENT TO THE KCR TRACKS.
IT WILL BE 180 METRES LONG AND 7.3 METRES WIDE WITH TWO-METREWIDE FOOTPATHS ON EACH SIDE.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES RECONSTRUCTION OF NORFOLK ROAD AND A PORTION OF SUFFOLK ROAD NEAR KENT ROAD.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL AND TAKE EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE NEW LINK WILL COMPLETE THE INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK IN WEST KOWLOON AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO THE KCR AND MTR STATIONS AT KOWLOON TONG AND ALSO RELIEVE WATERLOO ROAD OF LOCAL TRAFFIC.
0 - -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
- 9 -
REGISTER OF FIRMS USEFUL FOR SURVEYS
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS A COMPREHENSIVE AND UP-TO-DATE COMPUTERISED CENTRAL REGISTER OF AROUND 300 000 ESTABLISHMENTS IN HONG KONG TO SERVE MAINLY AS THE SAMPLING FRAME FROM ITS SURVEYS ON BUSINESS UNDERTAKINGS.
MANY OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ALSO MAKE USE OF THE REGISTER FOR PUBLICITY, SURVEY AND RESEARCH WORK, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN ALSO BENEFIT FROM THE REGISTER BY MAKING USE OF NON-CONFI DENT I AL ESTABLISHMENT PARTICULARS RECORDED IN IT FOR MARKET RESEARCH, STATISTICAL SURVEY, BUSINESS AND PRODUCT PROMOTION PURPOSES.
IN THIS CONNECTION, APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE CENTRAL REGISTER SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE SUPPLY OF A PHOTOCOPY OR A MAGNETIC TAPE OF THE LISTING OF NON-CONFI DENT I AL PARTICULARS SUCH AS THE NAME, THE ADDRESS, THE MAJOR TYPE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND THE EMPLOYMENT SIZE CLASS OF INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
CHARGES LEVIED FOR THIS SERVICE ARE:
(A) $2.50 PER PHOTOCOPY CONTAINING ABOUT 10 ESTABLISHMENTS,
AND
(B) $330 PER STREAM HOUR OF COMPUTER TIME IF THE INFORMATION
IS REQUIRED ON A MAGNETIC TAPE WHICH IS TO BE PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT.
FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE SERVICE CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING THE CENTRAL REGISTER SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-446389.
-----0-----
MONG KOK ENVIRONMENT CAMPAIGN TO CLOSE
*****
THE FIVE-MONTH-LONG MONG KOK DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WILL CLOSE WITH A VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT WILLOW STREET PLAYGROUND.
The SHOW WILL LAST TWO HOURS, FEATURING SINGING AND DANCING PRESENTED BY POPULAR DISC JOCKEYS, SINGERS AND TELEVISION ARTISTES.
/Hung kok
■ATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EARNEST CHEUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY TO BE HELD TOMORROW AT 2.30 PM IN THE WILLOW STREET PLAYGROUND, TAI KOK TSUI .
- - 0 -
NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK
*****
A LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL WILL BE HELD BY THE YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION AT THE KOWLOON PARK SOCCER PITCH TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
TEN GAME-STALLS WILL BE SET UP, AND OTHER PROGRAMMES INCLUDE DANCING, SINGING, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, LANTERN RIDDLES, WORD PROPHECY AND FORTUNE-TELLING.
AMONG THOSE OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING WILL BE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR AUGUSTINE CHENG.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CARNIVAL WHICH STARTS AT 1.30 PM TOMORROW.
- 0 -
/11
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
PILED FOUNDATION CONTRACTS AWARDED
*****
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PILED FOUNDATIONS FOR TWO COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
A $2.74 MILLION CONTRACT HAD BEEN LET FOR THE FOUNDATION WORK FOR THE LIBRARY, POST OFFICE AND GARDEN OF TUEN MUN CIVIL AND CULTURAL COMPLEX PHASE III.
IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JULY.
THE OTHER FOUNDATION WORK, COSTING $8.06 MILLION, IS FOR THE SHA TIN CONVALESCENT AND INFIRMARY HOSPITAL AND QUARTERS. WORK WILL START ON FEBRUARY 16 AND TAKE 11 MONTHS TO FINISH.
- - 0 -
NEW CARGO WORKING AREA FOR WESTERN
■**•**•*
A PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA IS TO BE BUILT ON THE WESTERN RECLAMATION ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
IT WILL BE 310 METRES LONG BY 30 METRES WIDE AND WILL BE CONSTRUCTED OF BITUMINOUS MATERIALS.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A 340-METRE-LONG PERIMETER WALL AND ASSOCIATED ACCESS ROAD AND DRAINAGE.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL AND WHEN COMPLETED IN EIGHT MONTHS IT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA IN THE VICINITY.
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT. THE WORK HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S HlGHWAYS/HONG KONG REGION.
- - 0 -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1987
12
TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR YUEN LONG CLEARANCE * * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN YUEN LONG ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17) FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT CLEARANCE OPERATION IN YUEN LONG FOOK HONG STREET.
FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM, A NUMBER OF ROADS IN YUEN LONG WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC. THESE ARE FOOK TAK STREET- FOOK HONG STREET BETWEEN FOOK TAK STREET AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD- AND SAU FU STREET BETWEEN TUNG LOK STREET AND FOOK HONG STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE TAXI STAND IN FOOK HONG STREET WILL BE SUSPENDED.
MEANWHILE, BETWEEN 5.45 AM AND 9 PM, SOME GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES WILL BE DIVERTED AND THEIR TERMINAL POINTS RELOCATED. THESE INCLUDE ROUTES 36, 37, 38, 73, 74, 75 AND 76.
ROUTES 36, 37 AND 38 WILL BE DIVERTED TO TERMINATE AT ON NING ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH TAI KIU ROAD. ROUTES 73 AND 74 WILL BE DIVERTED TO TERMINATE AT WANG CHAU ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH ON NING ROAD, WHILE ROUTES 75 AND 76 WILL BE DIVERTED TO TERMINATE AT ON NING ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG CHAU ROAD.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
WARM AND SUNNY START TO THE YEAR .......................... 1
FOUR MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BLOCKS AMONG PLANS APPROVED ..... 3
MONG KOK STRIVING FOR A BLTTUt ENVIRONMENT................. 4
CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL PT WAN CHAI LAUNCHED............. 5
CROUP-ARRANGED ACTIVITIES ENRICHING COMMUNITY LIFE......... 6
DETAILS OF STUDY TOUR TO ASUTRALIA......................... 7
ENTRY SCHEME FOR MACAU RESIDENTS .......................... 7
FUNDS FOR ORGANISING YOUTH ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE............ 8
SOUTHERN DISTRICT -+MELT TEE PUBLIC+ SCHEME................ 8
IN-SERVICE COURSES OF TRAPTPIG FOR TEACHERS................ 9
DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR NEW FIRE STATION OFFICERS .............. 10
SURVEY ON MANPOWER TO BEGPJ .PDNESDAY...................... 10
EIGHTH CONSUMER ENQUPtY CENTRE TO OPEN..................... 11
SEMINARS FOR CATLTiPTG P1DUSTRY ORGANISED.................. 11
STUDENT CAI^TAIGNIRS TO REC EIVE AWARDS ................... 12
TUEN MUN WATER SUPPLY TO BE PROVED ........................ 12
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
1
WARM AND SUNNY START TO THE YEAR
*****
THE YEAR 1987 GOT OFF TO A WARM AND SUNNY START, WITH A MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 17.3 DEGREES CELSIUS, MAKING IT THE SIXTH WARMEST JANUARY ON RECORD, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY REVEALED TODAY.
THE WARM CONDITIONS - 1.7 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL - WERE PARTLY DUE TO THE AMPLE AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE DURING THE MONTH - 19 PER CENT ABOVE NORMAL.
DESPITE THE GENERALLY WARM AND SUNNY WEATHER, NEW YEAR’S DAY WAS WINDY AND CLOUDY WITH A TRACE OF RAIN.
AS A COLD FRONT FORMED ACROSS SOUTH CHINA ON JANUARY 2, WINDS LOCALLY MODERATED AND TURNED TO SOUTH OF EAST.
THE WEATHER WAS MISTY WITH DRIZZLE ON JANUARY 2 AND 3-VISIBILITIES OF 1 OOO METRES WERE RECORDED AT WAGLAN ISLAND ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 3.
THE COLD FRONT PASSED THROUGH HONG KONG THE NEXT DAY AND BROUGHT OVERCAST SKIES AND RAIN TO THE TERRITORY.
ON JANUARY 5, HOWEVER, THE WEATHER TURNED SUNNY WITH THE ONSET OF DRIER CONTINENTAL AIR AND IT REMAINED RELATIVELY WARM AND SUNNY FOR THE NEXT SIX DAYS.
ANOTHER SURGE OF WINTER MONSOON REACHED HONG KONG ON JANUARY 11 BRINGING FRESH TO STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS.
THE DRY WINTER MONSOON KEPT JANUARY 12 TO 14 MAINLY FINE WITH COOL NIGHTS WHILE WARMER WEATHER PREVAILED FROM JANUARY 15 TO 17.
IT TURNED CLOUDY ON JANUARY 18 WITH SOME LIGHT RAIN LATE IN THE EVENING.
MIST PATCHES DEVELOPED THE NEXT MORNING BUT WERE CLEARED IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK COLD FRONT.
WINDS STRENGTHENED FROM THE EAST ON JANUARY 20 AND SKIES BECAME OVERCAST WITH THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE REACHING ONLY 16.5 DEGREES CELSIUS.
SUNNY PERIODS PREVAILED OVER THE NEXT TWO DAVS WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES RISING TO 23.9 DEGREES CELSIUS ON JANUARY 23, THE HIGHEST FOR THE MONTH.
HOWEVER, AN INTENSE SURGE OF WINTER MONSOON ARRIVED IN THE TERRITORY AROUND MIDNIGHT AND STRONG MONSOON WINDS AFFECTED OFFSHORE WATERS OVERNIGHT.
/CONTINUAL.......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 198?
2
CONTINUAL REPLENISHMENT OF THE WINTER MONSOON BROUGHT PROGRESSIVELY COLDER CONDITIONS TO HONG KONG OVER THE NEXT THREE DAYS.
IN THE EARLY MORNING OF JANUARY 27 THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF THE MONTH - 10.4 DEGREES CELSIUS - WAS RECORDED. IT WAS EVEN COLDER IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE WEATHER IMPROVED AFTER THIS COLD SPELL AND REMAINED FINE THROUGH THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
TWO TROPICAL CYCLONES DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE MONTH.
NO AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER IN JANUARY.
THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS PUT UP FROM JANUARY 12 TO 14 AND FROM JANUARY 25 TO 31, WHILE THE YELLOW WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON JANUARY 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 18, 24 AND 25.
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS!
WEATHER SYSTEM SIGNAL DATE AND TIME OF HOISTING DATE AND TIME OF LOWERING
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JAN 1 8.30 AM JAN 1 12.05 PM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JAN 12 6.40 AM JAN 12 10.00 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON JAN 20 9.15 PM JAN 21 10.00 AM
WINTER STRONG MONSOON MONSOON THE MONTH'S FIGURES SUNSHINE rainfall CLOUDINESS RELATIVE HUMIDITY JAN 23 10.35 PM AND DEPARTURES FROM 183.3 HOURS - 12.5 MM = 50% - 71% - JAN 24 10.00 AM NORMAL WERE: 29.8 HOURS ABOVE NORMAL 14.4 MM BELOW NORMAL 9% LESS THAN NORMAL NORMAL
/mean maximum........
san»o x jBRUARY 15, 1987
MEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE 19.7 DEGREES C - 1.0 DEGREES C ABOVE
NORMAL
MEAN TEMPERATURE
17.3 DEGREES C
1.7 DEGREES C ABOVE NORMAL
MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 15.4 DEGREES C - 2.2 DEGREES C ABOVE
NORMAL
MEAN DEW POINT
11.7 DEGREES C
1.9 DEGREES C ABOVE NORMAL
TOTAL EVAPORATION
93.3 MM
9.8 MM BELOW NORMAL
- - 0 - -
FOUR MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BLOCKS AMONG PLANS APPROVED
*****
FOUR MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BLOCKS WERE AMONG 48 PLANS APPROVED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE IN DECEMBER.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDED A 21-STOREY BLOCK AT SAI NING STREET AND A 26-STOREY BLOCK AT WESTLANDS ROAD, BOTH ON HONG KONG ISLAND-TWO 18-STOREY EXTENSION BLOCKS IN TUEN MUN J AND A 15-STOREY BLOCK AT HUNG TO ROAD, KWUN TONG.
ALSO APPROVED WAS A SINGLE-STOREY BLOCK AT TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
THE 48 APPROVALS IN DECEMBER BROUGHT TO 578 THE NUMBER OF PLANS PASSED DURING 1986, COMPARED WITH 455 THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE LARGEST NUMBER OF APPROVALS - 22 - WAS ONCE AGAIN IN THE APARTMENT OR APARTMENT-COMMERCIAL CATEGORY. A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT TSI NG LUNG TAU IN THE NEW TERR I TOR IES WHERE SIX 30-STOREY BLOCKS OF APARTMENTS ARE TO BE BUILT IN TWO SEPARATE DEVELOPMENTS. IN TUEN MUN PLANS FOR FOUR 20-ST0REY APARTMENTCOMMERCIAL TOWER BLOCKS HAVE BEEN PASSED.
OTHER PLANS AGREED INCLUDED A 27-STOREY TELEPHONE EXCHANGE IN LEIGHTON ROAD I A FIVE-STOREY COMMERCIAL CENTRE AT SITE 8 OF WHAMPOA DOCK} AN EXTENSION TO THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION YOUTH CAMP ON LANTAU ISLAND? A NEW OUTPATIENT AND ACCIDENT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT FOR THE POK 01 HOSPITAL AT YUEN LONG? AND A MALL GARDEN AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
/ALSO IN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
ALSO IN DECEMBER, CONSENT TO START WORK ON 51 BUILDINGS WAS DEVELOPMENTSICH 31 WERE APARTMENT 0R APAR™ENT-COMMERCI AL
A TOTAL OF 38 COMPLETED BUILDINGS WERE CERTIFIED FOR OCCUPATION BRINGING THE TOTAL FOR THE YEAR TO 412, THREE LESS THAN IN 1985.
THE COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER WAS Si 348.27 MILLION, BRINGING THE TOTAL FOR THE YEAR TO $14 282.66 MILLION. THIS COMPARES WITH A FIGURE OF $10 370.47 MILLION FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER
WAS 391 851.8 SQUARE METRES. THE FIGURE FOR THE YEAR WAS
2 535 977.38 SQUARE METRES.
THE NUMBER OF DEMOLITION ORDERS ISSUED IN DECEMBER WAS 22 AFFECTING 35 BUILDINGS.
THERE WERE 379 COMPLAINTS MADE TO THE CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT DIVISION ABOUT ILLEGAL BUILDING WORKS AND CHANGES OF USE IN THE MONTH. THE DIVISION CARRIED OUT 1 221 INSPECTIONS, ISSUED 298 ORDERS AND FULLY SURVEYED 46 BUILDINGS. ELEVEN CLOSURE ORDERS WERE OBTAINED FROM THE COURTS.
0
MONG KOK STRIVING FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT * * * * M-
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI, PLEDGED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE BOARD WOULD CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR RESIDENTS IN THE COMING YEAR.
THE BOARD HAD ALREADY COMPLETED A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO PROVIDE MORE AMENITY GROUNDS AND GREENERY FOR THE COMMUNITY DURING ITS CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE, HE SAID.
MR CHOW WAS SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE FIVEMONTH MONG KOK DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN.
+A LANDSCAPING PROJECT IS BEING JOINTLY PLANNED WITH A BANK TO PROVIDE AMENITY PLOTS AT THE SECTION OF NELSON STREET BOUNDED BY NATHAN ROAD AND PORTLAND STREET.
/+SE7ERAL OTHER .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
♦SEVERAL OTHER BEAUTIFICATION SCHEMES ARE IN THE PIPELINE, AND THEY INCLUDE THE ROAD WIDENING WORK AT IVY STREET, BEAUTIFICATION SCHEMES AT WONG TAI ROAD, THE JUNCTION OF BEECH STREET AND CHERRY STREET, AS WELL AS THE PUTTING UP OF DISTRICT BOARD WELCOME SIGNS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS,* HE SAID.
MORE THAN $200 000 HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FOR SUCH PROJECTS THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD CONTINUE TO IDENTIFY MORE LOCATIONS FOR BEAUTIFICATION WITH THE HELP OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
MR CHOW ALSO NOTED THAT THE FOCUS OF THE CAMPAIGN WAS ON DRAINAGE PROBLEM. +RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY FOOD OPERATORS, FACTORY OWNERS AND HAWKERS, SHOULD THEREFORE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP SEWERS CLEAR OF RUBBISH AND GREASE WHICH ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF BLOCKAGE IN THE DISTRICT.*
MR CHOW SAID HE HOPED THAT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM COULD GRADUALLY BE ALLEVIATED.
HE SAID RESIDENTS HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING MANAGEMENT DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD.
HE URGED BUILDING MANAGEMENT ORGANISATIONS TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM TO UPGRADE LIVING CONDITIONS IN THEIR BUILDINGS.
THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (MONG KOK), MR EARNEST CHEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR WONG CHE-MING, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN CLOSING CEREMONY SUB-COMMITTEE, MR HO KWONG-HUNG, ALSO OFFICIATED AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY.
-------0--------
CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN WAN CHAI LAUNCHED
*****
A WEEK-LONG CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, BEGAN TODAY (SUNDAY) WITH AN OPEN COMPETITION IN CHINESE CHESS.
SPEAKING AT THE FESTIVAL’S OPENING CEREMONY AT THE HAPPY VALLEY AND CANAL ROAD KAI FONG ASSOCIATION PREMISES, WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, SAID THE FESTIVAL WAS TO PROMOTE CHINESE CULTURE IN THE DISTRICT AND TO PROVIDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS.
/IT WAS .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
IT WAS ALSO HOPED, HE ADDED, THAT THE FESTIVAL WOULD HELP CULTIVATE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE DISTRICT AMONG RESIDENTS
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, MR LEE KON, SAID DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD CHINESE CHESS COMPETITION WOULD BE HELD EVERY EVENING AT THE KAI FONG ASSOCIATION PREMISES.
IN ADDITION, TWO FREE LUNCHTIME CHINESE CONCERTS WOULD BE HELD -- ONE AT THE METHODIST CENTRE AT 22 HENNESSY ROAD ON FEBRUARY 18, AND THE OTHER AT THE TAI YAU SHOPPING ARCADE AT FLEMING ROAD ON FEBRUARY 19.
TWO MORE CONCERTS WOULD BE HELD DURING THE WEEK FOR STUDENTS OF TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, MR LEE SAID.
THE FESTIVAL WOULD CLOSE ON FEBRUARY 22 AT THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT 01 KWAN ROAD WITH A GATHERING OF FAMOUS LOCAL PAINTERS, CALL I GRAP HI STS AND MUSICIANS WHO HAD BEEN INVITED TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILLS, HE ADDED.
THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL THE EVENTS HELD DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
0
GROUP-ARRANGED ACTIVITIES ENRICHING COMMUNITY LIFE
*****
LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENRICHING THE LIFE OF RESIDENTS, YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICER MR AUGUSTINE CHENG, SAID THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
+THE DISTRICT’S CULTURE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION IS ONE OF THESE ORGANISATIONS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PROMOTING PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND APPRECIATION OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE ART,+ HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL AT KOWLOON PARK, MR CHENG SAID THE ASSOCIATION CURRENTLY MANAGED A CHILDREN’S CHOIR, A DANCE GROUP AND A DRAMA GROUP.
IT ALSO OFFERED A WIDE RANGE OF TRAINING COURSES AND INTEREST GROUPS AND HELPED PROMOTE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OF THE ART THROUGH ITS NEW ACTIVITY CENTRE WHICH COULD SERVE AS AN EXHIBITION GROUND AS WELL AS A PERFORMING THEATRE.
«... J?D^?.CARNIVAL’ FEATURING DANCE AND SINGING PERFORMANCES, AND GAME STALLS, WAS ONE OF THE MANY ACTIVITIES
ORGANISED BY THE ASSOCIATION AND WAS SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
-------0---------
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
DETAILS OF STUDY TOUR TO AUSTRALIA * * * * *
YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR TAI KUEN, WILL ANNOUNCE DETAILS FOR A STUDY TOUR TO AUSTRALIA INITIATED BY THE BOARD AT A PRESS BRIEFING ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17).
LED BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT, THE GROUP COMPRISE 22 MEMBERS OF THE YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARDS, WHO WILL LEAVE FOR AUSTRALIA ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
DURING THE 1O-DAY TOUR, MEMBERS WILL STUDY URBAN TOWN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN VARIOUS AUSTRALIAN CITIES AND STATES AS WELL AS EXAMINE THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THEY WILL ALSO VISIT MELBOURNE WHERE MEMBERS CAN STUDY THE URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY, WHICH HAS A LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE ONE FOR YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS BRIEFING OF THE STUDY TOUR WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM ON TUESDAY IN THE ORCHID AND JASMINE ROOMS OF THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL, 69 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, KOWLOON. YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALAN WONG, WHO WILL BE THE TOUR'S ADVISER, WILL ALSO BE PRESENT.
- - 0 - -
ENTRY SCHEME FOR MACAU RESIDENTS
*****
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT EX-CHINA RESIDENTS OF MACAU MARRIED TO HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND WHOSE MACAU IDENTITY CARDS WERE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1979 AND JANUARY 1980 MAY APPLY TOGETHER WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO JOIN THEIR HUSBANDS IN HONG KONG.
APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED FROM MARCH 2 BY THE HONG KONG SPONSORS IN PERSON TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT 61 MODY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, KOWLOON.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE ENTRY SCHEME CAN BE MADE TO THE DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION OFFICE ON 3-/333126.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
8
FUNDS FOR ORGANISING YOUTH ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE *****
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND SCHOOLS IN SAI KUNG ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR JOCKEY CLUB FUNDS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES FOR THIS YEAR’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.
A CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE HAS BEEN SET UP TO CO-ORDINATE AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES FOR SUMMER YOUTH ACTIVITIES IN T HE DISTRICT.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S PROGRAMME IS +TO SHARE THE JOY OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY* AND YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX TO 24 WILL BE THE MAIN TARGET OF ALL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED THIS SUMMER.
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ACTIVITIES ARE TO ENHANCE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AMONG LOCAL YOUTHS, TO ENRICH THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AND TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE ESSENCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP.
+OF COURSE IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THROUGH ACTIVITIES IN THE SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THEIR ABILITIES AND POTENTIAL,* HE SAID.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDS IS FEBRUARY 28. FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN. FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO MISS WONG ME I-LI ON 3-2814455.
- - 0 - -
SOUTHERN DISTRICT +MEET THE PUBLIC* SCHEME * * * *
SOUTHERN DISTRICT RESIDENTS CAN NOW MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO MEET DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
A ROSTER FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO ATTEND +MEET THE PUBLIC* SESSIONS FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER HAS BEEN DRAWN UP. THERE ARE FOUR SESSIONS EACH WEEK WITH A BOARD MEMBER SITTING AT EACH SESSION.
TWO SESSIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S MAIN OFFICE IN ABERDEEN CENTRE ON TUESDAYS FROM 3 PM TO 5 PM, AND ON FRIDAYS FROM 7 PM TO 9 PM. ONE SESSION EACH WILL BE HELD AT THE WAH FU AND THE STANLEY SUB-OFFICES ON TUESDAYS FROM 8 PM TO 9 PM.
RESIDENTS CAN EITHER CONTACT THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON 5-524429 OR AT PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS OF THE THREE OFFICES FOR APPOINTMENTS. BOOKINGS SHOULD BE MADE AT LEAST A DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT.
/A DISTRICT
SUNADY, FEBRUARY 15, 198?
- 9 -
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID +MEET THE PUBLIC* SCHEME HAD PROVED TO BE A USEFUL CHANNEL FOR RESIDENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR PROBLEMS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO THE DISTRICT BOARD.
+ IT HELPS ENHANCE RESIDENTS’ UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ENABLES BOARD MEMBERS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT AND COLLECT OPINIONS ON VARIOUS ISSUES,+ HE SAID.
+A REVIEW OF THE SCHEME FROM OCTOBER 1, 1985 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1986 SHOWED THAT A TOTAL OF 67 CASES HAVE BEEN HANDLED. MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED HOUSING MATTERS,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
-------0---------
IN-SERVICE COURSES OF TRAINING FOR TEACHERS * * * * *
THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL ORGANISE A SERIES OF TRAINING COURSES FOR IN-SERVICE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TEACHERS NOT POSSESSING PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME +QUALIFIED TEACHERS*.
THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION WILL OFFER A TWO-YEAR PART-TIME COURSE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WHILE THE SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION WILL ORGANISE A THREE-YEAR COURSE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. THE NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND THREE-YEAR COURSES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL
WILL RUN TWO-YEAR TEACHERS.
APPLICATIONS TO ATTEND THE FREE COURSES ARE INVITED FROM TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN GOVERNMENT-AIDED OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS. ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSES, CERTIFICATES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT KOWLOON SUB-OFFICE AT THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SIXTH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, YAUMATI, AND ALL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION JOINT SELECTION BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT BY MARCH 4.
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/10.......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
10
DRIVE LAUNCHED FOR NEW FIRE STATION OFFICERS
* * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS LAUNCHED A RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN A CAREER AS STATION OFFICERS.
THE STARTING SALARY FOR A STATION OFFICER RANGES FROM S7 945 TO $8 790, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS, AND RISES TO $15 640.
AN APPLICANT SHOULD BE UNDER 30 YEARS OF AGE, HAVE GOOD PHYSIQUE AND NORMAL EYESIGHT, AND SPEAKS FLUENT CANTONESE.
HE SHOULD BE 168 CM TALL OR ABOVE AND WEIGH AT LEAST 55 KILOGRAMS. HIS CHEST MEASUREMENT SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN 86 CM DEFLATED, WITH AN EXPANSION OF AT LEAST FIVE CENTIMETRES.
A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE TRAINED AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL AT PAT HEUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR 26 WEEKS BEFORE BECOMING A FIRE OFFICER.
THE MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED ARE FIVE PASSES, INCLUDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS B) AT GRADE E IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO THE RECRUITMENT UNIT, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 1 HONG CHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE RECRUITMENT UNIT ON 3-7337675.
- - 0 - -
SURVEY ON MANPOWER TO BEGIN WEDNESDAY
* M- * *
THE HOTEL, CATERING AND TOURISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY BETWEEN WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) AND MARCH 5 TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON MANPOWER AND EMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO ABOUT 1 400 RANDOMLY-SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE SURVEY.
EMPLOYERS ARE URGED TO CO-OPERATE AS INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE USED TO FORMULATE MANPOWER TRAINING PLANS TO MEET INDUSTRY’S NEEDS.
SURVEY OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT EACH OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS TO HELP COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRES. INFORMATION WILL BE DEALT WITH IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT.
- - 0 - -
/"
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
11
EIGHTH CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRE TO OPEN * * * *
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS TO OPEN ITS EIGHTH CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRE TOMORROW (MONDAY).
LOCATED AT 88, STANLEY VILLAGE ROAD, STANLEY, IT WILL OPERATE FROM 8.30 AM TO 1 PM AND 2 PM TO 4.30 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO 11.30 AM ON SATURDAYS.
THE OTHER CONSUMER ENQUIRY CENTRES ARE AT CAUSEWAY BAY, MONG KOK, NGAU TAU KOK, TAI PO, SHA TIN, KWAI CHUNG AND SAI KUNG.
------0-------
SEMINARS FOR CATERING INDUSTRY ORGANISED *****
the labour department is to organise Two seminars on labour
^SLATION F0R EMPL0YERS 0F ThE CATERING INDUSTRY ON FEBRUARY 26
they are part of the activities by the department’s labour RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT TO PROMOTE LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATION in the trade.
THE SEMINARS COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING ANNUAL s,?;AxBEjT^!uAre- rest sic*“ess »eNEFITand
+IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE MEETINGS WILL PROVIDE A FORUM FOR EMPLOYERS TO DISCUSS AND TACKLE COMMON MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE TRADE, IN PARTICULAR , THE DIFFICULTIES IN COMPLYING WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS,* A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID
the first seminar will be held at the department's youth EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE AT FAR EAST BANK BUILDING, TEXACO ROAD, TSUEN WAN, AND THE SECOND ON THE 25TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING IN CENTRAL.
EMPLOYERS INTERESTED IN THE EVENTS MAY CONTACT THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT ON 5-8523509 FOR ENROLMENT.
/12........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1987
12
STUDENT CAMPAIGNERS TO RECEIVE AWARDS * * * * *
THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY FOR THE 1986 CLEAN SCHOOL COMPETITION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (MONDAY) AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT UC-RC KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE, MR W.M. SULKE, THE COMMITTEE’S VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR CARLOS CHEUNG, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE UC, MRS ELSIE TU, AND THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE RC, MR MA NING-HA, WILL OFFICIATE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY WHICH BEGINS AT 10 AM. STUDENTS FROM THE WINNING SCHOOLS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS.
- - 0 - -
TUEN MUN WATER SUPPLY TO BE IMPROVED * * * * *
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR LAYING 3 400 METRES OF WATERMAIN ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT RESERVE AT TIN HAU, WONG CHU AND LUNG MUN ROADS TO IMPROVE SUPPLY TO THE WESTERN PART OF TUEN MUN.
THE MAIN, OF 800 MILLIMETRES DIAMETER, WILL STRENGTHEN EXISTING SUPPLY AND PROVIDE WATER TO BUTTERFLY ESTATE, TAP SHEK KOK AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START AT THE END OF APRIL AND TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
TEXTILES TRADE FACING UP TO CHALLENGE ...................... 1
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED ................. 2
AIRPORT ADOPTING NEW MONEY CHANGING SYSTEM .................
NO PROSECUTION ............................................. 5
REGISTRATION REVOKED ....................................... 6
TV, RADIO SURVEY STARTS TODAY .............................. 6
TWO MORE BY-CENSUS REPORTS RELEASED ........................ 7
TENDERS INVITED FOR ROUTE 5 SHA TIN CONNECTION ............. 7
SEAWATER MAINS, SEWER FOR HOSPITAL ......................... 8
HIGH PRAISE FOR YOUNG CLEAN CAMPAIGNERS .................... 9
SOUVENIRS FOR RETIRING FIRE OFFICERS ....................... 10
TSUEN WAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE MOVING ........................ 10
DB MEMBERS VISIT EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SITE.............. 11
DB MEMBERS VISIT KOWLOON CITY COMPLEX ...................... 12
HAWKER NOISE PROBLEM UNDER STUDY............................ 12
DB TO CONSIDER REFUGEE ISSUE ............................... 13
DETAILS OF OPINION SURVEY RESULTS .......................... 14
EDUCATION REPORT TO BE DISCUSSED ......................... 14
SEMINAR TO EXAMINE YOUTH PROGRAMME ......................... 15
civic education campaign variety show ...................... 15
DETAILS OF TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SURVEY........... 16
SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS .......... 17
WATER STORAGE FIGURE........................................ 17
FRESH AND ShLT W^TER CUTS .................................. . 17
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
1 TEXTILES TRADE FACING UP TO CHALLENGE * * * * X-
HONG KONG’S TEXTILES AND GARMENT INDUSTRIES SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO WELL THIS YEAR PROVIDED THAT THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT TO THE TERRITORY’S EXPORTS - PROTECTIONISM IN THE UNITED STATES - CAN BE CONTAINED, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS, MR HO NOTED THAT PROTECTIONIST FORCES WERE STILL AT WORK.
+FOR THIS REASON WE MUST NOT RELAX OUR VIGIL, BUT MUST WORK ALL THE HARDER FOR FREE AND FAIR INTERNATIONAL TRADE, + HE SAID.
MR HO SAID HONG KONG’S TEXTILES AND GARMENT TRADE AND INDUSTRY HAD RIDDEN MANY WAVES IN THE PAST AND HAD ALWAYS COME BACK IN BETTER SHAPE TO FACE FURTHER CHALLENGES.
♦ I AM CONFIDENT THAT IN THE YEARS AHEAD WE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK ON 1986 AND 1987 AND COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION.+
ON THE REVIEW OF THE TEXTILE QUOTA SYSTEM, MR HO SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MONITOR THE EFFECTS OF THE LARTEST CHANGES AND REVIEW THE APPROPRIATENESS OF CERTAIN GROUPINGS IN THE U.S. MARKET WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
+BUT I PERSONALLY DO NOT ENVISAGE ANY FURTHER CHANGES TO THE BASIC RULES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS A PERIOD OF CERTAINTY FOR THE TRADE IS ESSENTIAL.*
HE NOTED THAT IT WAS EASY TO DEVISE RULES WHICH PROVIDED FLEXIBILITY TO THE TRADE ON THE ONE HAND AND YET AVOIDED EXCESSIVE AND UNPRODUCTIVE SPECULATION IN QUOTAS ON THE OTHER.
♦ THEREFORE, IT WOULD BE STRANGE IF ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD (TEXTAB) SHOULD HAVE UNANIMITY OF VIEWS, ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE QUOTA TRANSFER RULES, AT ALL TIME.+ HE SAID.
♦ HOWEVER, EVEN WHEN WE SOMETIMES AGREE TO DIFFER, WE ALL, IN OUR SEPARATE WAYS, STRIVE FOR A CONCLUSION WHICH IS IN THE OVERALL INTEREST OF HONG KONG.+
MR HO PAID TRIBUTE TO TEXTAB MEMBERS AND TO THE VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE ADVICE THEY HAD GIVEN DURING THE REVIEW.
- - 0 - -
/2
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
2
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED
*****
FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN GENERAL BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AS COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986, ACCORDING TO SURVEY RESULTS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF SEASONAL FACTORS AND THE FACT THAT BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1986 WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG, MANUFACTURING FIRMS EXPECT THAT THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987 WILL NOT BE AS GOOD AS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR REPORTED A CONTINUED UPTREND IN BUSINESS DURING THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1986 AND THE BUSINESS SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE FAVOURABLY IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
THE MAJORITY OF FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORTEXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR INDICATED THAT THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION HAD IMPROVED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. AS REGARDS BUSINESS PROSPECTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987, OPINION OF FIRMS ARE DIVIDED, BUT ON BALANCE THEY EXPECT THE BUSINESS SITUATION TO REMAIN STABLE.
BANKS AND FIRMS IN THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED SERVICES BUSINESS REPORTED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND EXPECT THE BUSINESS CONDITION TO IMPROVE FURTHER IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987.
THE EXTENT OF IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN .THE CASE OF THE BANKS.
FIRMS IN THE TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION BUSINESS ALSO INDICATED THAT THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION HAD IMPROVED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. HOWEVER, SOME DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS IS EXPECTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987.
ABOUT 1 000 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY AND WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCES AND EXPECTATIONS.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, ALL INDUSTRIES, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY ACHIEVED IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS WERE PARTICULARLY REMARKABLE IN THE CASE OF THE WEARING APPAREL, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, ELECTRONICS, AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES.
/REGARDING BUSINESS........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 198?
REGARDING BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER of 1987, FIRMS IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRIES ON THE WHOLE EXPECT THE BUSINESS SITUATION TO REMAIN STABLE WHILE FIRMS IN THE PRINTING AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES EXPRESS OPTIMISM ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK. IN CONTRAST, FIRMS IN OTHER INDUSTRIES EXPECT SOME DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987.
THE MAJORITY OF FIRMS EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION
IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-AND HOTELS BUSINESSES REPORTED THAT THE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER HAD IMPROVED.
AS REGARDS EXPECTATION OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION, VIEWS OF FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANT BUSINESSES ARE DIVIDED. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF HOTELS, HOWEVER, EXPECT THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987 TO DETERIORATE, DUE MAINLY TO SEASONAL FACTORS.
THE SURVEY ALSO COVERED BUSINESS PROBLEMS
FACED BY FIRMS.
FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE, FIRMS CONTINUED TO BE AFFECTED BY FOUR MAJOR BUSINESS PROBLEMS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. THEY WERE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR, HIGH MATERIAL PRICES, PRICE COMPETITION FROM FIRMS IN HONG KONG AND PRICE COMPETITION FROM FIRMS OVERSEAS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN PROMINENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987.
AS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FIRMS REPORTED THE PROBLEMS OF PRICE COMPETITION FROM LOCAL AND FOREIGN FIRMS IN HONG KONG AS MAJOR PROBLEMS FOR BOTH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1986 AND THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987. ADDITIONALLY, THE INTENSITY OF THE PROBLEMS OF SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR, HIGH WAGE RATES AND HIGH MATERIAL PRICES AMONG CONSTRUCTION FIRMS HAVE BEEN INCREASING.
AS REGARDS THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS BUSINESSES, PRICE COMPETITION REMAINED THE MOST PREVAILING PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY FIRMS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1986.
OTHER RELATIVELY MORE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS CITED BY FIRMS IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT-EXPORT TRADES AND RESTAURANTS BUSINESSES WERE UNCERTAINTIES THROUGH EXCHANGE RATES FLUCTUATIONS AND HIGH STAFF TURNOVER RESPECTIVELY. THESE PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN EXTENSIVE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1987.
IN THE CASE OF THE OTHER SERVICES SECTOR, PRICE COMPETITION WAS CONSIDERED A COMMON PROBLEM FACED BY FIRMS IN THE TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION AND BANKS BUSINESSES.
/ACCORDING TO .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE SURVEY RESULTS, OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG.
IN THE SURVEY, PARTICIPATING FIRMS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINION, THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND LEVEL OF CAPACITY UTILISATION HAD IMPROVED, REMAINED THE SAME OR DETERIORATED IN THE QUARTER JUST ENDED AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER. FOR THE FORTHCOMING QUARTER, THEY WERE ALSO ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER THE SITUATION WOULD IMPROVE, REMAIN THE SAME OR DETERIORATE.
THE BALANCE OF OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WERE TABULATED AND ANALYSED. THE SURVEY REPORT CONTAINS A SECTION ON THE BUSINESS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS AND A BREAKDOWN OF THE VIEWS OF FIRMS BY SIZE GROUPS.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT, IN A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, RESULTS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CARE AS IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPONDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE ACCORDS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS.
COPIES OF THE REPORT, CONTAINING AN ANALYSIS OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND STATISTICAL TABLES, HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FIRMS TAKING PART IN THE SURVEY AND TO OTHER BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN COPIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AT S3 PER COPY.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL INCOME BRANCH OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-423401.
- - 0 - -
AIRPORT ADOPTING NEW MONEY CHANGING SYSTEM
X X X X X
A NEW SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MONEY CHANGING CONCESSIONS FROM MARCH 15 TO OFFER MORE EQUITABLE EXCHANGE RATES TO CUSTOMERS.
FOLLOWING A RECENT TENDER EXERCISE, LARK INTERNATIONAL FINANCE LTD., WHICH IS A SUBSIDIARY OF DEAK INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, HAS BEEN AWARDED A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT TO RUN THE SIX MONEY CHANGING BOOTHS IN THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDING.
UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, A MONITOR WILL BE INSTALLED AT EACH MONEY CHANGING BOOTH AND THE EXCHANGE RATES OF THE 15 MOST POPULAR CURRENCIES WILL BE PUBLICLY DISPLAYED.
/The exchange
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
- 5 -
THE EXCHANGE RATES SHOWN ON THE SCREEN WILL BE CALCULATED ACCORDING TO CURRENT BANKNOTE RATES. THEY WILL BE REGULARLY UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
REUTERS HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED TO OPERATE THE TELEVISION INFORMATION SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY.
IN MAKING TRANSACTIONS, CONCESSIONAIRES WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE THE EXCHANGE RATES PROVIDED BY THIS INFORMATION SYSTEM.
THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO LEVY A SERVICE CHARGE NOT EXCEEDING FIVE PER CENT OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR VALUE OF THE TRANSACTION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT SAID THE NEW SYSTEM WAS INTENDED TO EXERCISE TIGHTER CONTROL OVER MONEY CHANGING OPERATIONS AT THE AIRPORT.
+CUSTOMERS CAN EASILY SEE THE BUYING AND SELLING RATES OF THE MAJOR CURRENCIES.
+RATES OF CURRENCIES NOT ON DISPLAY WILL BE PROVIDED TO CUSTOMERS IN PRINT THROUGH THE REUTERS COMPUTER DATA SYSTEM,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE TENANCY AGREEMENT ALSO REQUIRES THE CONCESSIONAIRE TO CLEARLY OUTLINE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THE SERVICE CHANGE IN THE SALES NOTE.
+IT WOULD BE A BREACH OF CONTRACT TERMS IF THE LISTED RATES ARE NOT FOLLOWED.+
THREE OF THE MONEY CHANGING BOOTHS ARE LOCATED IN THE PUBLIC AREAS OF THE ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALLS WHILE THE OTHER THREE ARE IN THE CUSTOMS AREAS.
-----0------
NO PROSECUTION
X * X
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS CONFIRMED THIS (MONDAY) MORNING THAT NO PROSECUTION OF MR ALAN BOND WILL TAKE PLACE IN RESPECT OF HIS STATEMENTS ALLEGEDLY MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ASSET VALUE OF BCIL.
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/6........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
6
REGISTRATION REVOKED X * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE REGISTRATION OF LU’S (HONG KONG) FINANCE LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED TODAY AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 31(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE 1986.
- 0 - -
TV, RADIO SURVEY STARTS TODAY *****
A SURVEY ON THE PUBLIC’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMMES STARTED TODAY (MONDAY).
COMMISSIONED BY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA), THE SURVEY WILL COVER ABOUT 2 500 HOUSEHOLDS SELECTED BY PROBABILITY SAMPLING TECHNIQUES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR TELA SAID: +THIS IS ONE OF THE REGULAR SURVEYS UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT THE LATEST PUBLIC OPINION ON TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMMES.
+THE INFORMATION WILL SERVE AS GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVING TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCAST I NG.+
THE SURVEY FINDINGS, EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF APRIL, WILL BE DISCUSSED BY THE TELEVISION ADVISORY BOARD, AND ALSO SENT TO LOCAL TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS FOR THEIR REFERENCE.
THE INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANISATION, AGB MCNAIR, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVEY HAD ALREADY SENT LETTERS TO SELECTED HOUSEHOLD A FEW DAYS BEFORE TODAY’S VISIT. THE ENTIRE FIELD WORK WILL LAST FOR SIX WEEKS.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED FAMILY MEMBERS OF SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE INTERVIEWERS SO THAT MEANINGFUL FINDINGS COULD BE COLLECTED.
+ANY INFORMATION GATHERED WILL BE ANALYSED COLLECTIVELY AND WILL BE KEPT IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE,* HE ADDED.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
7
TWO MORE BY-CENSUS REPORTS RELEASED
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) RELEASED IWO OTHER BY-CENSUS REPORTS, ENTITLED +HONG KONG 1986 BY-CENSUS: DISTRICT BOARD DISTRICT SUMMARY TABLES+ AND + HONG KONG 1986 BY-CENSUSi DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCY AREA SUMMARY TABLES*.
FIVE ADVANCED REPORTS ON THE 1986 BY-CENSUS WERE ISSUED IN OCTOBER.
THE NEW REPORTS CONTAIN SETS OF TABLES SUMMARISING THE DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION IN EACH DISTRICT OR CONSTITUENCY AREA.
TABLES COVER SUCH INFORMATION AS HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, TENURE AND RENT OF HOUSEHOLDS, AGE AND SEX, PLACE OF BIRTH, MARITAL STATUS, OCCUPATION, INDUSTRY, INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT AND ACTIVITY STATUS OF POPULATION.
MAPS SHOWING THE BOUNDARIES OF DISTRICTS AND CONSTITUENCY AREAS ARE ATTACHED TO THE REPORTS.
+THE BY-CENSUS RESULTS ARE PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT LEVELS TO MEET INCREASING PUBLIC DEMANDS,* A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+A SET OF THREE REPORTS CONTAINING SIMILAR INFORMATION AT THE TERTIARY PLANNING AREA LEVEL WILL BE PUBLISHED IN APRIL 1987.
+MORE DETAILED CROSS-TABULATIONS OF THE BY-CENSUS DATA AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A SET OF 19 REPORTS TO BE RELEASED IN JUNE THIS YEAR,* HE ADDED.
THE TWO REPORTS ARE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
- - 0 -
TENDERS INVITED FOR ROUTE 5 SHA TIN CONNECTION
*****
WORK ON THE SHA TIN CONNECTION FOR ROUTE FIVE LINKING THE NEW TOWN WITH TSUEN WAN IS EXPECTED TO START THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.
PHASE ONE OF THE PROJECT STARTS NEAR THE BOUNDARY OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN, NORTH OF HEUNG FAN LIU, AND JOINS THE EXISTING TAI PO ROAD NEAR SHA TIN TOWN CENTRE.
/WORKS INCLUDE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 198?
- 8 -
WORKS INCLUDE A 2.2-KILOMETRE DUAL, TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY, OF WHICH 1.2 KILOMETRES WILL BE ELEVATED.
ALSO INCLUDED ARE TWO FLYOVERS CONNECTING ROUTE FIVE WITH TAI WAI AND A FLYOVER CONNECTING THE HIGHWAY WITH THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TAI PO ROAD IN FRONT OF TUNG LO WAN.
OTHER WORKS COMPRISE A 25O-METRE-LONG FOOTPATH AND CYCLETRACK ALONG THE WESTERN BANK OF THE SHING MUN RIVER OPPOSITE MEI LAM ESTATE, A 180-METRE-L0NG CYCLETRACK IN TAI WAI, WIDENING A 200-METRE-L0NG SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD IN FRONT OF THE TOWN CENTRE AND SLOPE AND DRAINAGE WORKS.
THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN LATE 1989.
--------o ---------
SEAWATER MAINS, SEWER FOR HOSPITAL
*****
A SEAWATER MAINS AND A NEW PART OF THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL
SEWER WILL BE LAID THIS YEAR AS REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME.
WORK ON THE SEAWATER SUPPLY AND SEWER, AS WELL AS OTHER ESSENTIAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS, WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT SOME ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE AND DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC MAY BE CAUSED DURING THE PERIOD, BUT HE SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM.
THE $676 MILLION QMH REDEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW MULTI-STOREY BLOCKS AND MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HOSPITAL’S FACILITIES.
- 0 -
/9
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
9
HIGH PRAISE FOR YOUNG CLEAN CAMPAIGNERS
*****
YOUNG CAMPAIGNERS FOR A CLEANER HONG KONG RECEIVED THEIR AWARDS TODAY (MONDAY) AT A PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY FOR THE 1986 CLEAN SCHOOL COMPETITION HELD AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
OFFICIATING THE CEREMONY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT URBAN-REGIONAL COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE, MR W.M. SULKE, SAID THAT THOSE WHO WERE OLDER BUT NOT NECESSARILY WISER COULD LEARN FROM THE WORK OF THE STUDENTS.
IN EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL A TEAM OF STUDENTS CONCEIVED AND EXECUTED EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS FOR ENCOURAGING CLEANLINESS.
THE INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNS WERE JUDGED FOR THEIR CREATIVITY, EFFECTIVENESS AND ABILITY TO OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES.
MR SULKE. WHO HAD VISITED SOME OF THE WINNING SCHOOLS, TOLD THE STUDENTS PRESENT THAT THEIR METHODS OF ORGANISING, THElR MEANS OF EVALUATING EFFECTIVENESS, AND ABOVE ALL THEIR CREATIVE ARTWORK, COULD STAND WITH ANY CAMPAIGN.
IN THE SECONDARY SECTION THE CHAMPIONS HONOURED TODAY WERE ST. PAUL'S CONVENT SCHOOL IN HONG KONG, MING KEI COLLEGE IN KOWLOON AND KEI YUEN COLLEGE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE THREE PRIMARY SECTION WINNERS WERE ST. CLARE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL IN HONG KONG, FUK WING ST. GOVERNMENT PRIMARY A.M. SCHOOL IN KOWLOON AND THE NTW AND JWA LEUNG SING TAK SCHOOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
TEAM MEMBERS FROM THE SIX TOP SCHOOLS WERE AWARDED SI 500 IN BOOK COUPONS.
IN ADDITION 12 RUNNERS-UP AND 30 MERIT AWARD WINNERS RECEIVED CONSOLATION PRIZES.
JOINING MR SULKE IN OFFICIATING DUTIES WERE THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE JUC-RC STEERING COMMITTEE, MR CARLOS CHEUNG, UC VICE-CHAIRMAN, MRS ELSIE TU, RC VICE-CHAIRMAN, MR MA NING-HEI, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EDUCATION AND INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
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/10........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
10
SOUVENIRS FOR RETIRING FIRE OFFICERS * * * * *
FOUR SENIOR FIRE OFFICERS, WHO WILL BE RETIRING IN THE COMING MONTHS, WERE PRESENTED WITH SOUVENIRS BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES, AT A CEREMONY AT FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS TODAY (MONDAY).
they are mr brian fender, mr Thomas gardiner, mr kenneth
HODGKINS AND MR CYRIL PULL INGER.
MR FENDER JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1958 AND BECAME CHIEF FIRE OFFICER IN 1975. HE WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY IN 1963 AND THE QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICES MEDAL IN 1978.
MR GARDINER JOINED IN 1963 AND HAS HELD THE PRESENT RANK OF CHIEF FIRE OFFICER SINCE 1984. HE WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN 1979 AND THE QUEEN’S FIRE SERVICES MEDAL IN 1986.
MR HODGKINS JOINED IN I960 AND ROSE TO THE PRESENT RANK OF DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER IN 1984. HE WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN 1978.
MR PULL INGER JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 1966 AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE PRESENT RANK OF DIVISIONAL OFFICER IN 1980. HE WAS AWARDED THE COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL IN 1984.
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TSUEN WAN IMMIGRATION OFFICE MOVING *****
THE TSUEN WAN OFFICE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT. AT PRESENT LOCATED IN THE FAR EAST BANK BUILDING AND KAPOK BUILDING IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD, WILL BE MOVED TO NEW PREMISES THIS MONTH.
FROM NEXT MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23), THE OFFICE WILL BE LOCATED TELLE0E4924664JEN WAN FERRY PIER’ tsuen WAN WATERFRONT.
THE OFFICE PROVIDES NORMAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES SUCH AS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR BRITISH (HK) PASSPORTS, CERTIFICATE «!')U§;ESG7EBHITS’ exte"s,0“ ™
WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME DAY, OTHER OFFICES ALSO LOCATED
TO S PRA£m“1s C‘STLE PEAK R°‘D’ “ 'LL BE M0VED
/REGISTRATION OF .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN BRANCH, LEVEL 4 TSUEN WAN FERRY PIER, TSUEN WAN WATERFRONT. TEL: 0-4984242.
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY AND TSUEN WAN MARRIAGE REGISTRY, LEVEL 4, TSUEN WAN FERRY PIER,'TSUEN WAN WATERFRONT. TEL: 0-4922229 (BIRTHS AND DEATHS), 0-4939929 (MARRIAGE).
THE OPERATING HOURS OF THE THREE OFFICES WILL BE UNCHANGED.
TSUEN WAN OFFICE (FOR NORMAL IMMIGRATION SERVICES) AND REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN BRANCH: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9 AM - 12.45 PM, AND 2 PM - 4.30 PM; SATURDAY 9 AM - 12.30 PMi SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY CLOSED.
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY AND TSUEN WAN MARRIAGE REGISTRY: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8.45 AM - 12.45 PM AND 2 PM - 4.45 PMi SATURDAY 9 AM - 11.30 AM; SUNDAY AND PUBLIC HOLIDAY CLOSED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE ENQUIRIES MAY CALL THE DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION OFFICE ON 3-7333111.
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DB MEMBERS VISIT EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SITE
*****
MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE VISITED THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SITE TODAY (MONDAY) TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK.
THE GROUP WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM HANG-FAI, AND THE ENGINEER, EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, MR ERIC GLENVILLE.
FOLLOWING A BRIEFING BY MR R.J. BLACK AND MR PETER POON FROM THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING MANAGEMENT CO. LTD., THE GROUP TOURED THE SITE AND SAW THE CHA KWO LING ROAD BRIDGE DIVERSION, CHANNEL EXCAVATION, DRY DOCK AND IMMERSED TUBE UNITS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THEY ALSO WENT TO THE TOP OF THE CHA KWO LING QUARRY TO LOOK AT THE DRY DOCK AND SAI TSO WAN ROAD WHERE THEY SAW WORKS ALONG LEI YUE MUN ROAD.
WHEN COMPLETED IN JANUARY 1990, THE $3 000 MILLION CROSSING WILL LINK QUARRY BAY ON THE ISLAND WITH CHA KWO LING IN KOWLOON.
EARLIER, ON THEIR WAY TO THE SITE, THE PARTY PASSED THROUGH KWUN TONG ROAD, LEI YUE MUN ROAD, YAU TONG ROAD WHERE THEY SAW THE EFFECTS OF TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS BECAUSE OF MTR WORKS.
- - 0 -
MONDAY, FEBRUAR' 16, 1987
12
DB MEMBERS VISIT KOWLOON CITY COMPLEX * * * X
MEMBERS OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (MONDAY) VISITED THE URBAN COUNCIL'S KOWLOON CITY COMPLEX WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR OCCUPATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.
LED BY KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG. AND DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG, THEY WENT TO THE COMPLEX AT THE JUNCTION OF HAU WONG ROAD AND NGA TSIN LONG ROAD.
ON ARRIVAL THEY WERE BRIEFED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (KOWLOON) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR TOMMY CHOY, ON PROGRESS IN BUILDING THE COMPLEX AND THE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED.
THE THREE-STOREY COMPLEX HAS A FLOOR AREA OF 4 593 SQUARE METRES. IT WILL COMPRISE A MARKET AND COOKED FOOD CENTRE, INDOOR GAMES HALL, games ROOM AND SQUASH COURTS, AND LIBRARY.
THE MARKET, ON THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS, WILL HAVE 84 MARKET STALLS AND 584 MINI-STALLS. THE COOKED FOOD CENTRE WILL ACCOMMODATE 10 STALLS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
THE MARKET WAS DESIGNED TO REPROVISION THE STALLS OF THE KOWLOON CITY TEMPORARY MARKET IN CARPENTER ROAD AND TO ABSORB, AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, LICENSED ON-STREET HAWKERS IN THE AREA
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hawker noise *
PROBLEM UNDER STUDY * X * X
NUISANCES CASUED BY ON-STREET HAWKING AND NIGHT-TIME COOKED FOOD STALLS WILL BE DISCUSSED FURTHER BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
PROBLEMS CREATED BY HAWKERS IN ARGYLE STREET OPPOSITE THE MONG KOK MARKET, AS WELL AS BY COOKED FOOD STALLS IN FA YUEN STREEi AND PLAYING FIELD ROAD, HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF FREQUENT COM- '>'NT,
FOLLOWING EARLIER DISCUSSIONS BY THE COMMITTEE, RAIDING OPERATIONS AND INSPECTIONS WERE STEPPED UP BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL ASSESS THE EFFECT OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION AND CONSIDER WHETHER FURTHER STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN
THEY WILL ALSO BE TOLD OF SURVEY FINDINGS CONCERNING DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICT AND CONSIDER WHAT ACTION IS NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM.
/A BRIEFING .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 198?
- 15 -
A BRIEFING WILL BE GIVEN ON THE PRIVATE STREET RESUMPTION PROGRAMME TO BE CONDUCTED IN THE DISTRICT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE RELOCATION OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUS STANDS IN SHANGHAI STREET, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, PROVISION OF A PEDESTRAIN SIGNAL SYSTEM AT THE JUNCTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, AND AN AMENITY PROJECT IN NELSON STREET.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO BE HELD TOMORROW AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, 157, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD.
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DP TO CONSIDER REFUGEE ISSUE
*****
MEMBERS OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL TOMORROW (TUESDAY) CONSIDER A PROPOSAL THAT THE BOARD SUPPORT THE OMELCO CALL FOR AN EARLY SOLUTION TO THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM.
THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG, IS EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING.
SUGGESTIONS FOR A CHANGE IN THE INCOME TAX SYSTEM AND THE PROVISION OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR OUTREACH ING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
IN ADDITION, MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, AND PROGRESS REPORTS WILL BE MADE BY THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES, DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND AREA COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE wAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD, EIGHTH FLOOR, TUNG WAH MANS ION, WAN CHA I.
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/1U........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 198/
14
DETAILS OF OPINION SURVEY RESULTS
*****
THE COMMITTEE ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF A RECENT OPINION SURVEY ON THE SUBJECT AND GIVE DETAILS OF A COMING CIVIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE.
PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MRS RITA FAN, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, MR CHAN WING-TAI, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR PETER TAM, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AGB MCNAIR HONG KONG LTD., DR BETTY CHUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH WILL BE HELD AT 10.30 AM IN ROOM 150. CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING) CENTRAL. SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SURVEY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
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EDUCATION REPORT TO BE DISCUSSED
* * * * *
THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 2 AND COMMENTS ON PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES FROM A GROUP OF CHILD CARE CENTRE WORKERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AT A MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18).
MEMBERS WILL ALSO LOOK INTO THE ADEQUACY OF FACILITIES AT THE SIU HONG COURT CHILD CARE CENTRE AND YOUTH CENTRE AND THE PROBLEM OF POSTAL SERVICES IN BUTTERFLY AREA.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, NO. 1, TUEN HI ROAD.
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/15
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
15
SEMINAR TO EXAMINE YOUTH PROGRAMME
*****
A SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN TSUEN WAN ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) TO DISCUSS A RECENTLY COMPLETED ASSESSMENT OF HOW SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT ARE ORGANISED AND IMPLEMENTED.
LAST SUMMER AROUND 22 OOO PEOPLE TOOK PART IN NUMEROUS SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES ORGANISED IN TSUEN WAN.
MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES EMPHASISED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, AND OTHERS TOOK THE THEME OF TRANSFORMING TSUEN WAN’S LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND OF NURTURING THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
THE SEMINAR WILL BEGIN AT 3 PM IN THE HALL OF THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE, 60 TAI HO ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
AMONG THOSE ATTENDING WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE 1986 TSUEN WAN SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME ORGANISING COMMITTEE, DR FRANK CHEUNG, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ANGUS MIU, AND MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH HELPED TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR.
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CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN VARIETY SHOW
*****
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
THE THREE-HOUR PREMIERE OF A VIDEO BY THE KOWLOON CITY COMMITTEE, DISTRICT DISTRICT BOARD.
PROGRAMME FEATURING A VARIETY SHOW AND THE Sn ?BETtIr KOWLOON CITY+ IS JOINTLY ORGANISED DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING OFFICE AND SPONSORED BY THE KOWLOON CITY
PATRICIA
THE VARIETY SHOW FEATURES POPULAR SINGERS INCLUDING rHAN SAMANTHA LAM AND ALBERT AU, THE KOWLOON CITY uiaiKii,i CHILDREN’S CHORUS, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT DANCE GRO . AND A DRAMA BY THE HO MAN TIN SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE.
DISTRICT
ARTISTE MISS LIZA
THE VIDEO IS COMPERED BY FAMOUS TELEVISION WANG WHO WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE VARIETY SHOW
/AT THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 198?
- 16 -
AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY, WINNERS OF THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR SCHEME AND COURTESY CAMPAIGN WILL BE PRESENTED PRIZES.
FREE TICKETS FOR THE VARIETY SHOW AND CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS AT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AT KAU PUI LUNG ROAD, HUNG HOM SUB-OFFICE AT BULKELEY STREET AND HO MAN TIN SUB-OFFICE IN HO MAN TIN ESTATE.
OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL INCLUDE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MRS RITA FAN, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, DR DANIEL TSE, KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR WONG SIK-KONG, AND KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY AT 7.30 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21) AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE.
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DETAILS OF TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SURVEY
*****
THE CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, MR YIP HING-CHUNG, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON DETAILS CF A SURVEY REPORT ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE WITH DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS IS AIMED AT MONITORING THE GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS, AND THE NEEDS OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS, AS WELL AS IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS.
THE CONVENOR OF THE SURVEY, MR TSE SHIU-WAI, ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDWARD YAU, AND THE PROJECT MANAGER (NT/NW) OF THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR SIU CHUEN, WILL ALSO ATTEND.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH WILL BE FELD AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING, NO. 1, TUEN HI ROAD.
0
/17........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1987
17
SPRING RECEPTION FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATORS
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, TODAY (MONDAY) HOSTED A SPRING RECEPTION AT THE CLUBHOUSE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND EDUCATORS TO THANK THEM FOR THE ADVICE AND SUPPORT THEY GAVE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST YEAR.
MORE THAN 300 GUESTS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DISTRICT BOARDS, SCHOOL COUNCILS, UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS OF TEACHING PROFESSION, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND SCHOOL SPONSORING BODIES ATTENDED THE RECEPTION.
WATER STORAGE FIGURE
*****
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 57.0 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 33A.135 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 359.063 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 61.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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FRESH AND SALT WATER CUTS * * *
FRESH AND SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN BEACON HILL AND KOWLOON TONG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT BEACON HILL ROAD, EDE ROAD, EASTBOURNE ROAD, ALNWICK ROAD, BROADCAST DRIVE, MARCONI ROAD, FESSENDEN ROAD, CHAK YAN CENTRE, KOWLOON KITCHEN OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, CHAK ON ESTATE, TAI WOH PING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, SHEK KIP MEI PARK AND CORNWALL STREET TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SIR EDWARD HELD IN LONDON.............. 1
ROYAL REPRESENTATIVES AT MEMORIAL SERVICE................... 2
EXCO APPROVES TAXI FARE INCREASES .......................... 3
FUNDS SOUGHT FOR NEW PRINTING EQUIPMENT..................... 5
THIRD QUARTER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX PUBLISHED......... 6
SURVEY CONFIRMS NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION.................... 10
LEGCO DEBATE RESUMES ON EDUCATION REPORT ................... 12
ORGANISED EFFORTS MADE TO SUPPORT YOUDE FUND ............... 13
CHICKEN BREEDING ENTERS NEW ERA ............................ 14
OLD BRIDGES ON ROUTE TWISK TO BE REPLACED .................. 14
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED IN TSUi SHA TSUI ................ 15
EXHIBITION TO SHOW NEW DEVELOPMENTS UI KWUN TONG............ 16
FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITS NEW NARUIE POLICE BASE......... 17
YEUN LONG DB TO DISCUSS POWTRIJNE ROUTS..................... 18
LUNCHTUE CONCERT FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS .................... 18
RECEPTION GIVEN FOR SPORTS LEADERS ......................... 19
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND APPLICATIONS ................ 19
FUN DAY FOR MONG KOK SOUTH RESIDENTS ....................... 20
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CHANCES ON HONG KONG ISIAND............... 20
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN SHEUNG WAN............................... 21
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN YUEN LONG......................... 21
SALT WATER CUT ............................................. 22
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
1
MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR SIR EDWARD HELD IN LONDON *****
THE LATE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WAS PRAISED AT A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN LONDON TODAY (TUESDAY) AS A DIPLOMAT WHOSE SKILL AND DEDICATION HAD MADE A VITAL AND HISTORIC CONTRIBUTION TO THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON HONG KONG.
SIR EDWARD WAS A LOYAL AND INCREDIBLY HARD WORKING OFFICIAL WHO HAD BEEN PREPARED TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HIS HEALTH AND ULTIMATELY HIS LIFE, ON BEHALF OF THOSE HE SERVED, THE HEAD OF THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE, SIR PATRICK WRIGHT, TOLD THE CONGREGATION IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
HE SAID SUCH CHARACTERISTICS HAD ALWAYS INSPIRED THE ADMIRATION, RESPECT AND AFFECTION OF SIR EDWARD’S COLLEAGUES DURING HIS NEARLY 40 YEARS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.
OPENING HIS ADDRESS, SIR PATRICK DESCRIBED SIR EDWARD AS A MUCH-LOVED GOVERNOR WHOSE SUDDEN DEATH HAD BEEN DEEPLY MOURNED IN THE TERRITORY, AS WAS EVIDENCED BY THE THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES IN CONDOLENCE BOOKS AND BY THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THRONGED THE STREETS FOR THE FUNERAL PROCESSION.
♦ THOSE OF US WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THAT SERVICE IN ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL -- THE FIRST OCCASION, SINCE SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL’S FUNERAL IN 1965, WHEN THE FULL PANOPLY OF BRITISH STATE CEREMONIAL HAD BEEN ACCORDED TO A COMMONER -- WERE ABLE TO SHARE IN AN ACT OF COMMEMORATION AND THANKSGIVING FOR TEDDY YOUDE’S LONG SERVICE TO HONG KONG,+ SIR PATRICK SAID.
♦ TODAY, WE ARE GATHERED TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE LIFE AND GIFTS OF A FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE.+
SIR PATRICK NOTED THAT MUCH OF SIR EDWARD’S CAREER HAD BEEN SPENT IN PEKING AND HONG KONG, OR DEALING WITH FAR EASTERN QUESTIONS IN WASHINGTON AND LONDON.
HE HAD EARLY IN HIS CAREER SHOWN AN EXCEPTIONAL GIFT FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, AND DURING HIS GOVERNORSHIP OF HONG KONG HIS KNOWLEDGE OF CHINA, AND ABILITY TO SPEAK BOTH MANDARIN AND CANTONESE, HAD ENDEARED HIM TO PEOPLE AT ALL LEVELS.
♦ ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES HAS DESCRIBED HOW HE WAS ADORED BY THE TEA-HOUSE OWNERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WITH WHOM HE WOULD STOP FOR CONVERSATION ON HIS WAY TO SEE THE KINGFISHERS ON A WEEKEND WALK.+
HOWEVER, HIS COMMITMENT TO THE AREA AND LANGUAGES OF HIS SPECIALISATION WAS EQUALLED ONLY BY HIS COMMITMENT AND DEVOTION TO THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE ITSELF, SIR PATRICK SAID.
/though sir .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
2
THOUGH SIR EDWARD WAS AN ESSENTIALLY MODEST MAN, IT HAD GIVEN HIM EXCEPTIONAL PLEASURE WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF CLERK AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN 1978, AND WAS ABLE TO EXERCISE HIS GIFTS FOR SYMPATHETIC ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT.
+THOSE FOR WHOM HE WORKED AT THAT TIME HAVE DESCRIBED HIM RIGHTLY AS AN OUTSTANDING CHIEF CLERK — FAIR AND CONSIDERATE, ANALYTICAL, INNOVATIVE, KINDLY AND STRAIGHT-FORWARD, WITH A PARTICULAR CONCERN TO ENSURE THE RIGHT TRAINING AND DEPLOYMENT FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE,* SIR PATRICK SAID.
+ IT WAS RECOGNITION OF THIS INTEREST IN TRAINING, EDUCATION AND YOUTH THAT LED THOSE IN HONG KONG. WHO HAVE ALREADY LAUNCHED THE YOUDE MEMORIAL FUND, TO DEVOTE THE PROCEEDS (ALREADY TOTALLING POUND STERLING 6 MILLION) TO A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG HONG KONG GIRLS AND BOYS TO BE EDUCATED ABROAD.*
SIR PATRICK CONCLUDED HIS ADDRESS BY NOTING THAT SIR EDWARD’S CHIEF RELAXATION AND HAPPINESS WAS WITH HIS FAMILY, AND HE PAID WARM TRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT THAT LADY YOUDE HAD GIVEN HER HUSBAND.
+SHE WAS CONSTANTLY AT HIS SIDE, SHARING HIS SERVICE CAREER, AND HIS DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF AND ENTHUSIASM FOR HONG KONG, FOR CHINA AND FOR THE FAR EAST,* HE SAID.
+WITH HER, AND HER DAUGHTERS JENNIFER AND DEBORAH, WE THANK GOD FOR THE LIFE AND WORK OF A REMARKABLE PUBLIC SERVANT AND A MUCH-LOVED COLLEAGUE.*
DURING THE SERVICE, READINGS WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE, SIR DAVID WILSON, AND THE DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, SIR MARK RUSSELL.
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ROYAL REPRESENTATIVES AT MEMORIAL SERVICE X X X X X
ABOUT 800 PEOPLE TODAY (TUESDAY) ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIFE AND WORK OF THE LATE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AT WESTMINSTER ABBEY IN LONDON.
LADY YOUDE WAS PRESENT WITH HER DAUGHTERS JENNIFER AND DEBORAH TOGETHER WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY.
/HEonra the......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
heading the list of dignitaries at the service were lord BEAVERBROOK, REPRESENTING THE QUEEN, AND OTHER ROYAL REPRESENTATIVES.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS REPRESENTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MRS MARGARET THATCHER, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, THE HOME SECRETARY , MR DOUGLAS HURD AND foreign AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE MINISTERS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND HOUSE OF COMMONS RESPECTIVELY, BARONESS YOUNG AND MR TIMOTHY RENTON.
ALSO PRESENT WERE FORMER PRIME MINISTERS, THE LORD HOME OF HIRSEL AND MR JAMES CALLAGHAN AND FORMER HONG KONG GOVERNORS LORD MACLEHOSE AND SIR ROBERT BLACK.
THE CONGREGATION INCLUDED THE GOVERNOR-DESIGNATE SIR DAVID WILSON AND MANY OF SIR EDWARD’S FORMER COLLEAGUES IN THE FOREIGN OFFICE, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS INCLUDING SIR PETER BLAKER, SIR PAUL BRYAN AND MR RICHARD LUCE, AND THE HOUSE OF LORDS , THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN, MR HU DINGYI AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS, RETIRED HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS, INCLUDING SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE AND SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, OTHER FORMER HONG KONG RESIDENTS, MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY AND HONG KONG STUDENTS IN BRITAIN AND THE COMMISSIONER, LONDON, MR COLVYN HAYE.
THE DEAN OF WESTMINSTER, THE VERY REVEREND MICHAEL MAYNE OFFICIATED AT THE SERVICE. ALSO ROBED AND IN THE SACRARIUM WERE TWO FORMER HONG KONG CLERGYMEN. THEY WERE THE REVEREND CANON STEPHEN SIDEBOTHAM, THE FORMER DEAN OF ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL AND THE REVEREND THE LORD BEAUMONT, FORMERLY OF ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH, WHO WAS REPRESENTING THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
------0--------
EXCO APPROVES TAXI FARE INCREASES X X X X X
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED INCREASES IN URBAN TAXI FARES AND CERTAIN SURCHARGES FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS l?X?SE ™E LAST FARE REVIS,0N ™
UNDER THE NEW FARE SCALE FOR URBAN TAXIS, THE FLAGFALL FOR THE FIRST TWO KILOMETRES WILL BE $5.50 INSTEAD OF $5, WHILE THE CHARGE FOR EVERY SUBSEQUENT 0.25 KILOMETRE WILL BE $0.70 INSTEAD OF THE EXISTING RATE OF $0.70 FOR EVERY SUBSEQUENT 0.266 KILOMETRE. THE NEW CHARGE FOR WAITING TIME WILL BE $0.70 FOR EVERY 1.5 MINUTES INSTEAD OF FOR EVERY TWO MINUTES.
/a government........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE APPROVED LEVEL OF INCREASES FOR URBAN TAXI FARES WAS LOWER THAN THAT APPLIED FOR BY TAXI OPERATORS.
A MODEST FARE INCREASE WAS APPROVED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED THE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF URBAN TAXIS BASED ON A STUDY BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TO ASSESS THE FARE INCREASE APPLICATION BY TAXI OPERATORS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS REGARDS INCREASES IN CERTAIN SURCHARGES, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THAT THE LUGGAGE FEE FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS BE RAISED FROM $1 TO |2 FOR EVERY ARTICLE OF BAGGAGE AND FOR EVERY ANIMAL OR BIRD. THIS FEE HAS ALSO REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
the executive council has also approved the introduction of A NEW SURCHARGE OF SI FOR EVERY HIRING ARRANGED THROUGH TELEPHONE BOOKING FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RADIO-CALL SURCHARGE WAS TO BE INTRODUCED IN RECOGNITION OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY TAXI OPERATORS IN PROVIDING THE SERVICE.
IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERED THAT THE RADIO-CALL SURCHARGE SHOULD ENCOURAGE TAXI OPERATORS TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN REMOTE AREAS, HE SAID.
AN APPLICATION BY URBAN TAXI OPERATORS TO INTRODUCE A MIDNIGHT SERVICE SURCHARGE OF Si PER TRIP FOR SERVICE BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM WAS TURNED DOWN BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED. BESIDES. MANY OF THE TAXI TRIPS MADE LATE AT NIGHT ARE ARRANGED THROUGH TELEPHONE, WHICH WILL ATTRACT A SURCHARGE UNDER THE NEW FARE SCALE.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO CONSIDERED THE APPLICATION BY THE LANTAU TAXI ASSOCIATION TO INTRODUCE A SURCHARGE ON LANTAU TAXI FARES FOR HIRINGS ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. HAVING REGARD TO THE ADVICE GIVEN BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
5
FUNDS SOUGHT FOR NEW PRINTING EQUIPMENT *****
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER APPROVING $14.32 MILLION FOR PURCHASING A NEW COMPUTER-AIDED PHOTO-TYPESETTING SYSTEM (CAPS) FOR THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT AT ITS MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER ESTIMATES THAT BILINGUAL TYPESETTING WILL INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD WILL ALSO BE GENERATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF A CHINESE VERSION OF HONG KONG’S LAWS, AS THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY STARTED TRANSLATING EXISTING LEGISLATION FROM ENGLISH TO CHINESE AND DRAFTING NEW LEGISLATION IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
THE NEW CAPS, WHICH COULD TYPESET ENGLISH AND CHINESE AT THE SAME TIME, WOULD REPLACE A COMPUTERISED PHOTO-TYPESETTING SYSTEM WHICH, INSTALLED IN 1980, HAS ALREADY REACHED THE LIMIT OF ITS DESIGN CAPACITY.
IN ADDITION, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER APPROVING SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS TOTALLING $96,433 MILLION ON GOVERNMENT PENSIONS AND THE GENERAL EXPENSES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE INCLUDING PERSONAL ALLOWANCES AND QUARTERING.
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ESTABLISHMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEES WILL ALSO BE EXAMINED.
OTHER ITEMS TO BE RAISED ARE!
* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $16,976 MILLION TO REIMBURSE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR EXPENDITURE INCURRED BY THE AUTHORITY ON GOVERNMENT-FUNDED ACTIVITIES DURING 1985-86j
* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $28,037 MILLION TO MEET INCREASED PER CAPUT GRANTS AND SALARY SUPPLEMENTATION TO PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND INCREASED FEES FOR BOUGHT PLACES I
* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $500 000 TO MEET INCREASED EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM THE ENGAGEMENT OF TEMPORARY MAGISTRATES ।
* REVISION OF THE RATE OF HONORARIUM PAID TO UNOFFICIAL OVERSEAS MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE THIRD UNIVERSITY AND TO THE UNOFFICIAL OVERSEAS CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON ACADEMIC AWARDS}
/* CHANGES TO .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
6
* CHANGES TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986-87,
* SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $28.97 MILLION TO MEET EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR) AND
X SURPLUSES OF $38.22 MILLION IN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES' RESERVE ACCOUNTS.
-------0---------
THIRD QUARTER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX PUBLISHED * X X X X
THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986, AT 158.6, WAS 26.5 POINTS OR 20.1 PER CENT ABOVE THAT IN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER, THE INDEX SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 14.3 POINTS OR 9.9 PER CENT.
ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED, THIS UPSURGE IN THE LEVEL OF PRODUCTION WAS LARGELY DUE TO STRONG DEMAND FOR HONG KONG’S PRODUCTS IN MANY OVERSEAS MARKETS.
SEASONAL FACTORS ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OVER THE LEVEL IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, AS THE THIRD QUARTER IS NORMALLY THE PEAK SEASON FOR MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY TO MEET HIGH CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR DEMAND OVERSEAS.
INDUSTRIES WITH THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN PRODUCTION OVER THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1985 WERE CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS (+36.0 PER CENT), TEXTILES (+32.0 PER CENT), CONSUMER ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (+29.9 PER CENT), PRINTING (+29.5 PER CENT), WEARING APPAREL (+25.0 PER CENT), AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS (+23.4 PER CENT).
/HOWEVl®, THE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 198?
HOWEVER, THE INDEX OF PRODUCTION IN THE BASIC METALS INDUSTRY DROPPED BY 32.0 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD, AS THE LOCAL PRODUCTION OF IRON AND STEEL BARS AND RODS EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN THE FACE OF LARGE INCREASES IN IMPORTS OF SUCH COMMODITIES.
COMPARED WITH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1986, INDUSTRIES WITH INCREASES IN PRODUCTION INCLUDED BEVERAGES (+33-7 PER CENT), TOBACCO (+29.0 PER CENT), CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS (+24.6 PER CENT) AND RUBBER PRODUCTS (+21.3 PER CENT). THE INCREASE IN THE PRODUCTION OF BEVERAGES WAS MAINLY A SEASONAL PHENOMENON, WHILE THAT OF TOBACCO WAS MOSTLY FOR MEETING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FROM CHINA.
INDUSTRIES HAVING RECORDED A DECLINE IN PRODUCTION COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING QUARTER WERE BASIC METALS (-28.4 PER CENT), TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (-24.3 PER CENT) AND PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (-7.6 PER CENT).
IN RELEASING THESE FIGURES, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IS PRIMARILY INTENDED TO REFLECT THE LEVELS AND TRENDS OF OUTPUT IN REAL TERMS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VOLUME OF PRODUCTION IS MEASURED AFTER REMOVING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
TWO TABLES ON THE QUARTERLY INDICES OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1986 HAVE BEEN SENT BY FACSIMILE NETWORK AND ALSO BOXED FOR COLLECTION. ONE IS A SUMMARY TABLE FOR BROAD INDUSTRY GROUPS, WHILE THE OTHER GIVES MORE DETAILED INDUSTRY BREAKDOWNS.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE +REPORT ON THE QUARTERLY INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, 3RD QUARTER 1986+ WHICH IS ON SALE AT #3 PER COPY.
IT CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, OR AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATION SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
REGULAR SUBSCRIPTION MAY ALSO BE ARRANGED WITH THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-8234832.
/Table 1 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
8 -
Table 1
Stams* ry cable of quarterly Indexes of Industrial production by broad industry group, 3rd quarter 1983 to 3rd quarter 1986
(1981 - 100)
Broad industry group Weight 1983 1984 1985 1983 1984 1985 1986
IQ 2Q 3Q 4Q IQ 2Q 3Q 4Q IQ 2Q 3Q
3Q 4Q
1. Food, beverages and tobacco 34.8 110.9 119.0 138.5 121.5 122.6 102.9 122.8 126.6 123.6 125.6 133.6 145.1 149.7 136.7( 144.4 161.9
2. Wearing apparel, except knitwear and Footwear 251.3 106.0 113.8 105.0 108.8 115.6 104.3 H4.1 115.9 120.7 95.3 97.1 t 104.6 122.8 102.5 121.5 130.7
3. Textiles (Including knitting) 127.4 103.5 115.0 119.6 117.1 110.8 99.6 119.5 120.7 120.1 _ t 85.9 t 119.6 132?) 14OT7 100.9 147~2 174.6
4. Paper products and prtnrIng 61.3 133.1 157.1 156.8 148.0 141.7 121.4 160.2 17 7.4 169.1 139.2 157.9 163.5 166.5 141.0 178.4 204.4
5. chemical, rubber, plastic and nonmet al lie mineral products 110.0 120.8 160.3 160.5 138.1 122.6 113.2 153.0 19'1,9 175.1 134 .6 1*3.9 18 3.0 160.5 134.8 182.8 217.2
6. Basic metals, fabricated metal products and nonelectrical machinery 104.1 105.1 132.2 130.8 112.1 111.2 113.1 119.1 151.9 124 .8 IO8.1 140.5 116.2 138.2 10 7.4 154.2 162.1
7. Electrical and electr 'nic products, professional equipment and optical gonda 216.2 123.2 133.5 128.9 I 131.5 142.2 109.3 \ 126.7 141.0 155.1 118.R 129.1 129.7 138.1 I26.| 141.? I4H.2
R. m{aetllsnexua manufacturing rd'istries 04. 9 117.6 154.6 114.1 118.4 141 .6 1 19.1 145.1 168 1 1RS.R IO4.5 0’5.7 121.8 124.4 1 >1 .1 125.7 132.0
All manufacturing Industries lono.o 111.9 132.0 126.0 122.5 125.4 109.1 110.5 144.5 141.7 109.5 l?4 .6 112.1 117 .9 116.R 144.1 15R.6
/Table 2
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
9
Table 2 Quarterly Indexes of industrial production by industry group _________________________3rd quarter 1983 to 3rd quarter 1986______________
(1981 - 100)
Haight 1983 1984 1985 1983 1984 1985 1986
Industry group
3Q 4Q IQ 2Q 3Q 4Q IQ 2Q 3Q 6Q IQ 2Q JQ
i.l Food 20.5 120.5 119.1 135.4 126.3 139.2 108.3 123.5 121.9 122.6 128.9 129.9 135.1 147.8 143.4 154.4 155.3
1.2 Beverage 9.6 98.0 109.5 107.6 128.3 95.1 74.7 124.4 140.2 98.5 80.7 112.8 134.6 102.2 89.6 114.8 153.5
1.3 Tobacco 4.7 95.3 137.9 215.1 86.5 106.4 137.1 116.3 119.2 178.9 203.2 191.9 209.8 255.3 203.8 161.1 207.8
2 Hearing apparel, except knitwear and footwear 251.3 106.0 113.8 105.0 108.8 115.6 104.3 114.1 115.9 120.7 95.3 97.1 104.6 122.8 102.5 121.5 130.7
3 Textiles (Including knitting) 127.4 103.5 115.0 119.6 117.1 110.8 99.6 119.5 120.7 120.1 85.9 119.6 132.3 140.7 100.9 147.2 174.6
4.1 Paper and paper produc ts 11.9 182.5 240.2 223.8 191.0 207.6 190.9 255.7 270 .9 243.4 187.6 232.4 263.2 212.1 187.8 263.5 303.2
"4.2 Newspaper printing. Job printing and ocher printing 49.4 121.2 137.1 140.7 137.7 125.8 104.7 137.2 154.9 151.5 127.6 140.0 139.5 155.5 129.7 157.9 180.6
5.1 Cheaicals and cheelcal products 13.1 125.3 133.2 160.5 131.0 132.7 124.8 116.3 147.4 143.6 148.5 153.9 164.5 175.1 152.1 179.6 223.8
5.2 Rubber products 3.2 134.6 150.4 122.4 140.1 173.3 108.5 141.1 158.3 143.7 49.6 144.1 116.5 129.4 87.5 IIS.I 139.6
5.3 Plsstic products 81.1 121.1 174.0 169.7 143.3 119.3 114.0 168.0 225.0 189.1 139.0 174.0 199.6 166.0 137.6 194.8 232.0
5.4 Non-aetsllic ■tneral products 10.6 108.5 97.0 102.2 109.8 117.7 91.8 43.7 94.9 107.4 91.6 107.2 102.4 107.2 102.7 115.5 117.7
6.1 Basic taetals 9.0 109.7 98.1 89.9 119.5 109.1 94.4 99.8 97.7 100.4 70.3 89.8 95.7 103.7 79.3 90.9 65.1
6.2 Fabricated metal products, except ■achinery and equlpaent 77.0 95.9 138.1 133.2 104.2 103.0 114.1 146.9 165.9 125.6 110.0 142.8 139.0 140.9 104.3 157.7 171.5
6.3 Machinery, except electrical 18.1 141.9 124.2 140.7 142.3 147.1 11^4 125.2 114.5 133.6 118.8 155.7 144.3 144.0 134.4 170.9 171.6
7.1 Consumer electrical and electronic products 103.2 113.1 150.0 134.9 123.1 128.0 116.0 134.3 164.6 185.2 128.9 138.2 124.7 147.6 135.2 151.8 162.0
7.2 Electrical and electronic, parte, accesoorles and ■achinery 60.3 114.3 105.0 99.8 123.1 137.0 87.5 105.8 110.8 115.9 95.6 101.6 107.7 94.4 83.0 99.2 til.6
7.3 Professional and scientific equlpaent, photographic and optical goods, watches and clocks 52.7 153.2 133.8 150.6 165.9 176.1 121.1 135.8 137.5 140.9 125.5 142.7 164.8 169.4 157.6 176.6 163.2
8.1 Leather products 12.2 72.8 67.9 66.4 74.5 94.4 60.7 74.3 65.2 71.3 50.3 69.8 74.5 70.8 74.2 80.9 84.1
(except rubber, plastic snd wooden footwear)
8.2 Wood and cork products, and furniture and fixtures (except primarily of 'Beta1.) 18.5 83.1 83.7 86.9 85.4 89.7 85.1 81.8 85.0 83.0 87.9 83.3 83.6 92.8 86.0 94.9 101.6
8.3 Transport equipment 27.0 98.5 133.2 113.0 98.0 117.? 111.7 HR.4 155.3 147.5 109.2 112.6 118.4 111.6 150.5 161.0 121.8
8.4 Ml<cellaneou* nan <e>ct'>r!ng 37.2 163.3 2)1.8 144.3 164.1 200.5 16 ..6 219.2 232.9 M12.3 127.2 173.7 158.R 167.) 132.7 110.1 I7Q.2
industries.
n.e.c.
All taar.uf securing Industries 1000.0 113.9 1)2.0 126.0 122.5 125.4 104.1 130.5 144.5 143.7 109.5 124.6 132.1 137.9 116.8 144.J 158.6
* -a am 0 - _ —
/10.......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
10
SURVEY CONFIRMS NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION *****
ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF SOME 1 000 PEOPLE INTERVIEWED IN AN OPINION SURVEY ON CIVIC EDUCATION BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION IN KING KONG.
THE RESPONDENTS CONSIDERED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL AS HONG KONG’S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
THE OPINION SURVEY WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND CONDUCTED BY THE AGB MCNAIR HONG KONG LIMITED.
THE AIM OF THE STUDY WAS TO ASCERTAIN THE LEVEL OF CIVIC AWARENESS AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC AFFAIRS, PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION AND RELATED ISSUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MRS RITA FAN, SAID AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE SURVEY INTERVIEWED A TOTAL OF 1 008 INDIVIDUALS, AGED 15 TO 64, SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE POPULATION FROM NOVEMBER 4 TO DECEMBER 4, 1986, SHE ADDED.
THE FINDINGS SHOWED THAT PEOPLE’S AWARENESS OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNER’S CORPORATIONS, DISTRICT BOARDS, URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL AND OMELCO WAS HIGH.
RESPONDENTS BELIEVED THAT PARENTS SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN EDUCATING THEIR CHILDREN ON CIVIC AWARENESS, AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF CIVIC AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.
ON ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG, IT WAS FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH AWARENESS AND INTEREST IN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WAS KEEN, ACTUAL PARTICIPATION BY RESPONDENTS AGED OVER 21 WAS FAIRLY LOW.
BUT THE MAJORITY (OVER 89 PER CENT) OF THOSE WHO HAD REGISTERED OR WOULD REGISTER FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO VOTE IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
THE SURVEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT ABOUT HALF (56 PER CENT) OF THE RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON ISSUES OF PUBLIC INTEREST.
CLOSE TO TWO-THIRDS (64 PER CENT) OF THE RESPONDENTS HAD HEARD OF +CIVIC EDUCATION* AND THE MAJORITY ENDORSED THE OBJECTIVES FORMULATED BY THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF •' CIVIC EDUCATION.
/MASS MEDIA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
MASS MEDIA WERE CONSIDERED THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHANNEL TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AND MAKING CIVIC EDUCATION A COMPULSORY SUBJECT IN SCHOOL WAS ALSO CONSIDERED AN EFFECTIVE MEANS.
ONLY 24 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS WERE AWARE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION, BUT MRS FAN CONSIDERED THE RESPONSE SATISFACTORY AS THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR PETER TAM, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE, MR CHAN WING-TAI, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF AGB MCNAIR HONG KONG LTD.
MR TAM SAID A TERRITORY-WIDE CIVIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE WOULD BE HELD ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20) AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE DISCUSSION OF FUTURE STRATEGIES FOR THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
UNDER THE THEME OF THE CIVIC EDUCATION — ITS DIRECTION AND SIGNIFICANCE, THE CONFERENCE WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND SHARE EXPERIENCE ON THIS SUBJECT.
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, WOULD OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONFERENCE AT 9 AM AND WOULD GIVE AN OPENING ADDRESS.
THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY A PLENARY SESSION IN WHICH MR DAVID CHEUNG CHl-KWONG, MRS RITA FAN} MR STEPHEN CHENG PO-HONG I DR MARGARET NG} DR C.Y. HUANG AND MR ANTHONY NEOH WOULD DELIVER KEYNOTE SPEECHES.
TOPICS WOULD INCLUDE THE CO-ORDINATION OF CIVIC EDUCATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE FORMAL SCHOOL SYSTEM, PROMOTION OF PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT CENTRAL LEVEL, PROMOTION OF PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT DISTRICT LEVEL, CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN HONG KONG’S UNIQUE CULTURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIC EDUCATION} CIVIC EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIETY} CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, WOULD BE MAKING THE CLOSING ADDRESS AT THE CONFERENCE.
/+SUOOESTION3 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
- 12 -
♦suggestions put forward at the conference and the findings of the opinion survey will provide a useful basis for the PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION IN THE FUTURE,+ MRS FAN SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TERRITORY-WIDE CIVIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY FROM 9 AM TO 5.30 PM IN THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL.
SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, WILL OPEN THE CONFERENCE AT 9 AM AND THE CONFERENCE WILL CLOSE AT 4 PM WITH REPORTS BY WORKSHOP MODERATORS TO BE FOLLOWED BY A CLOSING ADDRESS BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, AT ABOUT 5 PM.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALSO WELCOME TO COVER THE SIX WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. INFORMATION OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
THE CONFERENCE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CHINESE, SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.
A PROGRAMME OF THE CONFERENCE AND A SUMMARY OF THE OPINION SURVEY ON CIVIC EDUCATION WILL BE BOXED LATER TODAY.
0--------
LEGCO DEBATE RESUMES ON EDUCATION REPORT *****
THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2 WILL RESUME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WITH ABOUT 10 MEMBERS SPEAKING ON IT.
FIVE BILLS, NINE QUESTIONS AND A STATEMENT WILL ALSO BE AMONG MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.
/of the five.......
13
of the five bills, two which will be introduced for first and SECOND READINGS PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT ARE THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987.
DEBATE WILL ALSO RESUME ON THREE BILLS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE STAGE. THESE AREt
N CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986 |
* COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, AND
* RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE DESIGNATION OF HONG KONG AIRLINES.
0
ORGANISED EFFORTS MADE TO SUPPORT YOUDE FUND
*****
AREA COMMITTEES IN THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT HAVE RESPONDED ENTHUSIASTICALLY TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND BY MAKING ORGANISED EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE DONATIONS FROM RESIDENTS.
COLLECTION BOXES OF DONATIONS FROM THE TUNG TAU AREA COMMITTEE AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE AREA WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) OPENED AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE.
AT A CEREMONY, PROCEEDS OF THE DONATION WERE HANDED OVER TO THE ASSISTANT WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NG HON-WAH, BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUNG TAU AREA COMMITTEE, MR FUNG KWONG-CHJNG.
MR FUNG SAID COLLECTION BOXES WERE PLACED AT THE OFFICES OF SOME MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE AREA IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS FOR RESIDENTS TO MAKE THEIR DONATIONS.
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICHOLAS YAK, SAID RESPONSE FROM RESIDENTS TO THE FUND WAS ENCOURAGING.
HE CALLED ON MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGH ANY DISTRICT OFFICES, HE SAID.
-----0-----
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
H CHICKEN BREEDING ENTERS NEW ERA *****
THE CHICKEN BREEDING INDUSTRY IS ENTERING A NEW ERA THROUGH RAISING IMPROVED BREEDS WITH ADVANCED PRODUCTION METHODS DEVELOPED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
DR LEE SAID THAT BROILERS DERIVED FROM A CROSS-BREEDING PROGRAMME BETWEEN THE SHEK KI BREED AND CERTAIN EXOTIC BREEDS WERE GENERALLY WELL ACCEPTED BY POULTRY FARMERS.
THE IMPROVED COCKERELS FED WITH THE NEW ENERGY RATIONS DEVISED BY THE DEPARTMENT CAN BE RAISED TO MARKETABLE SIZE IN ABOUT 80 DAYS WHILE IT TAKES ABOUT 112 DAYS FOR THE LOCAL SHEK KI BIRDS TO ACHIEVE SIMILAR RESULTS.
SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE THE 38TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CHICKEN BREEDERS ASSOCIATION, DR LEE NOTED THAT THE INDUSTRY HAD FACED DIFFICULTIES IN THE PAST, SUCH AS THE CHICKEN HORMONE ISSUE IN 1983.
HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD IMPLEMENTED A SERIES OF MEASURES TO RESTORE THE CONFIDENCE OF CONSUMERS AND THIS HAD BEEN ACHIEVED.
♦DURING THE SAME PERIOD, MUCH RESEARCH WORK WAS CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE CHICKEN BREEDS AND TO INTRODUCE HIGH ENERGY RATIONS TO HELP THE INDUSTRY TO ADJUST THE NEW SITUATION, + DR LEE SAID.
HE PRAISED THE NEW TERRITORIES CHICKEN BREEDING ASSOCIATION FOR THE FULL CO-OPERATION GIVEN TO THE DEPARTMENT.
DR LEE NOTED THAT PRODUCTION HAD INCREASED TO 14 MILLION IN 1986, SUFFICIENT TO MEET 43 PER CENT OF LOCAL DEMAND.
_ 0 - -
OLD BRIDGES ON ROUTE TWISK TO BE REPLACED
*****
FOUR BRIDGES ON ROUTE TWISK IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE TO BE REPLACED AND UPGRADED TO FULL HIGHWAY STANDARD FOLLOWING THE AWARD RECENTLY OF A $3.88 MILLION CONTRACT BY THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT.
THE BRIDGES WERE CONTRUCTED BY THE ARMY IN THE LATE 1940'S AND THE SINGLE CELL BOX CULVERTS ARE CONSIDERED SUBSTANDARD ACCORDING TO PRESENT STANDARDS.
/the bridges
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 198?
- 15 -
THE BRIDGES WILL BE STRENGTHENED BY LINING THE CULVERTS INTERNALLY WITH CORRUGATED STEEL SO THAT THEIR BEARING CAPACITY CAN BE UPGRADED.
THE METHOD WILL AVOID THE NECESSITY FOR TRAFFIC AND UTILITY DIVERSION WORK.
OTHER IMPROVEMENT WORK WILL INCLUDE REMOVING THE SHARP BEND NEAR ONE OF THE BRIDGES BY REALIGNING ABOUT 60 METRES OF APPROACH ROAD WITH A NEW SECTION OF ROAD EMBANKMENT.
THE LAYING OF A 1 800-MILLI METRE DIAMETER DRAIN AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE AND SLOPE STABLISATION WORK WILL ALSO BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE CONTRACT.
WORK WILL START NEXT WEEK AND TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-------0----------
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED IN TSIM SHA TSUI X * X X X
WORK BEGAN TODAY (TUESDAY) IN TSIM SHA TSUI TO CLEAR 23 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN THE REAR LANES BOUNDED BY CAMERON ROAD, CARNAVON ROAD, HART AVENUE, MODY ROAD AND CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH.
AMONG THE CLEARED STRUCTURES, THREE WERE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES WHILE THE OTHERS WERE USED AS DOMESTIC UNITS.
THREE AFFECTED FAMILIES, COMPRISING EIGHT PEOPLE, WERE REHOUSED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WHILE ONE PERSON WAS ACCOMMODATED IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.
REMOVAL ALLOWANCE TOTALLING S3 065 WAS GRANTED TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WHILE EX-GRATIA PAYMENT AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $30 000 WAS GIVEN TO ELIGIBLE BUSINESS OPERATORS.
TODAY’S CLEARANCE WAS CO-ORDINATED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF THE DISTRICT. ALSO TAKING PART IN THE OPERATION WERE STAFF FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
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/16.......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
16
EXHIBITION TO SHOW NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN KWUN TONG X X X X X
RESIDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT NEW WORKS PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR KWUN TONG IN AN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD BETWEEN SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21) AND FEBRUARY 26.
THE +NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN KWUN TONG+ EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD’S WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
CHAIRMAN OF THE WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE, MR LI TING-KIT, SAID THE EXHIBITION IS TO PROVIDE THE LATEST INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND SERVE TO ENHANCE A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG RESIDENTS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE ON THREE ASPECTS - HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANS.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE EXTENSION PROGRAMMES OF THE TSUI PING ROAD ESTATE AND LAM TIN (NORTH) ESTATE, DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES, EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING, KWUN TONG FERRY PIER SQUARE, AND SHU I WO STREET COMPLEX.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE IN THE FORM OF MODELS, GRAPHIC DRAWINGS, MAPS, PHOTOGRAPHS AND ACCOMPANIED BY WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONS, DIAGRAMS, CHARTS AND STATISTICAL TABLES.
THE EXHIBITION WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN FEBRUARY 21 AND 23 FROM 8 AM TO 10 PM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF TELFORD CENTRE IN TELFORD GARDEN (MTR WEST EXIT) AND BETWEEN FEBRUARY 24 TO 26 FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM IN THE KWUN TONG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY AT 9.30 AM AT THE TELFORD CENTRE. KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM HANG-FAI, URBAN COUNCIL MEMBER, MR STEPHEN LAU, CHIEF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER OF URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR C.S. LEUNG, CHIEF HOUSING MANAGER (KOWLOON EAST), MR SO YAT-CHEUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION IN TELFORD CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, TELFORD GARDEN, KOWLOON BAY.
-----o-----
/17
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
- 17 -
FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITS NEW MARINE POLICE BASE *****
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITED THE NEW MARINE POLICE BASE IN ABERDEEN THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON.
LED BY CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MR KAN MAN-LEE, AND ACCOMPANIED BY SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SIMON LORD, THEY TOURED THE POLICE MARINE REGION SOUTH DIVISION’S BUILDING IN SHUM WAN ROAD AND WERE BRIEFED ON THE ESTABLISHMENT, TRAINING AND WORK OF THE MARINE POLICE.
+MEMBERS THEN VISITED THE RADIO WORKSHOP, BARRACKS, TRAINING AND OPERATION ROOMS IN THE BUILDING AND TOOK A LOOK AT PATROL WORK IN THE ABERDEEN TYPHOON SHELTER ON BOARD A POLICE LAUNCH.
THE VISIT WAS PART OF A PROGRAMME TO FAMILIARISE MEMBERS WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLICE WORK. THEY HAD EARLIER VISITED THE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
A SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID ARRANGEMENT HAD ALSO BEEN MADE FOR SOUTHERN RESIDENTS TO VISIT VARIOUS POLICE INSTITUTIONS AS PART OF THE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN UNDER WAY IN THE DISTRICT.
ABOUT 50 AREA COMMITTEE AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL VISIT THE ABERDEEN POLICE STATION ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CRIME PREVENTION, REPORTING ROOM PROCEDURES AND THE WORK OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT.
ON THAT DAY, A CRIME PREVENTION BUS PROVIDING INFORMATION OF THE 999 EMERGENCY CALL CONTROL CENTRE, POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL AND THE ANTI-NARCOTICS BUREAU WILL BE ON DISPLAY.
FROM FEBRUARY 23 TO 27, ABOUT 200 STUDENTS FROM NINE PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL VISIT THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL IN FAN LING.
MEANWHILE, 10 000 CAR LABELS PRINTED WITH THE +LOOK UP+ MESSAGE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICES, SHELL PETROL STATIONS AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT CARPARKS.
0--------
/18........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987,
18
YUEN LONG DB TO DISCUSS POWERLINE ROUTE
*****
MEMBERS OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE BRIEFED AT THEIR MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) ON THE ROUTE OF A 4OOKV OVERHEAD POWERLINE TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE DISTRICT.
THE HIGH VOLTAGE POWERLINE IS ONE OF TWO BEING PLANNED BY THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LIMITED TO TRANSMIT ELECTRICITY FROM DAYA BAY TO HONG KONG BY THE EARLY 199O’S.
SITE VISITS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR MEMBERS AND RELEVANT RURAL COMMITTEES TO THE PROPOSED LOCATIONS OF TOWERS TO BE CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE CABLE ROUTE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE DISCUSSION ON IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO THE SECTION OF AU TAU-FAN KAM ROAD OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD AND ON THE 1986 EDITION OF THE +YUEN LONG NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME*.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 9.30 AM ON THURSDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, 13TH FLOOR, TAI KIU GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, YUEN LONG.
-------0---------
LUNCHTIME CONCERT FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS
*****
TWO FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS FEATURING A CHINESE ORCHESTRA HAVE BEEN ORGANISED FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS AND OFFICE WORKERS.
THE CONCERTS ARE PART OF THE PROGRAMME FOR THE WEEK-LONG CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD TO PROMOTE CHINESE CULTURE IN THE AREA.
THE FIRST CONCERT WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 12.30 PM IN THE METHODIST CENTRE AT 22, HENNESSY ROAD.
THE SECOND WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) AT 1 PM IN THE TAI YAN SHOPPING ARCADE AT FLEMING ROAD.
THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND BOTH CONCERTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER BOTH EVENTS.
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/19.......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
19
RECEPTION GIVEN FOR SPORTS LEADERS * * K *
THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR A K CM HOSTED A SPRING RECEPTION FOR SPORTS REPRESENTATIVES TODAY (TUESDAY).
MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNING SPORTS BODIES ATTENDED THE FUNCTION, AMONG THEM WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT MR F.K. HU, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDER A। iL N AND OLYiH’IC COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG, MR A. DE 0. SALES.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION " j CULTURE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, AND THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (RECREATION AND SPORT) OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH, MR DICKEN YUNG, ALSO ATTENDED.
- - 0
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND APPLICATIONS * * * * *
THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS FUND APPLICATIONS FROM VARIOUS LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AT THEIR MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE BOARD’S CHAIRMAN WILL ALSO MAKE A REPORT ON DONATIONS RECEIVED SO FAR FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE URBAN COUNCIL CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND PROGRESS REPORTS BY VARIOUS COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING I 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTR'CT OFFICE, SECOND FLOOR, 490 NATHAN ROAD.
- - 0
/20
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17/1987
20
FUN DAY FOR MONG KOK SOUTH RESIDENTS
*****
A FUN DAY vYILL BE HELD IN MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) TO PROMOTE. COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG SOUTH AREA RESIDENTS OF MONG KOK.
PROGRAMMES INCLUDE A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING SINGING, ACROBATICS AND MAGIC SHOWS. THE SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE TAI CHI CLASS WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILL DURING THE EVENT.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO WIN HANDSOME PRIZES IN A LUCKY DRAW.
THE FUNCTION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE AREA.
ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FROM THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE, AT 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD.
---0 - -
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CHANGES ON HONG KONG ISLAND
*****
TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF STAUNTON STREET THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS, WHICH HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL SINCE SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR ANOTHER SIX WEEKS FROM TODAY (TUESDAY):
* THE SECTION OF SHELLEY STREET BETWEEN STAUNTON STREET AND ELGIN STREET IS REROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND AND THE METERED PARKING SPACES ON THIS ROAD SECTION ARE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED. VEHICLES CAN TURN LEFT FROM STAUNTON STREET INTO THIS SECTION OF SHELLEY STREET, AND TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT FROM SHELLEY STREET INTO ELGIN STREET.
* THE SECTION OF ELGIN STREET BETWEEN SHELLEY STREET AND PEEL STREET BECOMES ONE-WAY WESTBOUND. VEHICLES CAN TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT FROM ELGIN STREET INTO PEEL STREET.
* THE SECTION OF PEEL STREET BETWEEN ELGIN STREET AND STAUNTON STREET IS REROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND, AND VEHICLES CAN TURN LEFT FROM THIS SECTION OF PEEL STREET INTO STAUNTON STREET.
/meowhile, in
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 198?
- 21 -
MEANWHILE, IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION WORKS BY THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE SECTION OF TSAT TSZ MUI ROAD IN NORTH POINT BETWEEN KAM HONG STREET AND SHU KUK STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM MIDNIGHT ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18) TO 6 AM THE NEXT MORNING.
DURING THE CLOSURE, CMB ROUTES 82 AND 85 ON THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT INTO SHU KUK STREET. OTHER AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED TO KAM HONG STREET, TANNER ROAD, TIN CHIU STREET, AND MARBLE ROAD BEFORE REJOINING SHU KUK STREET.
------0-------
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN SHEUNG WAN * * * *
VEHICLES ON NORTHBOUND MORRISON STREET WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT TO CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECTION OF WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN CLEVERLY STREET AND MORRISON STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR TWO MONTHS TO FACILITATE DRAINAGE WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ON WESTBOUND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL HEADING FOR CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE DIVERTED TO CLEVERLY STREET, WING LOK STREET AND MORRISON STREET.
- - - - 0-----
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN YUEN LONG * * * * *
THE SECTION OF NULLAH BUND ROAD TO MA TIN TSUEN IN YUEN LONG WILL BE THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) BETWEEN 11.30 DAY.
LEADING FROM MA TIN ROAD
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ON
PM AND 5 AM THE FOLLOWING
NULLAH^ M°VE IS T° facilitate WATERMAINS WORK AT THE CENTRAL
TRAFFIC TO AND FROM MA TIN TSUEN WILL BE DIVERTED TO TAI TONG ROAD.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1987
22
SALT WATER CUT * *
THE SUSPENSION OF SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KWAI CHUNG SINCE 8 AM YESTERDAY (MONDAY) WILL CONTINUE UNTIL 10 AM THIS FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20) FOR MAINS WORK.
PREMISES AFFECTED INCLUDE THOSE ALONG WAH KING HILL ROAD AND LAI KING HILL ROAD, WAH YUEN CHUEN, LAI KING TEMPORARY FOUSING AREA, LAI YIU ESTATE, CHO YIU CHUEN, CHING LAI COURT AND YUET LAI COURT.
-------0---------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES . BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING :
NO INTENTION TO RESTRICT NUMBER OF HK AIRLINES ...... 1
ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO ASSURE CONSISTENCY ........... 4
CORRELATION BETWEEN PORNOGRAPHY AND CRIME DESERVES STUDY 6
RECORDING INDUSTRY'S CONCERN OVER OBSCENE ARTICLES BILL 7
HEALTHY CULTURE CAN COUNTERACT PORNOGRAPHY .......... 8
OBSCENE ARTICLES BILL PROTECTS MORAL WELL-BEING ..... 9
LACK OF DIRECT ACCESS REGRETTED...................... 10
CALL TO SET UP PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE ............ 11
WIDE PUBLICITY ON PORNOGRAPHY LAW URGED ............. 12
FULL APPLICATION OF ACCOUNTS LAW LONG-TERM AIM ...... 15
NINE-MONTH TIME LIMIT FOR ACCOUNTS TO REMaIM ........ 14
adoption procedures to BE STRaMLINED ................ 16
M0V3 TO CHANGE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP .......................................... 17
ABOLITION OF RATES RELIEF SCHEME SUPPORTED .......... 18
COMMISSION LIKELY TO REVIEW TERTIARY EDUCATION STRUCTURE 20
UNCERTAINTIES ,J?ISE OVER SIXTH FORM EDUCATION ...... 22
NEED TO RECOGNISE I-LEVEL CURRICULUM ................ 25
/COMMUNITY, STUDENTS' .....
COMMUNITY, STUDENTS' NEEDS COME FIRST ...................... 26
SUPPORT FOR TWO-YHiR SIXTH FORM EDUCATION ................ 28
TACKLE TERTIARY COURSE DURATION ISSUE FIRST ................ 29
SHELVE SIXTH FORM DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS .................... JO
COURAGEOUS STEPS TO EDUCATION REFORMS ADVOCATED ............ 31
PRESENT STRUCTURE MUST BE REaPRAISED ....................... 33
POWERFUL COORDINATING BODY NEEDED FOR IMPROVED EDUCATION 34
CONSUMERS 'ENTITLED TO FULL COMPENSATION' .................. 35
NEW LAW a REALISTIC STEP TO COMBAT POLLUTION ............... 37
CO-OPERaTION leads to effective audit process .............. 38
EPD MANPOWER TO BE INCREASED................................ 38
METHOD OF ASSESSING PUBLIC OPINION UNDER STUDY ............. 39
DETECTION MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON AGaINST jvRSON ............. 40
TENDER DOCUMENTS CHECKED CAREFULLY ......................... 41
IMMIGRATION LEVEL CAREFULLY SET ............................ 42
REPROVISIONING OF POLICE CADET SCHOOL PLANNED............... 43
SEWERAGE SYSTEMS BEING KEPT UNDER REVIEW ................... kk
QUOTa SET FOR POLICE CERTIFICATES WITH HQ REDEVELOPMENT 46
CLEJUJJCE UNLIKELY TO aFFECT HOUSING PROGRAMME.............. 46
THREE BILLS PASSED.......................................... 4?
GROUP TO EXAMINE VIEWS OF TRAVEL AGENTS ....................... 48
FARMERS PR-iISED FOR DOING WELL ............................... 49
DUNN TO ATTEND EASTERN DB MEETING ............................. 49
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES ................... 50
DB TO DISCUSS HOUSING FOR ELDERLY ............................. 51
TUEN MUN CAR P.iRK SITE TO LET ..................•............. 51
CHEQUE PRESENTATION ........................................... 52
TRiiFFIC MEASURES IN CENTRA TO CONTINUE........................ 52
TWO URBaN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ....................... 53
TRAFFIC CHANGES AT ADMIRALTY .................................. 53
I
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
1
NO INTENTION TO RESTRICT NUMBER OF HK AIRLINES
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION TO RESTRICT THE NUMBER OF K)NG KONG AIRLINES IN OPERATING SCHEDULED SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN MISCONCEPTIONS RECENTLY ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON THE DESIGNATION OF HONG KONG AIRLINES, AND REPORTS SAYING THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STAND BY ITS DECISION +TO MAINTAIN A ONE-AIRLINE SYSTEM.+
MR JACOBS THEN EXPLAINED WHAT STEPS MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE A HONG KONG AIRLINE COULD BE DESIGNATED TO FLY ANY PARTICULAR ROUTE. AND WHY THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTED ITS PRESENT POLICY ON DESIGNATION.
TO START COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, HE SAID, AN AIRLINE MUST FIRST OBTAIN AN AIR OPERATOR’S CERTIFICATE AND THE NECESSARY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.
THEN IT MUST APPLY TO THE AIR TRANSPORT LICENSING AUTHORITY (ATLA) FOR A LICENCE TO OPERATE THE PARTICULAR SCHEDULED FLIGHTS.
CHAIRED BY A HIGH COURT JUDGE AND COMPRISING MEMBERS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE ATLA, IN DETERMINING AN APPLICATION, MUST HAVE REGARD TO THE CO-ORDINATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AIR SERVICES WITH THE OBJECT OF ENSURING THE MOST EFFECTIVE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC WHILE AVOIDING UNECONOMICAL OVERLAPPING OF SERVICES, MR JACOBS SAID,
IN A WRITTEN DECISION DATED JANUARY 23, 1986, ATLA MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF IT CONSIDERED THAT A CASE HAD BEEN MADE OUT FOR A LICENCE FOR A PARTICULAR ROUTE, IT WOULD GRANT THE LICENCE IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER RIGHTS TO EXERCISE IT WERE AVAILABLE OR NOT, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHATEVER VIEW THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MIGHT TAKE IN RESPECT OF DESIGNATING HONG KONG AIRLINES FOR THE ROUTE IN QUESTION.
MR JACOBS STRESSED THAT ATLA WAS AN INDEPENDENT BODY MAKING ITS OWN DECISIONS ON LICENCE APPLICATIONS.
HOWEVER, THE MERE FACT THAT A LICENCE HAD BEEN GRANTED BY ATLA DID NOT MEAN THAT AN AIRLINE COULD IMMEDIATELY AND AUTOMATICALLY START FLYING ON THE PARTICULAR ROUTE.
+THE NEXT QUESTION TO CONSIDER IS DESIGNATION, WHICH IS A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNMENT,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
/DESIGNATION WAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 2 -
designation was the nomination of an airline to operate SCHEDULED SERVICES ON A SPECIFIC ROUTE. SUCH SERVICES WERE GOVERNED BY BILATERAL, INTER-GOVERNMENTAL AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS. IN THE CASE OF HONG KONG, IT WAS, AT PRESENT, UNITED KINGDOM/SECOND COUNTRY AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS WHICH COVERED HONG KONG ROUTES.
MR JACOBS EXPLAINED THAT INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT OPERATED UNDER A HIGH-Y REGULATED SYSTEM AND THE BILATERAL AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS FORMED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THAT SYSTEM.
+ IF THE RIGHTS TO OPERATE ON A PARTICULAR ROUTE ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ANY FURTHER INTER-GOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL REQUEST THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO DESIGNATE THE LICENSED HONG KONG AIRLINE TO OPERATE THE ROUTE.
+ASSUMING THAT THE DESIGNATION IS ACCEPTED BY THE OTHER GOVERNMENT INVOLVED AND OTHER REQUISITE FORMALITIES, SUCH AS THE GRANT OF THE NECESSARY OPERATING PERMISSION TO THE DESIGNATED HONG KONG AIRLINE BY THE AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES OF THE OTHER COUNTRY CONCERNED, ARE COMPLETED, THEN, AND ONLY THEN, MAY THE HONG KONG AIRLINE COMMENCE SERVICES ON THE ROUTE.+
IF RIGHTS TO OPERATE SCHEDULED SERVICES ON THE PARTICULAR ROUTE DID NOT EXIST, THEN THE SITUATION WAS FAR MORE COMPLEX AND WAS LIKELY TO TAKE COMSIDERABLY LONGER TO RESOLVE.
♦WHEN RIGHTS DO NOT EXIST, THIS WILL BE DUE TO EITHER THE COMPLETE LACK OF AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE OTHER COUNTRY CONCERNED, OR THE FACT THAT THE EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS DO NOT PROVIDE FOR THE ROUTE FOR WHICH THE HONG KONG AIRLINE HAS BEEN LICENSED.
♦ALSO, THERE MAY BE NO PROVISION TO DESIGNATE A SECOND HONG KONG AIRLINE FOR THE ROUTE UNDER EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS,* HE ADDED.
IF THERE WERE NO EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS, THEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD REQUEST THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO OPEN NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE OTHER COUNTRY CONCERNED.
IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THERE WERE EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS NOT SPECIFICALLY COVERING THE ROUTE FOR WHICH THE LICENCE HAD BEEN GRANTED, OR WHERE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS ONLY PROVIDED FOR THE DESIGNATION OF ONE AIRLINE FROM EACH SIDE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER REQUESTING THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TO SEEK RIGHTS BY NEGOTIATING AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE OTHER COUNTRY CONCERNED.
/MR JACOBS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 5 -
MR JACOBS SAID THAT THE TIMING OF THE NEGOTIATIONS DEPENDED UPON THE WILLINGNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED, AND THERE MIGHT BE OTHER COMMITMENTS IN AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS THAT COULD CAUSE DELAY.
+IF IT IS A ROUTE INVOLVING MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY, OBVIOUSLY MORE THAN ONE SET OF NEGOTIATIONS HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN, AND THIS TAKES EVEN MORE TIME,* HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS THEN EXPLAINED THE FACTORS THAT HAD TO BE BORNE IN MIND IF CHANGES TO THE EXISTING AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS WERE SOUGHT.
+FIRST. IF THE OTHER GOVERNMENT CONCERNED IS WILLING TO CONSIDER CHANGES, IT WILL NORMALLY, AND QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, SEEK ADDITIONAL RIGHTS, FOR WHICH IT MAY DESIGNATE ITS OWN AIRLINE.
+ IT MAY SEEK THOSE RIGHTS AT A PRICE.*
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT EFFORTS TO OBTAIN THE RIGHT TO DESIGNATE A SECOND HONG KONG AIRLINE FOR A PARTICULAR ROUTE COULD WELL RESULT IN THE FIRST HONG KONG AIRLINE HAVING TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF ITS SERVICES ON THAT ROUTE, OR ON ANOTHER ROUTE WHICH IT OPERATED UNDER THE SAME AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS.
ALTERNATIVELY, THE FOREIGN AIRLINE OPERATING ON THE ROUTE, THROUGH ITS GOVERNMENT, COULD SEEK ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR ITSELF ON ANOTHER ROUTE, HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID THAT THE PRICE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF A SECOND HONG KONG AIRLINE ONTO A ROUTE COULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INCUMBENT HONG KONG AIRLINE, WHICH HAD INVESTED HEAVILY IN AIRCRAFT, PERSONNEL, SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROMOTION IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THE ROUTE.
+IN PRACTICE, IF THE SECOND AIRLINE DOES NOT MATCH THE INCUMBENT’S ALREADY ESTABLISHED STANDARDS, THE OUTCOME COULD BE A LOSS OF HONG KONG'S SHARE OF THE PASSENGER AND CARGO TRAFFIC ON THAT ROUTE,* HE SAID.
ANOTHER FACTOR, HE ADDED, WAS THAT ANY POSSIBILITY OF A REDUCTION OF AN INCUMBENT AIRLINE’S RIGHTS ON A ROUTE WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE IT THE NECESSARY INCENTIVE AND CONFIDENCE TO INVEST PROPERLY IN DEVELOPING THAT ROUTE TO THE BENEFIT OF HONG KONG AND THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC, AND IN COMPETING FULLY AND PROPERLY WITH OTHER AIRLINES ALREADY OPERATING ON IT.
/MR JACOBS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 4 -
MR JACOBS EXPLAINED WHAT HE MEANT BY +OTHER AIRLINES+--THE AIRLINE DESIGNATED BY THE OTHER PARTY TO THE PARTICULAR BILATERAL AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENTS PLUS THIRD-PARTY AIRLINES PERMITTED TO OPERATE ON THE WHOLE OR PART OF THAT ROUTE.
+A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF COMPETITION THEREFORE DOES EXIST AND HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN AND TRAVELLERS DO HAVE A RANGE OF CHOICES ON THOSE ROUTES THAT HAVE THE HEAVIEST TRAFFIC,+ HE SAID.
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, MR JACOBS SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO TAKE A VIEW ON WHETHER PRESERVING THE STATUS QUO IN RESPECT OF A GIVEN ROUTE RATHER THAN SEEKING THE RIGHT TO DESIGNATE A SECOND HONG KONG AIRLINE FOR A ROUTE WAS OF GREATER VALUE TO HONG KONG’S OVERALL INTERESTS IN SUCH MATTERS AS TOURISM AND CARRIAGE OF GOODS.
THE BALANCE OF ADVANTAGE WAS NOT THE SAME IN ALL CASES, HE NOTED.
MR JACOBS SAID THE GOVERNMENT REMAINED OF THE VIEW THAT THE general rule on designation had to be one airline per route.
♦THAT IS THE GENERAL, BUT NOT THE INVARIABLE, RULE AND THIS POLICY APPLIES EQUALLY TO ALL HONG KONG AIRLINES,* HE SAID.
IF THE GOVERNMENT JUDGED THAT MORE COMPETITION WAS NEEDED IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE TRAFFIC WAS SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN A SUBSTANTIAL OPERATION BY MORE THAN ONE HONG KONG AIRLINE IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER FOREIGN AIRLINES HAVING RIGHTS ON A PARTICULAR ROUTE, THEN THE QUESTION OF THE DESIGNATION OF A SECOND LICENSED HONG KONG AIRLINE WOULD BE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, HE ADDED.
--------o --------
ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO ASSURE CONSISTENCY X X X X X
THERE ARE ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS IN THE CENSORIAL PROCESS TO ASSURETHAT CONSISTENT AND ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS OF CLASSIFICATION OF ARTICLES ARE ACHIEVED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY. THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, MR FORD SAID THE SAFEGUARDS INCLUDED ACCESS TO FULL HEARINGS, THE ENLISTMENT OF ADDITIONAL ADJUDICATORS AT HEARINGS ACCESS TO A REPOSITORY OF ARTICLES CLASSIFIED AND THE ABILITY OF THE CROWN TO SEEK A REVIEW OF THE RELEVANT TRIBUNAL’S DECISION IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC REACTION.
/RESPONDING TO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 198?
- 5 -
RESPONDING TO A PROPOSAL THAT GUIDELINES FOR CLASSIFYING ARTICLES SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC, MR FORD SAID, + IN MY EARLIER SPEECH ON THIS BILL I EXPLAINED AT SOME LENGTH THE DIFFICULTY OF CODIFYING WHAT CONSTITUTES OBSCENITY AND INDECENCY.
+l EMPHASISE THE FACT THAT EFFORTS MADE IN OTHER PLACES TO DO THIS HAVE PROVED UNSUCCESSFUL.+
ONE COUNCILLOR HAD SUGGESTED THAT PERIODIC SURVEYS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO ASCERTAIN COMMUNITY STANDARDS AND THAT THE FINDINGS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED FOR REFERENCE TO ADJUDICATORS.
MR FORD SAID SUCH SURVEYS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT PERIODICALLY.
HOWEVER, HE HAD BEEN GIVEN LEGAL ADVICE THAT IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO CIRCULATE THEIR FINDINGS TO ADJUDICATORS ON THE GROUNDS THAT SUCH FINDINGS COULD INFLUENCE THEM IN THEIR DECISIONS WHICH WERE INTENDED TO BE MADE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS..
+SUCH FINDINGS MAY BE ADMISSIBLE, HOWEVER, AS EVIDENCE IN THE COURSE OF A FULL HEARING,* HE ADDED.
ON A RECOMMENDATION THAT ADJUDICATORS AT INTERIM HEARINGS BE DEBARRED FROM SITTING ON FULL HEARINGS INVOLVING THE SAME ARTICLE, MR FORD SAID THE COMPOSITION OF A PANEL WAS THE PREROGATIVE OF THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT AND AS THE BILL NOW STOOD THE SAME ADJUDICATORS MIGHT SIT ON BOTH HEARINGS.
AS TO THE CONCERNS OF THE RECORDING INDUSTRY, MR FORD EMPHASISED THAT AS FAR AS THAT INDUSTRY WAS CONCERNED WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO SUBMIT THEIR MATERIALS OR NOT WAS A QUESTION FOR THEM. IT WAS A VOLUNTARY PROVISION.
ON A SUGGESTION THAT THE BILL BE REVIEWED IN A YEAR’S TIME AS IT DID NOT PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT ARTICLES FOR CLASSIFICATION, MR FORD SAID THE PUBLIC COULD COMPLAIN TO THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY ABOUT ARTICLES WHICH THEY CONSIDERED TO BE OBSCENE.
HE SAID, +THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY WILL CONSIDER THESE COMPLAINTS AND TAKE ACTION WHERE APPROPRIATE.*
THE TELA WOULD CERTAINLY ADVISE COMPLAINANTS OF THE GROUNDS FOR THE ACTION IT TOOK.
ONE COUNCILLOR PROPOSED THAT PUBLISHERS AND VENDORS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT CLASS II ARTICLES SHOULD BE SEALED IN OPAQUE WRAPPERS.
/+IN RESPONSE*, .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 6 -
+IN RESPONSE*, MR FORD SAID, + l WOULD ADVISE THAT THE TRIBUNAL HAS POWERS TO SET ANY CONDITIONS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATE INCLUDING THE REQUIREMENT TO SEAL IN OPAQUE WRAPPER ARTICLES CLASSIFIED AS INDECENT.+
DURING The COMMITTEE STAGE, MR FORD MOVED AN AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 13 OF THE BILL.
+AS IT STANDS AT PRESENT, SUB-CLAUSE (2) OF CLAUSE 13 PROVIDES FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICER TO SUBMIT A PUBLICATION TO AN OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL FOR CLASSIFICATION,* HE SAID.
+1 ACCEPT THAT IF THE DEFINITION OF ’PUBLIC OFFICER’ IS TOO WIDELY CAST, IT MIGHT BE THE SUBJECT TO ABUSE.
+ A SUBSTITUTE SUB-CLAUSE (2) IS THEREFORE INTRODUCED WHICH WILL RESTRICT SUBMISSIONS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND PUBLIC OFFICERS SPECIFICALLY AUTHORISED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY.*
IN PRACTICE, MR FORD SAID THAT AUTHORITY IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS WOULD BE LIMITED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AND OFFICERS OF THE RANK OF SUPERINTENDENT OR ABOVE IN THE POLICE FORCE AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.
--------0 --------
CORRELATION
BETWEEN PORNOGRAPHY AND CRIME DESERVES STUDY X X X * X
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE PROLIFERATION OF PORNOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE CIRCULATION AND THE CRIME RATE, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, MR CHAN SAID THAT AMONG THE OPINIONS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION HE HAD GATHERED AS CONVENER OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, THE MOST PERTURBING WAS ONE ON THE SOCIAL EFFECTS OF PORNOGRAPHY WHICH MENTIONED THAT SURVEYS IN THE UNITED STATES SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A RELIABLE CORRELATION BETWEEN HIGH SEX MAGAZINE CIRCULATION AND HIGH RATE OF SEX-RELATED CRIMES.
HE SAID THERE WAS AN OUTCRY BY PARENTS WHO DID NOT WISH THEIR CHILDREN +POISONED+ BY PORNOGRAPHY, AND THE NOTORIOUS DISPLAY OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT PUBLICATIONS IN HONG KONG’S THOROUGHFARES HAD ALSO OFFENDED THE PUBLIC'S SENSE OF DECENCY.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 7 -
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR CARRYING OUT AN EXTENSIVE AND EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION EXERCISE AND BEING IMPARTIAL IN FORMULATING THE BILL.
HE SAID THAT NO DOUBT INTERESTED GROUPS WERE USING THEIR OLD TACTIC OF +FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION* AND + ART+ TO PULL WOOL OVER nnF. wESmieiULHoE PUBLIC AND THUS HOLD ON TO THEIR MULTI-BILLION UULLAK BUSINESS.
+IF INDECENT EXPOSURE IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW, THEN WHY SHOULD INDECENT PUBLISHINGS EXPOSING SEXUAL ORGANS NOT BE WRAPPED IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT IT IS OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND?* HE QUESTIONED. ’
CHAN SA*D THE ISSUE of moral standards was a controversial SUBJECT, ESPECIALLY IN HONG KONG WHERE EAST MET WEST.
+l AM PLEASED THAT AT LONG LAST THE 98 PER CENT CHINESE VIEWS HAVE EARNED MORE RESPECT ON THIS ISSUE,* HE ADDED.
-----0------
RECORDING INDUSTRY’S CONCERN OVER OBSCENE ARTICLES BILL
*****
PRODUCERS OF SOUND AND AUDIOVISUAL RECORDING INDUSTRY HAVE VOICED CONCERN OVER THE SYSTEM OF VOLUNTARY CLASSIFICATION LAID DOWN IN THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986. THE HON SELINA CHOW SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SHE SAID THE INDUSTRY’S ESTIMATION WAS THAT IN SPITE OF THE VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE PROCEDURE RECORDING COMPANIES WOULD BE OBLIGED TO SUBMIT ALL MATERIAL FOR CLASSIFICATION IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE THEIR MANUFACTURE, DISTRIBUTION AND SALE IN HONG KONG.
MRS CHOW SAID THE INDUSTRY REGARDED THIS AS A POTENTIAL IMPEDIMENT TO ITS NORMAL FUNCTION.
+IT LOOKS UPON THE SYSTEM AS A DUPLICATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW, AND PLACES THE INDUSTRY IN DOUBLE JEOPARDY,* SHE SAID.
MRS CHOW ADDED THAT THE INDUSTRY ALSO SAW A PRACTICAL PROBLEM IN THAT AS HONG KONG RELEASED SOME 1 OOO SOUND RECORDINGS EACH MONTH, VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION OF ALL THIS MIGHT BECOME A TREMENDOUS ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN, INVOLVE RESOURCES WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO BE BORNE BY THE INDUSTRY, AND WORST OF ALL, CREATE DELAY IN CLASSIFICATION AS WELL AS RELEASE AND PUBLICATION OF THESE MATERIAL.
/IT WAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 8 -
IT WAS ARGUED THAT SUCH DELAY MIGHT CREATE A BLACK MARKET FOR UNAUTHORISED MATERIAL, SHE SAID.
MRS CHOW SAID THAT WHILE RECOGNISING AND SUPPORTING THE OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL TO CONTROL OBSCENE OR INDECENT ARTICLES, SHE WAS SYMPATHETIC TO THE RECORDING INDUSTRY’S CONCERN, WHEN THEIR MATERIAL, PARTICULARLY PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, HAD NOT CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THE PROBLEM THE BILL AIMED TO ADDRESS.
SHE SAID SHE HOPED THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD WATCH THE SITUATION CLOSELY.
-----0-----
HEALTHY CULTURE CAN COUNTERACT PORNOGRAPHY ' *****
A NEW YOUTH CULTURE SHOULD BE LAUNCHED IN COLLABORATION WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL QUARTERS SO AS TO COUNTERACT THE INVASION OF PORNOGRAPHY, THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, MR YEUNG SAID THAT ALL SORTS OF CONTROLS WERE IN FACT PASSIVE MEASURES.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT SEX EDUCATION BE PROMOTED.
♦AFTER THE SMOOTH INTRODUCTION OF SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AS THE FIRST STEP, THE SAME SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO FAMILIES SO AS TO MAKE YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE THEIR OWN ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY,+ HE SAID.
MR YEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD PROMOTE SEX EDUCATION IN A MORE SYSTEMATIC AND COMPREHENSIVE MANNER.
SCHOOL AUTHORITIES AND PARENTS SHOULD ALSO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO LEARN ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE’S KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS WITH REGARD TO SEX AND TO UNDERSTAND THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS WHICH PORNOGRAPHIC PUBLICATIONS WOULD PRODUCE.
THEY SHOULD ALSO WORK OUT PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO FOSTER THE PROPER GROWTH OF THE YOUNG, SO AS TO CREATE A FRESH AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 9 -
HE SAID THAT OBVIOUSLY HONG KONG WAS IN A PECULIAR SITUATION IN THAT ON THE ONE HAND IT WAS INFLUENCED BY WESTERN IDEAS WHILE ON THE OTHER IT WAS RESTRAINED BY TRADITIONAL CHINESE CONCEPTS.
+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL CAN POOL THE WISDOM OF THE MANY AND GATHER DIFFERENT OPINIONS TO FORMULATE A FEASIBLE CLASSIFICATION POLICY WHICH SUITS OUR PRESENT SOCIETY.* HE SAID. ’
MR YEUNG SAID THAT IN THEORY THE 80 ADJUDICATORS WHO WOULD COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE SHOULD REPRESENT THE GENERAL SENSE OF VALUES. BUT IN APPOINTING ADJUDICATORS, CONSIDERATION MUST ALSO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF YOUTH OR WHOSE WORK WAS CLOSELY CONNNECTED WITH THEIR GROWING-UP.
+FURTHERMORE, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE TRIBUNAL CAN SCRUTINISE PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL FROM THE WOMEN’S POINT OF VIEW AND CONSIDER WHETHER THE FEMALE IMAGE HAD BEEN DISTORTED, THERE SHOULD BE A FAIR NUMBER OF FEMALE ADJUDICATORS,* HE SAID.
MR YEUNG ADDED THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE ADJUDICATOR SYSTEM COULD FULFIL ITS OBJECTIVE ADJUDICATING FUNCTION HINGED VERY MUCH ON THE FORMULATION OF A SET OF STANDARDS FOR CLASSFI CAT I ON OF OBSCENE AND VIOLENT PUBLICATIONS FOR THE ADJUDICATORS TO RELY UPON, SO AS TO REFLECT TRULY THE PREVAILING MORAL STANDARD.
+IT IS, THEREFORE, NECESSARY TO WORK OUT A SET OF 'ADJUDICATING CRITERIA’ WHICH SHOULD BE REGULARLY REVIEWED AND AMENDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHANGING MORAL STANDARD,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE ADJUDICATING CRITERIA COULD BE MADE KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC TO PROMOTE COMPLIANCE.
-----0------
OBSCENE ARTICLES BILL PROTECTS MORAL WELL-BEING
*****
THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986 REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY’S CONCERN TO PROTECT THE MORAL WELL-BEING OF JUVENILES AND ALSO REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY’S DESIRE TO UPHOLD THE CONFUCIAN CONCEPT OF A WELL-ORDERED SOCIETY, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID SETTING UP A SYSTEM OF TRIBUNALS AS PROPOSED BY THE BILL WOULD BRING ABOUT GREATER PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUDICIAL PROCESS.
HE SAID THE PANEL OF UP TO 80 ADJUDICATORS WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE SELECTED WITH GREAT CARE.
/+IT WOULD
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
10 -
+IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE SELECTION WOULD END UP WITH ABOUT HALF THE PANEL MEMBERS BEING OF THE FEMALE SEX TO REFLECT THE COMPOSITION OF OUR TOTAL POPULATION,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT DURING PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE BILL IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, IT WAS CLEAR THAT PUBLIC CONCERN WAS FOCUSED NOT ONLY ON HAVING CLASS III ARTICLES PROHIBITED ALTOGETHER BUT ALSO ON ENSURING THAT CLASS II ARTICLES, WHICH WERE INDECENT, WERE NOT SOLD TO JUVENILES.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL WAS FULFILLED, HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD HAVE TO STUDY WHETHER IN PRACTICE ALL CLASS II ARTICLES WOULD HAVE TO BE SEALED WITH OPAQUE OR OTHER MATERIALS, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE LARGE PRINT INDICATING THAT SUCH MATERIAL WAS NOT TO BE SOLD TO JUVENILES, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT SINCE MATERIAL THAT WAS OBSCENE OR INDECENT INCLUDED MATERIAL THAT WAS VIOLENT, DEPRAVED OR REPULSIVE, HE HOPED THAT THE ELEMENT OF VIOLENCE, WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS LINKED WITH A SEXUAL COMPONENT, SHOULD AT ALL TIMES BE BORNE IN MIND BY A TRIBUNAL IN ORDER TO DISCOURAGE FURTHER PRONENESS TOWARDS VIOLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.
------0-------
LACK OF DIRECT ACCESS REGRETTED * * X- X X
THE HON HUI YIN-FAT EXPRESSED REGRET IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD FAILED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SUBMIT DIRECTLY ARTICLES SUSPECTED TO BE OBSCENE OR INDECENT TO THE OBSCENE ARTICLES TRIBUNAL FOR CLASSIFICATION.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT ONLY CARED ABOUT THE WORK AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES OF THE TRIBUNAL. IT HAD NOT GIVEN CAREFUL CONS I DERAR I ON TO THE FACT THAT THE LACK OF DIRECT ACCESS WOULD STIFLE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND DAMPEN ENTHUSIASM FOR LODGING COMPLAINTS.
+THE EFFECTS SURVEILLANCE WILL
OF EXTENSIVE MONITORING THROUGH PUBLIC ALSO BE REDUCED,+ HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED THAT AFTER THE NEW LEGISLATION HAD BEEN IN EFFECT FOR ONE YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONDUCT A REVIEW OF COMPLAINTS LODGED BY THE PUBLIC WITH THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) TO FI ND OUT WHETHER THE RIGHT OF LODGING COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN ABUSED.
/REGARDING CO*PLAINTS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
REGARDING COMPLAINTS WHICH HAD BEEN REJECTED, MR HUI HOPED THE TELA WOULD EXPLAIN TO THE COMPLAINANTS WHY THEIR CASES COULD NOT BE ENTERTAINED SO THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE SOME IDEA OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE TELA.
EARLIER, MR HUI HAD PRAISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR BEING WILLING TO TAKE ADVICE AND ACT ACCORDING TO PUBLIC OPINION WHEN INTRODUCING THE BILL.
------0-------
CALL TO SET UP PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SET UP A PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE TO EXHIBIT PUBLICATIONS CATEGORISED BY THE OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES TRIBUNAL AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION, AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986.
THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
THE CENTRE WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRITERIA OF ADJUDICATION AND ALLOW DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY TO REFLECT THEIR OPINION.
ADJUDICATING STANDARDS COULD THEN BE REVIEWED REGULARLY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
ON THE WHOLE, MR LEE SAID ADJUDICATION PROCEDURES AND CATEGORISATION OF PUBLICATIONS PROPOSED BY THE BILL WERE PRACTICABLE, THOUGH SPECIFIC STANDARDS HAD YET TO BE SET ON THE THREE WAYS OF CLASSIFYING PUBLICATIONS.
+THE CRITERIA CAN ONLY BE ESTABLISHED AFTER THE ADJUDICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND WHEN MORE PRECEDENTS CAN BE REFERRED TO,+ HE EXPLAINED.
MR LEE PROPOSED THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED TO SUBMIT PUBLICATIONS TO THE TRIBUNAL FOR CLASSIFICATION.
ON THE SALE OF INDECENT PUBLICATIONS AT NEWSPAPER STALLS, HE SAID HE HOPED THAT CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO REQUIRE THEM TO BE SOLD BY SPECIFIED SHOPS, SO AS TO REINFORCE CONTROL ON SALE.
+AT THE SAME TIME, INSPECTIONS MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT SELLERS WOULD ABIDE BY THE LAW AND SELL THESE INDECENT PUBLICATIONS TO ADULTS ONLY,+ HE ADDED.
---o---------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 12 -
WIDE PUBLICITY ON PORNOGRAPHY LAW URGED *****
VIGOROUS EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE IN PUBLICISING AND ENFORCING THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES LEGISLATION SO THAT THE DESIRED EFFECT COULD BE ACHIEVED, THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE RELEVANT BILL, MRS TAM SAID ITS UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE GOVERNING THE PUBLIC DISPLAY OF OBSCENE ARTICLES WAS TO MAKE THESE ARTICLES NOT ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
+YET, THE BILL DOES NOT PROVIDE THAT OBSCENE ARTICLES SHOULD BE SEALED BY OPAQUE MATERIALS WHEN BEING PUT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY SO AS TO PREVENT PERSONS AGED UNDER 18 FROM GLANCING THROUGH THEM,+ SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT THE AUTHORITIES HAD EXPLAINED TO THE COUNCIL THAT CLAUSE 23 OF THE BILL PROVIDED THAT ANY PERSON WHO PUBLICLY DISPLAYED OBSCENE ARTICLES WAS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION, AND THAT IN EFFECT THIS CLAUSE ALREADY ENSURED THAT ALL OBSCENE ARTICLES SHOULD BE SEALED BY OPAQUE MATERIALS WHEN BEING PUT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY.
+YET I AM WORRIED THAT NEWPAPER VENDORS, PUBLISHERS AND EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN GENERAL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REALISE THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE AFORESAID PROVISION,+ SHE SAID.
SHE THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLICITY DRIVE SHOULD BE LAUNCHED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT ALL OBSCENE ARTICLES SHOULD NOT ONLY BE WRAPPED BY OPAQUE MATERIALS BUT ALSO BE SEALED.
MRS TAM NOTED THAT ONE IMPORTANT SPIRIT OF THE BILL WAS TO USE PREVAILING MORAL STANDARDS OF THE COMMUNITY TO JUDGE WHETHER OR NOT AN ARTICLE WAS OBSCENE OR INDECENT.
♦HENCE IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE TO FOLLOW CLOSELY THE EVER-CHANGING MORAL STANDARD OF THE COMMUNITY ON MATTERS OF OBSCENITY,+ SHE SAID.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT OTHER THAN SETTING UP A TRIBUNAL WITH MEMBERS WHO COULD FULLY REFLECT THE PREVAILING MORAL STANDARD OF THE COMMUNITY, THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED SHOULD ALSO CONDUCT IN-DEPTH AND COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS AT REGULAR INTERVALS TO GAUGE THE CHANGES IN THE MORAL STANDARD ON OBSCENITY.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE AND TO LET THE PUBLIC SEE THAT A FAIR JUDGEMENT WOULD BE MADE BY THE TRIBUNAL, SHE SUGGESTED THAT SHOULD ANY PARTY FEEL AGGRIEVED AT THE INTERIM RULING RETURNED BY THE TRIBUNAL AND REQUEST A FULL HEARING, THE ADJUDICATORS WHO HAVE SAT ON THE INTERIM HEARING SHOULD NOT BE APPOINTED TO SIT ON THE FULL HEARING.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
15
FULL APPLICATION OF ACCOUNTS LAW LONG-TERM AIM
*****
IT REMAINS THE GOVERNMENT’S LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE TO APPLY TO ALL COMPANIES THE NEW SIX-MONTH TIME-LIMIT FOR THEIR ANNUAL ACCOUNTS WHEN IT IS PRACTICABLE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WINDING UP THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR JACOBS SAID HE RECOGNISED THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION MIGHT ENCOUNTER IF ALL COMPANIES WERE OBLIGED TO MOVE AT THIS STAGE TO A SIX-MONTH TIME-LIMIT.
+1 HAVE THEREFORE AGREED TO EXCLUDE PRIVATE COMPANIES — WHICH ARE NOT PART OF GROUPS INCLUDING PUBLIC COMPANIES AND COMPANIES LIMITED BY GUARANTEE — FROM THIS LIMIT FOR THE TIME BEING,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER, PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT WERE WITHIN GROUPS CONTAINING PUBLIC COMPANIES WOULD BE BOUND BY THE NEW TIME-LIMIT.
+IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO KEEP TO THE PRESENT TIME-SCALE OF NINE MONTHS THIS COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS DELAYS IN FINALISING GROUP CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS,* MR JACOBS EXPLAINED.
+THE LONGER TIME-LIMIT, IF APPLIED IN RELATION TO PRIVATE COMPANIES IN A PUBLIC GROUP, MIGHT BE OPEN TO ABUSE, IN THAT DUBIOUS ACTIVITIES COULD BE SHIFTED OUT OF THE PUBLIC COMPANIES IN THE GROUP IN ORDER TO DELAY THEIR DISCOVERY BY AUDITORS.*
MR JACOBS THANKED THE HON PETER POON AND MEMBERS OF THAT AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THE BILL.
AS REGARDS THE GROUP’S CONCERN ABOUT THE PROPOSED NEW POWERS OF INSPECTORS UNDER SECTION 145B, HE SAID THE INTEGRITY AND PROBITY OF THE INSPECTORS, WHO WOULD BE PERSONS OF CONSIDERABLE STANDING, BOTH WITHIN THEIR PROFESSION AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, WOULD PROVIDE THE BEST SAFEGUARD AGAINST ANY ABUSE OF POWER.
THE SECTION EMPOWERS AN INSPECTOR TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF OBTAINING A COURT ORDER.
THE PROPOSED CENTRAL UNIT, CHARGED WITH DRAWING UP CLEAR TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND WITH MONITORING THE PROGRESS AND DIRECTION OF INSPECTORS, WOULD ALSO HELP KEEP THINGS ON THE RIGHT LINES AND ENSURE THAT COSTS DID NOT GET OUT OF CONTROL, HE ADDED.
/NOTING THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 14 -
NOTING THE HON DAVID LI’S REMARKS ON THE NEED TO AMEND SECTION 161B OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, MR JACOBS SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO INTRODUCE THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
+THE MATTER WAS MOST CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND THE VIEWS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS WERE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT,+ HE SAID.
SECTION 161B DEALS WITH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN RESPECT OF THEIR DIRECTORS’ LOANS.
+WE SHALL KEEP THE ORDINANCE UNDER REVIEW AND INTRODUCE AMENDMENTS AS AND WHEN EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT THESE ARE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE,* HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS ALSO MOVED A MINOR AMENDMENT SEEKING TO CHANGE THE REFERENCES TO +A RECOGNISED STOCK EXCHANGE* IN THE NINTH SCHEDULE TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO +THE UNIFIED STOCK EXCHANGE*.
OTHER AMENDMENTS TO BE MOVED BY MR POON WERE SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, HE ADDED.
------0-------
NINE-MONTH TIME LIMIT FOR ACCOUNTS TO REMAIN X X * * *
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 WHICH CONTAINED A NUMBER OF AMEN£MENTS TO THE^COMPANIES ORDINANCE, INCLUDING ONE WHICH REQUIRED PUBLIC COMPANIES TO PRESENT YEARLY ACCOUNTS AT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 5? W A DATE NOT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE MEETING- THE PRESENT TIME LIMIT MS NINE MONTHS.
^PFAKINC IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AS CONVENER OF A LEGISLATIVE rniiNril iS HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, THE HON PETER POON SAID the bill originally proposed that the new time limit should also apply to private companies.
MR POON SAID THE AD HOC GROUP HAD CAREFULLY STUDIED ALL THE PROPOSED amendments 1ncluu'ng POINTS RAISED BY FOUR ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATIONS AND FIRMS IN THEIR REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GRUUr UN THE NEW TIME LIMIT.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 15 -
he said the group felt that though in the longer term the PROPOSED TIME LIMIT OF SIX MONTHS MIGHT BE DESIRABLE, IT WAS NOT PRACTICAL AT PRESENT TO IMPOSE IT ON PRIVATE COMPANIES AND COMPANIES LIMITED BY GUARANTEE.
THE ADMINISTRATION AGREED TO THAT AND THE RELEVANT AMENDMENT WAS MOVED BY MR POON DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BILL.
MR POON SAID THE AD HOC GROUP HAD ALSO CONSIDERED WHETHER A NEW SECTION WHICH EMPOWERED AN INSPECTOR TO OBTAIN DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF OBTAINING A COURT ORDER WOULD CREATE ANY ABUSE OF POWER OR INCREASE INSPECTION COSTS.
HE NOTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD CONFIRMED THAT THERE WOULD BE A CENTRAL INVESTIGATION UNIT WITHIN THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH WITH APPROPRIATE TERM OF REFERENCE, EFFECTIVE GUIDELINES AS WELL AS PROPER MONITORING OF PROGRESS, WHICH SHOULD MEET THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED IN THIS RESPECT.
+ON SUCH ASSURANCES, IT WAS CONCEDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO RESTRICT THE EXERCISE OF SUCH POWERS OF INSPECTORS BY LEGISLATION OR OTHER CONSTRAINTS,* HE SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, THE HON DAVID LI SAID THE SIX-MONTH TIME LIMIT FOR SUBMISSION OF ACCOUNTS, IN THAT IT WOULD HAVE APPLIED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES AS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WOULD HAVE BEEN UNDULY ONEROUS AND SERVED LITTLE PRACTICAL PURPOSE.
*| AM PLEASED, THEREFORE, THAT AFTER FURTHER CONSULTATION THE GOVERNMENT NOW AGREES THAT THE SIX-MONTH TIME LIMIT SHOULD NOT APPLY TO PRIVATE COMPANIES AND THAT THE ADVICE OF PROFESSIONALS HAS BEEN HEEDED IN THIS INSTANCE,* HE SAID.
*l ONLY HOPE THAT SIMILAR TREATMENT IS AFFORDED TO THE ADVICE OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY IN RESPECT OF WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE SERIOUS OMISSION OF ANY AMENDMENT TO SECTION 161(B) OF THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE,* HE ADDED.
MR LI NOTED THAT THIS PARTICULAR SECTION HAD BEEN STRONGLY CRITICISED BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS AND THE FINANCIAL COMMUNITY.
+IT IMPOSES UPON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, IN RESPECT OF THEIR DIRECTORS’ LOANS, MORE ONEROUS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAN DOES ANY OTHER INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE,* HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, THE SECTION CLEARLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, AND PLACED AT A DISADVANTAGE, ALL LOCALLY INCORPORATED BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID.
MR LI SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE STRONG ARGUMENTS AGAINST THIS SECTION WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED.
+IF WE ARE TO RETAIN THE CREDIBILITY OF OUR SYSTEM OF REFERENCE TO EXTERNAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND AN ACTIVE STANDING COMMITTEE, THEN IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT ONLY SEEN TO CONSULT ITS ADVISERS BUT ALSO IN THE ABSENCE OF COMPELLING REASONS TO THE CONTRARY TO HEED THEIR ADVICE,* HE SAID.
-----o------
/16.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
16
ADOPTION PROCEDURES TO BE STREAMLINED
*****
THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 SEEKS TO IMPROVE AND STREAMLINE EXISTING ADOPTION PROCEDURES AND DEFINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH ADOPTION APPLICATIONS HEARD IN THE DISTRICT COURT BE TRANSFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE THERE WAS SOME DOUBT WHETHER IT WAS LEGALLY CORRECT FOR THE DISTRICT COURT TO CONTINUE HEARING AN ADOPTION APPLICATION IF THE CHILD'S PARENT OR GUARDIAN FAILED TO GIVE CONSENT TO THE MAKING OF AN ADOPTION ORDER OR IF ANY INTERESTED PERSON OBJECTED TO AN ORDER BEING MADE.
♦CLAUSE 2 OF THE BILL REMOVES ANY POSSIBLE AMBIGUITY ON THIS POINT BY SETTING OUT CLEARLY THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH A HEARING MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DISTRICT COURT TO THE HIGH COURT,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE STATUTORY ADOPTION PROCEDURE, MR CHAMBERS SAID THERE WERE TWO REQUIREMENTS WHICH TENDED TO MAKE THE PROCEDURE MORE PROTRACTED THAN WAS DESIRABLE OR NECESSARY.
FIRST, WHERE ONE OF THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS WAS THE CHILD’S NATURAL PARENT, IT WAS TOO STRINGENT UNDER THE PRESENT TO REQUIRE AN INFANT TO HAVE BEEN IN THEIR CONTINUOUS CARE AND POSSESSION FOR AT LEAST SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE MAKING OF THE ADOPTION ORDER.
HE SAID IT WAS THEREFORE PROPOSED IN CLAUSE 3 OF THE BILL THAT THE REQUIRED PERIOD BE REDUCED FROM SIX MONTHS TO 13 WEEKS CONTINUOUS ACTUAL CUSTODY UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.
♦ THE PERIOD IS NOT REGARDED AS BROKEN WHEN A CHILD GOES INTO HOSPITAL OR TO A boarding-school.*
AS REGARDS THE SECOND REQUIREMENT, MR CHAMBERS SAID UNDER EXISTING ORDINANCE AN INFANT UNDER THE GUARDIANSHIP OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WAS NOT FREE FOR ADOPTION UNTIL THE CONSENT OF ANYONE WHO WAS A PARENT OR GUARDIAN HAD BEEN OBTAINED.
+HOWEVER, THIS CONSENT CAN BE REVOKED WITHIN A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS OR WITH THE LEAVE OF THE COURT AFTER THAT PERIOD, IF THE PARENT GIVES A WRITTEN NOTICE OF REVOCATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE,* HE ADDED.
/♦IN CIRCUMSTANCES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
17 -
+ IN CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE AN INFANT HAS BEEN ABANDONED, NEGLECTED OR PERSISTENTLY ILL-TREATED, OR WHERE THE PARENT CANNOT BE FOUND, THE COURT MAY DISPENSE WITH THE CONSENT REQUIRED AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT CAN THEN PROCEED TO PLACE THE INFANT WITH THE PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS.+
MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT ADOPTIVE PARENTS WERE, HOWEVER, OFTEN RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT A CHILD WHEN THE ISSUE OF PARENTAL CONSENT WAS STILL UNRESOLVED.
+THERE HAVE BEEN CASES WHERE INFANTS WERE LEFT IN THE INSTITUTIONAL CARE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT INDEFINITELY BECAUSE OF VACILLATION ON THE PART OF THE PARENT OR GUARD I AN,+ HE SAID.
+IN OTHER CASES ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS HAVE HAD TO BE TERMINATED AT A VERY LATE STAGE OF THE SIX-MONTH PRE-ADOPT ION PERIOD, RESULTING IN EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE TO ALL CONCERNED.+
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL ENABLED THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO APPLY TO THE COURT FOR AN ORDER TO FREE AN INFANT WHO WAS ALREADY A WARD OF THE DIRECTOR FOR ADOPTION WHEN THE CONSENT OF THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN COULD NOT BE OBTAINED, SO AS TO ENABLE THE CHILD TO BE PLACED IN THE ADOPTIVE PARENTS’ HOME.
+THE CLAUSE ALSO REQUIRES THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, IF THEY CAN BE FOUND, TO BE NOTIFIED BEFORE THE ORDER IS MADE, AND TO BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD,+ HE SAID.
IT WAS ALSO PROPOSED UNDER CLAUSE 5 OF THE BILL THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE MIGHT CONCEAL THE WHEREABOUTS OF A CHILD WHO WAS THE SUBJECT OF SUCH AN APPLICATION TO PROTECT THE INFANT FROM POSSIBLE PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERFERENCE AND TO MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE APPLICANT, WHEN THE CHILD WAS ALREADY LIVING WITH HIM.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
-------0---------
MOVE TO CHANGE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY MEMBERSHIP X X * * *
MEMBERSHIP OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY WILL BE CHANCED AND ITS OPERATING PROCEDURES STREAMLINED UNDER AN AMENDMENT BILL THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, HE SAID THE BILL PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER AND MORE BALANCED REPRESENTATION OF RELEVANT INTERESTS IN THE AUTHORITY.
/CHANGES INCLUDE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 198?
18 -
changes include reducing the number of public officers from THREE TO TWO WHILE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS FROM THREE TO FIVE.
APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PREFESS IONS AND OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY IS ALSO PROVIDED.
ON EX-OFFICIO MEMBERSHIP OF THE AUTHORITY, MR BRIDGE SAID THE BILL SOUGHT AN EXTENSION TO THE HEADS OF ALL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS FUNDED THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, INCLUDING IN DUE COURSE THE THIRD UNIVERSITY.
ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE AUTHORITY’S OPERATING PROCEDURES, HE SAID THE AUTHORITY WOULD NO LONGER BE REQRIRED TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR EACH AND EVERY NEW EXAMINATION -- OTHER THAN THE MAJOR PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS — IT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT, INSTEAD, IT MIGHT APPLY FOR APPROVAL OF BROAD CATEGORIES OF EXAMINATION.
+NOR WILL THE AUTHORITY NEED TO SEEK PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE FEES WHICH IT PROPOSES TO CHARGE FOR SUCH EXAMINATIONS OR IT PROPOSES TO PAY TO SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS FOR THE USE OF THEIR ACCOMMODATION AND FACILITIES,+ MR BRIDGE SAID.
THE BILL, HE ADDED, WOULD ALSO EMPOWER THE AUTHORITY TO DELEGATE TO ITS PRINCIPAL SUB-COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS TO THE 68 SUBJECT AND MORE THAN 200 MODERATION COMMITTEES, AND TO UNDERTAKE PRUDENT INVESTMENT OF ITS SURPLUS FUNDS.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
---------o-----------
ABOLITION OF RATES RELIEF SCHEME SUPPORTED
*****
A FULL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN-HOUSE MEETING HAD DECIDED THAT THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS PROPOSED BY THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN DEBATE ON THE BILL RESUMED.
DESCRIBING DELIBERATIONS BY THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP TASKED TO STUDY THE BILL AS +NOT AT ALL SMOOTH SAILING* MR CHAN, THE CONVENER OF THE GROUP, SAID MEMBERS AT FIRST OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORTED SUSPENSION INSTEAD OF ABOLITION OF THE SCHEME.
/HE SAID
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 19 -
HE SAID THE MEMBERS OF THE GROUP CHANGED THEIR VIEWS RESULTING IN AN EVEN VOTE AFTER CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND MORE FIGURES WERE RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENABLE THE AD HOC GROUP TO UNDERSTAND MORE OF THE PROBLEMS.
HE SAID THE MATTER WAS THEREFORE REPORTED BACK TO THE FULL LEGCO IN-HOUSE MEETING WITH ALL THE PROS AND CONS LISTED.
♦THE RESULT WAS A MAJORITY VOTE FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SCHEME AND SUPPORT FOR THE BILL,-*- MR CHAN SAID.
ALSO SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD UNDERTAKE TO MONITOR CLOSELY THE RESULT OF THE NEXT GENERAL REVALUATION IN 1988 AND TO REINTRODUCE SUITABLE RELIEF MEASURES WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRED.
MR CHENG SAID HE SUPPORTED IN PRINCIPLE THAT GENERAL REVALUATIONS, IF REQUIRED, SHOULD BE CONDUCTED AT REGULAR INTERVALS SO THAT THE RATES PAYABLE REFLECTED ACCURATELY THE RENTAL VALUE OF PROPERTIES AND THAT RATEPAYERS WOULD NOT BE SHOCKED BY DRAMATIC THOUGH INFREQUENT INCREASES.
HE RECALLED THAT THE PRESENT SCHEME WAS NOT THE ONLY RATES RELIEF MEASURE IN THE HISTORY OF THE TERRITORY AS A SIMILAR SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1977 FOR A SIMILAR PURPOSE AND EXPIRED AFTER TWO YEARS EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF PRE-WAR RENT-CONTROLLED PREMISES.
HE SAID THIS WAS A RECORD SHOWING THAT SOME FORM OF RATES RELIEF WAS BROUGHT IN WHEN THE RATEABLE VALUES HAD SUBSTANTIALLY GONE UP AND REMOVED WHEN ITS EFFECT WAS SPENT.
MR CHENG SAID HE WAS INITIALLY ATTRACTED TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR SUSPENSION, RATHER THAN ABOLITION OF THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME OF 1984.
HOWEVER, HE SAID HE WAS LATER PERSUADED THAT THE APPARENT ADVANTAGE OF THE SUSPENSION METHOD WAS IN FACT ILLUSORY AS REINTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME AT A FUTURE DATE WOULD IN ANY EVENT REQUIRE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEN PREVAILING.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SUSPENSION METHOD WOULD COMPLICATE RATHER THAN SIMPLIFY THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OF REINTRODUCING THE SCHEME.
+IT IS THEREFORE, IN MY VIEW, PREFERABLE TO REPEAL SECTION 19 NOW, WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING FRESH PROVISIONS TAILORED TO MEET ACTUAL REQUIREMENTS, SHOULD THE NEED ARISE IN FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
/WINDING UP .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 20 -
WINDING UP THE DEBATE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID MR CHENG’S REMARKS ON PREVIOUS RATES RELIEF SCHEMES HAD HELPED TO GET THE PRESENT PROPOSAL INTO A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.
RATES RELIEF SCHEMES HAD, BY THEIR NATURE, A TEMPORARY EXISTENCE. THEIR PURPOSE WAS TO PHASE IN, WHERE NECESSARY, THE CHANGES IN THE RATES BURDEN BROUGHT ABOUT BY A GENERAL REVALUATION.
+THEY ARE NOT SOME FORM OF CONTINUOUS FINANCIAL SOCIAL WELFARE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR REATES AND, IN THIS RESPECT I WOULD STRESS THAT THOSE RATE-PAYERS CURRENTLY RECEIVING RATES RELIEF ARE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
+l CAN ASSURE MR CHENG, MR CHAN AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE CONDUCTING FUTURE REVALUATIONS AT REGULAR INTERVALS AND, AS A RESULT, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY FUTURE INCREASES IN RATEABLE VALUES WILL BE SO DRAMATIC AS TO WARRANT THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME.
+IF, HOWEVER, A FUTURE REVALUATION MAKES THIS NECESSARY, THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION IS SUBMITTED IN GOOD TIME FOR CONSIDERATION BY BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.+
-------0---------
COMMISSION LIKELY TO REVIEW TERTIARY EDUCATION STRUCTURE * * * * *
CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO ASKING THE EDUCATION COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE STRUCTURE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION IN THE NEXT PHASE OF ITS WORK, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
WINDING UP I HE SECOND DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION’S REPORT NO. 2, HR BRIDGE FOCUSSED ON ISSUES SURROUNDING SIXTH FORM EDUCATION AND RELATED SUBJECTS.
HE NOTED THERE WAS CRITICISM THAT THE COMMISSION HAD NOT RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANT LINK BETWEEN THE TERTIARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SECIORS, AND THERE HAD BEEN SUGGESTIONS TO HAVE ANOTHER OVERALL REVIEW ON EDUCATION.
/♦THE COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 21 -
+THE COMMISSION HAS ALWAYS FULLY RECOGNISED THAT ALL EDUCATIONAL SECTORS ARE INTERLINKED IN IMPORTANT WAYS. CERTAINLY THE SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY SECTORS ARE RELATED, IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS WHILE THEY ARE IN THE SIXTH FORM THAT STUDENTS APPLY FOR TERTIARY PLACES,+ MR BRIDGE SAID.
+IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT THE COMMISSION’S REPORT NO. 2 EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF INTRODUCING THE CENTRALISED ADMISSION SCHEME.
+ BUT THE COMMISSION BELIEVES, I THINK RIGHTLY, THAT IT IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT ESSENTIAL TO TREAT THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF THE SIXTH FORM AND OF THE TERTIARY SECTOR SEPARATELY. ONLY ABOUT FOUR PER CENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE APPROPRIATE AGE GROUP GO TO ONE OF THE FIVE UPGC FUNDED INSTITUTIONS.*
MR BRIDGE SAID THAT IN VEIW OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE PROPOSAL BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG TO CHANGE TO A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME, THERE MIGHT BE A CASE FOR REQUESTING THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UPGC, TO CARRY OUT A STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION SOONER RATHER THEN LATER.
ON THE SUGGESTION OF HAVING ANOTHER +OVERALL REVIEW*, MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS ONLY FIVE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO THAT THE LLEWELYN REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, AND THAT REPORT HAD REVIEWED THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN ITS ENTIRETY.
FURTHERMORE, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD, SINCE THEN, PUBLISHED ITS REPORT NO. 1 AND NO. 2. TO BEGIN YET ANOTHER OVERALL REVIEW COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED AT THE PRICE OF SERIOUS AND CONTINUED DISRUPTION TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, HE SAID.
IN ANALYSING RESPONSE TO THE EDUCATION COMMISSION’S NO. 2 REPORT, MR BRIDGE NOTED THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC SECTOR SIXTH FORM PLACES SHOULD BE FIXED AT ONE FOR EVERY THREE FORM 4 PLACES TWO YEARS EARLIER HAD NOT ATTRACTED SIGNIFICANT CRITICISM.
THE PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION WAS WIDELY WELCOMED AS THE EXAMINATION INCREASED THE SCHOLASTIC PRESSURE ON SIXTH FORM STUDENTS AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE QUALIFICATION RECEIVING LITTLE RECOGNITION IN HONG KONG OR OVERSEAS.
THE REPORT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT NEW AND LESS ACADEMIC SUBJECTS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM TO BROADEN THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF THAT VERY LARGE NUMBER OF SIXTH FORM STUDENTS WHO DID NOT GO ON TO ANY FORM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
/+THIS PROPOSAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 22 -
♦THIS PROPOSAL TOO HAS RECEIVED PUBLIC SUPPORT,+ HEN SAID.
MR BRIDGE SAID THE SUGGESTION TO INTRODUCE A CENTRALISED ADMISSION SYSTEM FOR ALL UPGC FUNDED INSTITUTIONS HAD ALSO RECEIVED SUPPORT AS +THIS WILL RELIEVE STUDENTS OF PRESSURE AND CONFUSION NOW CAUSED BY THE NEED TO DEAL WITH FIVE INDEPENDENT MATRICULATION PROCEDURES.+
AS TO MOVES TOWARDS BILINGUALISM TOGETHER WITH THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT OF ENGLISH STANDARDS IN CHINESE SCHOOLS, MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT THESE HAVE BEEN +UNDERSTANDABLY WELCOMED.+
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE EXTENSION OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION TO PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AND OF FORM 7 TO CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD GENERALLY BEEN SEEN AS A PROCESS IVE MOVE.
ON THE PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE A NEW INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EXAMINATION, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THIS WOULD INCREASE EXAMINATION PRESSURE ON STUDENTS AT A TIME WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL TREND WAS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
IT HAD ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED THAT THE CURRICULUM WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DEVISE, THE TEACHING TIME DURING THE ONE YEAR PERIOD WOULD BE INADEQUATE, AND THAT THE PROPOSED l-LEVEL LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS WERE NOT NEEDED.
♦AGAINST THIS, SOME HAVE SEEN THE l-LEVEL AS A WELCOME MEANS TO BROADEN THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM AND TO PROVIDE A MEANINGFUL EXIT QUALIFICATION FOR FORM 6 LEAVERS,+ HE ADDED.
CONCLUDING, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT ALL PUBLIC COMMNTS ON THE REPORT WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AND FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE MADE TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LATER THIS YEAR.
--------o-----------
UNCERTAINTIES ARISE OVER SIXTH FORM EDUCATION X X X X *
THE PROPOSAL BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG TO EXTEND ITS THREE-YEAR UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM TO FOUR YEARS HAS CREATED CONSIDERABLE UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
LEADING THE SECOND ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, MR CHEN SAID IT WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT COVERED IN THE REPORT, WHICH WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
23 -
MR CHEN, CONVENOR OF THE AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE REPORT, SAID MEMBERS HAD DISCUSSED THE VARIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSION, AND IN PARTICULAR THE PROPOSAL FOR CREATING A NEW INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL EXAMINATION.
HE SAID THEY HAD APPROACHED THE ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AND HAD EXAMINED THE ROLE THAT SHOULD BE PLAYED BY SIXTH FORM EDUCATION UNDER THIS SYSTEM.
IN VEIW OF THE UNCERTAINTIES CAUSED BY THE UNIVERSITY’S PROPOSAL, MR CHEN SAID THE AD HOC GROUP DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING ITS ATTENTION ON THE APPROPRI ATE FORM OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE DURATION OF DEGREE LEVEL COURSES, IT WOULD GIVE A MUCH BROADER CONSIDERATION TO THE ENTIRE EDUCATION SYSTEM.
SUMMARISING THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF MEMBERS, MR CHEN SAID THEY FELT THE PROPOSED l-LEVEL EXAMINATION SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE PRESENT STAGE AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR LOCAL DEGREE LEVEL COURSES.
RATHER THAN CONSIDERING SIXTH FORM EDUCATION IN ISOLATION, THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONDUCT A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE OVERALL EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM PRE-PRIMARY TO TERTIARY LEVEL AND THAT THE PRESENT POLICY-MAKING MACHINERY FOR EDUCATION MATTERS SHOULD BE REVIEWED, HE SAID.
+IT APPEARS WHAT IS NEEDED IS THAT A CENTRAL BODY VESTED WITH MORE DECISION-MAKING POWER SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO CO-ORDINATE AND OVERSEE THE WORK OF THE VARIOUS AUTONOMOUS BODIES,+ HE ADDED.
MR CHEN ALSO COMMENTED AS AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER ON THE PROPOSAL FOR A COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR DEGREE COURSES RUN BY LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
HE RECALLED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN ON THE SUBJECT ALMOST NINE YEARS AGO DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GREEN PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION.
HE SAID HE HAD PROPOSED AT THE TIME THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS BY ADOPTING THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION AS THE EXAMINATION TO SELECT SUITABLE STUDENTS FOR ENTRANCE TO THE UNIVERSITIES.
/QUOTING HIS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 24
QUOTING HIS OWN WORDS NINE YEARS AGO, MR CHEN SAID THOSE SELECTED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WOULD BE GIVEN A FURTHER TWO YEARS OF EDUCATION, WHILE THOSE FOR THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE GIVEN ONE MORE YEAR, TO PREPARE THEM FOR JOINING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE UNIVERSITY COURSES WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO SIT FOR THE MATRICULATION EXAMINATION.
HE NOTED THAT THE PROVISIONAL ADMISSION SCHEME PRACTISED BY THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND A SIMILAR SCHEME UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG WERE NOT DISSIMILAR TO HIS PROPOSAL OF NINE YEARS AGO.
+MY PROPOSAL, IF ADOPTED, WOULD ENABLE THE PRESENT THREE-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR DEGREE SYSTEMS TO CO-EXIST THEREBY AVOIDING UNNECESSARY AND DAMAGING CHANGES IN OUR EXISTING EDUCATION SYSTEMS,+ HE SAID.
MOREOVER, IT WOULD ASSIST IN ACHIEVING THE EDUCATION COMMISSION’S OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING THE EDUCATION VALUE OF FORM VI AND FORM VII COURSES, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE ISSUED RELATING TO THE DURATION OF UNIVERSITY DEGREE COURSES, MR CHEN SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY A COMMON MISCONCEPTION THAT FOUR-YEAR DEGREE COURSES WERE NECESSARILY MORE COSTLY THAN THREE-YEAR ONES.
HE SAID IT WAS TRUE THAT WHEN VIEWED SUPERFICIALLY A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY COURSE BY ITSELF WOULD BE MORE COSTLY TO THE UNIVERSITY THAN A THREE-YEAR ONE.
HOWEVER, HE SAID PEOPLE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THE TOTAL COST TO THE PUBLIC PURSE WHEN MAKING THE COMPARISON.
QUOTING FIGURES TO SUPPORT HIS VIEW, MR CHEN SAID FOR THE YEAR 1984-85, ONLY ABOUT ONE IN SIX FORM VII STUDENTS EVENTUALLY WENT ON TO THREE-YEAR DEGREE EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, MEANING FOR EVERY ONE STUDENT JOINING A THREE-YEAR DEGREE COURSE, THE PUBLIC PURSE HAD TO BEAR THE COST OF SUBSIDISING SIX FORM VII PLACES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT IF FORM VII EDUCATION WERE TO BE ABOLISHED TO GO WITH A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE SYSTEM, THE COST FOR SIX FORM VII PLACES WOULD BE SAVED, RESULTING IN A NET SAVING DESPITE A HIGHER UNIT COST FOR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.
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/25........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
25
NEED TO RECOGNISE I-LEVEL CURRICULUM
*****
THE HON CHAN YING-LUN EXPRESSED CONCERN TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHETHER THE INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL CURRICULUM PROPOSED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION WOULD GAIN RECOGNITION, ESPECIALLY BY LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. •
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO 2 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAN STRESSED THAT THE MATTER OF RECOGNITION WAS THE KEY FACTOR TO THE SUCCESS OF SIXTH-FORM EDUCATION REFORM.
FOR STUDENTS TO BE WILLING TO TAKE UP THE l-LEVEL CURRICULUM --ESPECIALLY THOSE PRACTICAL SUBJECTS RECOMMENDED BY THE REPORT WHICH THE COMMUNITY USED TO ATTACH NO IMPORTANCE -- A CERTAIN DEGREE OF RECOGNITION MUST BE OBTAINED, HE SAID.
MR CHAN ALSO NOTED THAT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS STILL CARRIED THE MISCONCEPTION THAT STUDENTS OF GRAMMAR SCHOOLS WERE BETTER THAN THOSE WHO TOOK UP PRACTICAL COURSES.
HE SAID THE PROPOSED l-LEVEL CURRICULUM SHOULD NOT BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THE RECOGNITION PROBLEM WAS SOLVED.
MR CHAN SAID THAT HONG KONG’S SECONDARY EDUCATION COULD NOT REMAIN FOREVER WITHIN THE MAJOR MODEL OF GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
+HONG KONG SHOULD DEVELOP, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AN INTEGRATED . SECONDARY CURRICULUM WHICH COMPRISES BOTH COMMON ACADEMIC SUBJECTS AND PRACTICAL SUBJECTS.
+THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION OF PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS ALREADY PROVIDES A FOUNDATION FOR US? IT IS MOST APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THIS MODEL TO TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND GRAMMAR SCHOOLS,* HE SAID.
NOW THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WAS BEING ESTABLISHED AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION WAS GOING TO INCLUDE THE NINE-YEAR FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION IN ITS NEXT REVIEW, MR CHAN SAID HE THOUGHT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTEGRATED CURRICULUM.
WITH REGARD TO THE ENHANCEMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, HE PROPOSED THAT TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTRES SHOULD BE SET UP IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
MORE ADVANCED EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE PURCHASED AND PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO GIVE LECTURES ON TECHNICAL COURSES, HE SUGGESTED.
MR CHAN SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE TEACHING EFFECT IN THESE I EDUCATION CENTRES WOULD BE MUCH BETTER THAN OPERATING TECHNICAL COURSES IN INDIVIDUAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
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/26........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
26 -
COMMUNITY, STUDENTS’ NEEDS COME FIRST *****
I
THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE USEFULNESS OF THE EDUCATION TO THE STUDENTS IN THE SIXTH FORM SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE EXISTING ADMISSION POLICIES ADOPTED BY INDIVIDUAL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, THE HON RITA FAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, MRS FAN SAID THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY WAS FOR MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE TRAINED AT DEGREE LEVEL RATHER THAN TO HAVE LONGER DEGREE COURSES.
♦THIS IS NOT A SACRIFICE OF QUALITY FOR QUANTITY, BECAUSE THE QUALITY OF A DEGREE COURSE IS DEPENDENT ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING TEACHING METHODOLOGY, CURRICULUM PLANNING, STAFF-STUDENT CONTACT HOURS. THE LENGTH OF THE COURSE IS BUT ONE OF THE MANY FACTORS,+ SHE SAID.
DEFENDING SIXTH FORM STUDENTS’ POOR LANGUAGE ABILITY AND THEIR LACK OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, MRS FAN SAID THE ROOT OF THESE DEFICIENCIES LAY MORE IN THE EXAMINATION SYLLABUSES AND ADMISSION POLICIES OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS OFFERING DEGREE COURSES, RATHER than in the students’ ability to learn or the schools’ ability to TEACH.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A STUDY OF THE ACADEMIC STANDARD OF CERTAIN A-LEVEL EXAMINATIONS AND OF THE CURRENT ADMISSION POLICIES ADOPTED BY TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
STATING THAT THESE ADMISSION SYSTEMS COULD CAUSE CONFUSION FOR STUDENTS, WASTAGE OF RESOURCES AND PROBLEMS FOR SCHOOLS, SHE PROPOSED THERE BE A COMMON POINT ENTRY FOR ALL DEGREE COURSES.
+WITH THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DEGREE PLACES TO BE OFFERED BY THE THIRD UNIVERSITY, THE POLYTECHNICS AND BAPTIST COLLEGE OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS, THE TIME HAS COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RATIONALISE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TERTIARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, BY TAKING A DECISION ON A COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR ALL DEGREE COURSES AS A FIRST STEP,* MRS FAN SAID.
MRS FAN ADMITTED THAT THE DECISION ON THE LEVEL OF THE COMMON ENTRY POINT WOULD NOT BE AN EASY ONE AND THAT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS | SHOULD BE GIVEN TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. >
/►INSTITUTIONS CAN
I
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 27 -
+1 NSTI TUT IONS CAN STILL REQUIRE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND EXAMINATION GRADES FOR DIFFERENT COURSES, HOWEVER, THE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM A WIDER RANGE OF COURSES AT THE SAME TIME THROUGH A CENTRALISED ADMISSION SYSTEM, AND THE SCHOOLS CAN EDUCATE THEIR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS IN A WELL PLANNED MANNER WITHOUT HAVING TO COPE WITH SUDDENLY DEFLATED CLASSES AND STUDENTS SITTING FOR DIFFERENT EXAMINATIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR,* SHE EXPLAINED.
TURNING TO THE SYSTEM FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT GO ALONG WITH +CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGING* OR +CHANGE IN ORDER TO CONFORM WITH ANOTHER SYSTEM*.
UNTIL SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE COULD BE OBTAINED TO ILLUSTRATE THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF THE FIVE-YEAR SECONDARY SYSTEM FOR HONG KONG, OR ANOTHER SYSTEM COULD BE SHOWN TO BE EMINENTLY MORE SUITABLE, MRS FAN ADVOCATED THE RETENTION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR ALL DEGREE COURSES BE PITCHED AT +A+ LEVEL.
ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION’S PROPOSAL ON OPEN EDUCATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL, MRS FAN EXPRESSED FULL SUPPORT.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT OF PROSPECTIVE HONG KONG STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES.
+MANY HONG KONG STUDENTS WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN CONCENTRATING ON SELF-STUDY PROGRAMMES IN THEIR CONGESTED AND NOISY HOMES.
+THERE IS A NEED FOR A NUMBER OF PROPERLY EQUIPPED STUDY CENTRES CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE TERRITORY AND OPEN FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY IN AFTER OFFICE HOURS AND DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS,* SHE SAID.
MRS FAN ADDED THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE STUDY CENTRES COULD HELP TO REDUCE DROP-OUT RATES.
+l SUGGEST THAT EVERY EFFORT BE MADE TO IDENTIFY EXISTING FACILITIES AND EXPLORE NEW FACILITIES FOR USE AS STUDY CENTRES FOR STUDENTS IN OPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMMES,* SHE SAID.
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/28
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987 c
- 28 -
SUPPORT FOR TWO-YEAR SIXTH FORM EDUCATION
*****
NOTING THE DEFECTS OF THE ONE-YEAR SIXTH FORM EDUCATION, THE HON PAULINE NG TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED THAT ALL SIXTH FORM EDUCATION IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE OF TWO-YEAR DURATION.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE SECOND ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, MRS NG SAID THAT AT THE END OF THE TWO YEARS ALL STUDENTS SHOULD ONLY TAKE ONE EXAMINATION, WHICH WOULD QUALIFY THEM TO ENTER ANY SORT OF TERTIARY EDUCATION.
+THE PRECISE FORM THAT THIS EXAMINATION SHOULD TAKE- OBVIOUSLY REQUIRIES FURTHER CONSIDERATION, BUT THE PRINCIPLE OF INTERCHANGEABILITY SHOULE BE ACCEPTED,* SHE SAID.
MRS NG SAID THERE WERE DISADVANTAGES IN HAVING STUDENTS SIT FOR THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION AT THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR CHINESE UNIVERSITY MATRICULATION COURSE.
TO TAKE THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION ONLY NINE MONTHS AFTER THE HONG KONG SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION WOULD BE TOO MUCH OF A STRESS ON STUDENTS, SHE ADDED.
THERE WAS ALSO NO TIME WHATSOEVER FOR THEM TO PARTAKE OF THE LESS ACADEMIC ASPECTS OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION, WHICH SERVED TO PREPARE THEM FOR ADULT LIFE AND WIDEN THEIR EXPERIENCE THROUGH EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
+THIRDLY, TAKING THE HIGH LEVEL EXAMINATION FOR THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY IS OF NO ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WISHING TO ENTER THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, POLYTECHNIC, OR CERTAIN TYPES OF JOB.+ SHE ADDED.
REFERRING TO HONG KONG’S EDUCATION SYSTEM IN GENERAL, MRS NG STRESSED THAT WHAT WAS REQUIRED WAS A CAREFUL STUDY OF AN OVERALL APPROACH TO THE STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION, INSTEAD OF PIECEMEAL CHANGES.
+1 SINCERELY HOPE OUR MASTERMINDS WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE A BROADER PERSPECTIVE OF HONG KONG’S EDUCATION SYSTEM AS A WHOLE o
BEFORE EMBARKING ON YET ANOTHER INGENIOUS PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE,* SHE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 29 "
TACKLE TERTIARY COURSE DURATION ISSUE FIRST *****
THE EDUCATION COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE TACKLED DIRECTLY AND URGENTLY THE QUESTION OF DURATION OF TERTIARY COURSES, WHICH IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH SIXTH FORM EDUCATION, THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE SECOND ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, MR CHENG NOTED THAT THE COMMISSION HAD WITHHELD ALL OPINION ON THE APPROPRIATE LENGTH OF TERTIARY COURSES, WHICH IT SAID WAS A +SEPARATE ISSUE*.
+1 REALLY DON’T SEE HOW WE CAN GET SIXTH FORM EDUCATION INTO TRUE FOCUS UNTIL THE QUESTION OF THE DURATION OF TERTIARY COURSES AND A UNIFIED LEVEL OF ENTRY IS RESOLVED,* HE SAID.
HE THEREFORE STRESSED THAT ONE OF THE FIRST IMPORTANT TASKS FOR THE COMMISSION WAS TO CONSIDER AND WORK TO THE BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR A UNIFIED LEVEL OF ENTRY TO TERTIARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
MR CHENG EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT THE COMMISSION’S RECOMMENDATION THAT AN INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EXAMINATION SHOULD BE CARVED OUT OF ADVANCED LEVELS TO REPLACE THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION.
HE FELT THAT THIS MIGHT IMPAIR THE QUALITY OF THE CURRICULUM WITHOUT EASING EXAMINATION PRESSURE ON STUDENTS.
MR CHENG AGREED THAT A CENTRALISED SYSTEM OF ADMISSIONS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION, AS SUGGESTED BY THE COMMISSION, WAS A DESIRABLE OBJECTIVE, SO LONG AS IT WAS BASED ON A GENUINELY UNIFIED LEVEL OF ENTRY.
HE WELCOMED PROPOSALS FOR REINFORCING LANGUAGE TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE LANGUAGE STUDIES CURRICULUM FOR THE SIXTH FORM.
*HONG KONG'S FUTURE AS AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WILL DEPEND IN NO SMALL MEASURE ON THE EFFORTS THAT WE NOW MAKE TO THIS END,* HE NOTED.
MR CHENG ALSO AGREED THAT SIXTH FORM SCHOOLING SHOULD BE SHAPED SO AS TO BENEFIT ALL STUDENTS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD GO ON TO TERTIARY COURSES.
HE HOPED THAT THE COMMISSION’S OBJECTIVES OF ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALANCED, WILL-INFORMED INDIVIDUALS AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR ADULT LIFE WOULD THEN BE ACHIEVED.
LASTLY, HE URGED THAT THE OPPORTUNITY BE GRASPED TO TAKE A BOLD AND POSITIVE COURSE TO PUT SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION UNDER ONE SINGLE COMPREHENSIVE APPRAISAL.
0-------- /JO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- JO -SHELVE SIXTH FORM DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS * X * * *
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHELVE ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIXTH FORM EDUCATION CONTAINED IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, THE HON LEE YU-TAI TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THESE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD NOT BEEN PUT THROUGH ANY EFFECTIVE CONSULTATION PROCESS, AND THAT THE SWITCHING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG’S UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME TO A FOUR-YEAR SYSTEM WAS UNFORESEEN.
ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE COMMISSION’S REPORT, MR LEE SUGGESTED THAT A REVIEW OF THE OVERALL EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS AS UNIVERSAL EDUCATION AND THE LINKING UP OF SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION AND TERTIARY EDUCATION.
HE SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT UNIVERSITIES SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROBLEM OF COURSE DURATION ALONE.
+THEY SHOULD CONSIDER AT THE SAME TIME THE POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING THE CREDIT SYSTEM.
+FOR INSTANCE, IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE USE OF THE SUMMER VACATION TO PICK UP SOME EXTRA CREDITS, SO THAT STUDENTS CAN GRADUATE AT AN EARLIER DATE,+ HE SAID.
AMONG ALL OTHER MERITS, MR LEE SAID THE CREDIT SYSTEM COULD BE REGULATED TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND WORKING ADULTS OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUND.
THE LATTER COULD ALSO ADJUST THEIR PROGRESS ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN CONDITIONS AND WOULD THUS ATTAIN THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FROM THE SYSTEM.
ON THE MATRICULATION SYSTEM, MR LEE DIRECTED HIS CRITICISM TOWARDS THE EXISTING HONG KONG ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION.
HE HOPED THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED, INCLUDING THE HONG KONG EXAMINATION AUTHORITY AND THE UNIVERSITIES, WOULD SERIOUSLY REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND EFFECT IMPROVEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE SAID HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A CENTRALISED ADMISSION SYSTEM BASED ON THE RESULTS OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.
/+A CWTRALISED ADMISSION......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 198?
- 31 "
+A CENTRALISED ADMISSION SYSTEM ONLY SERVES TO MERGE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES,+ HE EXPLAINED.
+ BUT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND ACADEMIC STANDARD WILL BE DECIDED BY THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES,* HE SAID.
IF A FOUR-YEAR CURRICULUM WAS JOINTLY ADOPTED BY THE UNIVERSITIES, MR LEE SAID THE +3+3+ SECONDARY SYSTEM WAS THE MOST FEASIBLE ONE.
HE BELIEVED A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WERE WILLING TO TAKE UP AN ADDITIONAL YEAR OF SERIOUS SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDIES AS 40 PER CENT OF THE CANDIDATES WHO SAT THE HKCEE WERE MAKING A SECOND ATTEMPT EVERY YEAR IN ORDER TO OBTAIN BETTER RESULTS.
ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF OVERSEAS GRADUATES WHO RETURNED TO HONG KONG, MR LEE HOPED THAT PREFERENCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO LOCAL PEOPLE WHEN RECRUITING WAS UNDERWAY.
+THE DEFINITION OF LOCAL PEOPLE SHOULD INCLUDE HONG KONG STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM OVERSEAS INSTITUTIONS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE RECOGNISED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, RATHER THAN BEING RESTRICTED TO GRADUATES OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
+STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR STUDIES OVERSEAS SHOULD BE GIVEN EQUAL TREATMENT IN COMPETING WITH LOCAL GRADUATES,* HE SAID.
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courageous steps to education reforms advocated
*****
more courageous steps should be taken to build a sound educational framework for hong KONG such as a common entry point for all tertiary institutions and a unified sixth form SYLLABUS, THE HON DAVID LI SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2, MR LI SAID THIS WAS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE EXAMINATION PRESSURE AND UNCERTAINTIES FACED BY SIXTH FORM STUDENTS.
HE SAID THAT THE COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS REGARDING SIXTH-FORM EDUCATION WERE INADEQUATE TO CORRECT THE FLAWS INHERENT IN THE EXISTING EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND THAT THEY DID NOT MEET THE CHALLENGES POSED BY PROBLEMS ARISING FROM TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
/MR LI .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 198?
- 32 -
MR LI CRITICISED THE COMMISSION FOR MAKING SWEEPING DECISIONS THAT WOULD AFFECT HONG KONG’S YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
HE THEREFORE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENHANCE THE COMMISSION THROUGH A CRITICAL RE-EVALUATION OF THE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS OF ITS PRESENT MEMBERSHIP, SO THAT THE VIEWS OF ALL SECTORS OF THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD WERE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AVOIDED.
+WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT TO THE CORE OF DECISION-MAKERS, ANY FURTHER REPORTS PRODUCED BY THE COMMISSION WOULD STILL BE PUTTING NEW WINE IN OLD BOTTLES,+ HE SAID.
WITH REGARD TO THE TECHNICAL ASPECT OF THE COMMISSION REPORT, MR LI SAID HE WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD NOT ONLY PRESENT THE CONSENSUS VIEWS, BUT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE DISAGREEMENTS.
+ AS AN ALTERNATIVE, I BELIEVE A TABULATION OF THE MAJORITY’S OPINIONS VERSUS THE MINORITY’S OPINIONS WOULD BE MOST BENEFICIAL, AS THIS WOULD PROVIDE FRUITFUL INFORMATION FOR POLICY CONSIDERATION,* HE SAID.
THE COMMISSION SHOULD CONSIDER HOW TO REFINE ITS PRESENTATION METHODS, MR LI ADDED.
TURNING TO THE PRESENT SIXTH-FORM CURRICULUM, HE SAID IT WAS BASICALLY DESIGNED TO EQUIP STUDENTS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDIES. HOWEVER, TNE IRONY WAS THAT ONLY A FEW EVENTUALLY ENTERED THE UNIVERSITIES.
HE SUGGESTED THEREFORE THAT AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDED OVERALL TRAINING FOR ALL STUDENTS, SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
HE ADDED THAT THE MOST SERIOUS DEFECT OF THE COMMISSION REPORT WAS ITS FAILURE TO PROPOSE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT COULD REVERSE THE PRESENT DEPLORABLE SITUATION.
HE ALSO CONSIDERED THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EXAMINATION IMPRACTICAL AND POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS.
MR LI SAID THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SCEPTICISM WITHIN THE TEACHING PROFESSION AS TO THE EDUCATIONAL VIABILITY OF THE l-LEVEL EXAMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF A CONTINUING SYSTEM OF CLASSES LEADING TO THE A-LEVEL EXAMINATION.
FURTHERMORE, THE l-LEVEL EXAMINATION WOULD INCREASE EXAMINATION PRESSURE ON STUDENTS, HE ADDED.
+ IS THE GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO COMPEL ALL TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TO ACCEPT THE l-LEVEL EXAMINATION AS THE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION FOR ENTRY?* MR LI ASKED.
+ IF NOT, THEN THE PROPOSAL MUST BE DISMISSED OUT OF HAND,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
55
PRESENT STRUCTURE MUST BE REAPPRAISED
*****
THE PRESENT DISPARITY OF TERTIARY ADMISSION LEVELS IS PRODUCING HARMFUL REPERCUSSIONS WHICH ARE AFFECTING HONG KONG’S SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM THEIR EARLIEST FORMS, PROFESSOR THE HON POON CHUNG-KWONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE ^EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2+, PROF POON POINTED OUT THAT STUDENTS SEEKING TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES AT TERTIARY LEVEL FACED A NUMBER OF PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.
FURTHERMORE, THE PRESENT DISUNITY OF ADMISSION LEVELS TO TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TEMPTED MANY STUDENTS TO ENHANCE THEIR CHANCES OF SUCCESS BY UNDERTAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY TWO CURRICULA LEADING TO TWO ENTIRELY SEPARATE EXAMINATIONS, HE ADDED,.
PROF POON THEREFORE CALLED FOR A COMPLETE REAPPRAISAL OF THE EDUCATION STRUCTURE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, IN PARTICULAR THE INTERFACE BETWEEN SECONDARY AND TERTIARY LEVELS.
+IN ORDER TO RATIONALISE THE SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND TO ACHIEVE AN ATMOSPHERE BENEFICIAL TO A THOROUGH AND BROAD LEARNING EXPERIENCE BY REDUCING THE PRESSURE IMPOSED BY A SUCCESSION OF EXAMINATIONS, THE FUNDAMENTAL STEP IS TO UNIFY THE LEVEL OF ADMISSION TO TERTIARY EDUCATION BY MEANS OF ONE QUALIFYING EXAMINATION THAT SUITS THE PURPOSE OF ALL THE HIGHER EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENTS,* HE SAID.
PROF POON ALSO ADDED A SHORT FOOTNOTE TO HIS SPEECH DURING THE FIRST DAY’S DEBATE ON THE REPORT ON JANUARY 21 WHEN HE PROPOSED THE USE OF PUTONGHUA IN THE CLASSROOM, WHICH HE SAID HAD SINCE GENERATED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
CLARIFYING HIS VIEW, HE SAID HE SUGGESTED THAT PUTONGHUA BE MADE A COMPULSORY SUBJECT AT PRIMARY SCHOOL LEVEL, NOT THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE FIRST INSTANCE.
+ IF A PUPIL HAS A CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO PUTONGHUA OVER HIS SIX YEARS OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO LEARN IN PUTONGHUA BY THE TIME HE STARTS SECONDARY SCHOOL,* HE SAID.
+AS IN ALL CASES OF CHANGES OF THIS NATURE, I DO NOT EXPECT THIS TO TAKE PLACE OVERNIGHT AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY SOME CRITICS, BUT I THINK GIVEN A CAREFULLY PHASED PROGRAMME THE USE OF PUTONGHUA IN THE CLASSROOM IS BY NO MEANS A REMOTE POSSIBILITY,* HE ADDED.
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/5*........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- JU -
POWERFUL COORDINATING BODY NEEDED FOR IMPROVED EDUCATION * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROPOSAL MADE IN THE 1982 REPORT OF THE VISITING PANEL OF EDUCATION EXPERTS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COORDINATING COMMISSION TO IMPROVE THE PRESENTLY ^FRAGMENTED AND UN-COORDINATED* STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE HON ROSANNA TAM TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN SHE SPOKE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO 2.
QUOTING THE 1982 REPORT -- +A PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN HONG KONG* “ BY THE VISITING PANEL, MRS TAM SAID SHE AGREED THAT +EXCESSIVE ADMINISTRATION AND INADEQUATE PLANNING* WAS THE CRUX OF THE PROBLEM WITH HONG KONG’S EDUCATION SYSTEM. .
SHE SAID SHE WAS IN FAVOUR OF AN EDUCATION COMMISSION TO BE ESTABLISHED ON TOP OF EXISTING EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEES AND BODIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING AND FORMULATION OF POLICIES IN HONG KONG.
+DESPITE CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE IN THE PAST 10 YEARS GENERALLY, THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG HAS CONTINUED TO BE DISADVANTAGED BY THE LACK OF FRAMEWORK CONCERNED WITH OVERALL COORDINATION AND POLICY-MAKING,*
MRS TAM SAID SHE REGRETTED THAT THE EXISTING EDUCATION COMMISSION WAS NOT GIVEN ANY HIGHER STATUS OVER OTHER EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEES AND BODIES.
BESIDES THE COMPRESSION’S TERMS OF REFERENCE PROVIDED MERELY FOR A CO-ORDINATING ROLE, IT WAS IN NO POSITION TO LEAD THE OTHER COMMITTEES.
+HENCE, ITS STATUS AND POWER ARE A FAR CRY FROM THAT TO BE ACCORDED TO THE PROPOSED CO-ORDINATING BODY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE REPORT.
+ IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, THE COMMISSION MAY ALSO FIND ITSELF DIFFICULT EVEN TO ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE CO-ORDINATION AMONG THOSE OTHER EDUCATIONAL BODIES,* MRS TAM SAID.
SHE SAID THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM OF HONG KONG.
+BUT I ALSO FEEL THAT SHOULD THE PRESENT STRUCTURE FOR COORDINATION AND FORMULATION OF POLICY CONTINUE WITHOUT IMPROVEMENT, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN OVERALL REVIEW COULD BE GREATLY WEAKENED,* SHE ADDED.
/55........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
55
CONSUMERS 'ENTITLED TO FULL COMPENSATION’
*****
THE CONSUMER COUNCIL MAINTAINS THAT CONSUMERS AFFECTED BY THE COLLAPSE OF TRAVEL AGENCIES ARE ENTITLED TO FULL COMPENSATION FOR THE TOUR MONEY THEY HAD PAID WELL IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF GOODS OR SERVICE, THE HON SELINA CHOW TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN TABLING THE 1985-86 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, OF WHICH SHE IS CHAIRMAN, MRS CHOW SAID THE COUNCIL WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE INADEQUACY OF THE PRESENT RESERVE FUND CREATED UNDER THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE.
IT WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE STRONG SENTIMENTS OF MEMBERS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY AT THE PROSPECT OF THEIR HAVING TO DIG INTO THEIR POCKETS FOR ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND.
+ BUT LET IT NOT BE FORGOTTEN THAT WHEN THE PRESENT TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE WAS BEING FORMULATED AND THE CONCEPT OF A RESERVE FUND WAS RAISED, IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT SUCH A FUND WOULD DERIVE ITS INCOME FROM AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD LEVY IMPOSED ON THE TRADE, AND WHICH SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF BEING USED TO MEET ALL LEGITIMATE CLAIMS,* MRS CHOW SAID.
FURTHERMORE, IT WAS PROPOSED THEN THAT THE FUND SHOULD BE FINANCED BY A LEVY TO BE DETERMINED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ANNUALLY ACCORDING TO NEED AND TOWARDS COMPENSATING VICTIMS OF ABSCONDMENTS AND OR FAILURES OF TRAVEL AGENTS, SHE SAID.
+THAT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WAS THE ADMINISTRATION’S EXPLANATION OF THE SPIRIT OF THIS LAW AND THE RESERVE FUND CREATED UNDER THE LAW, AND WAS ACCEPTED BY THE TRADE AS A PREFERABLE SOLUTION IN FAVOUR OF OTHER OPTIONS SUCH AS COMPULSORY INSURANCE OR DEPOSITS OF BOND,* SHE ADDED.
IT WAS THEREFORE THE COUNCIL’S VIEW THAT VICTIMS OF THE RECENT CLOSURE OF TRAVEL AGENCIES MUST BE ACCORDED REDRESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE.
SHE ADDED THAT IN THE LONG TERM, A SOLUTION MUST BE FOUND TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT HONG KONG’S OUTBOUND TRAVELLING PUBLIC.
CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN THAT THE MAIN BULK OF THIS BUSINESS WAS CONCENTRATED IN THE LAST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. THIS WOULD OBVIOUSLY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR ANY BOND SYSTEM TO ADEQUATELY COVER CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THAT PARTICULAR PERIOD OF THE YEAR.
/+IT HAS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- ?6 -
+IT HAS CONSEQUENTLY BEEN SUGGESTED THAT ADVANCE PAYMENTS MADE BY CONSUMERS SHOULD BE PAID INTO A TRUST ACCOUNT SO AS TO LIMIT THE TRAVEL AGENTS’ ADVANCED ACCESS TO TOUR MONEY, THEREBY MINIMISING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABSCONDMENT OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUND,* SHE SAID.
TURNING TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL’S WORK, MRS CHOW SAID THE YEAR SAW THE COUNCIL EXERCISING ONE OF ITS STRONGEST SANCTIONS AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS TRADERS -- BY BRINGING PUBLIC CENSURE TO BEAR ON A TOTAL OF 11 SHOPS WHOSE TRADING PRACTICES WERE FAR FROM WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED FAIR AND HONEST.
INVARIABLY THE NAMING OF THESE DELINQUENT SHOPS RESULTED IN WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY IN THE MEDIA, SHE NOTED.
+WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THIS WILL CONTINUE, NOW THAT THE DEFAMATION ORDINANCE WAS AMENDED IN MAY 1986 TO ENABLE THE NEWS MEDIA TO PUBLISH FAIR AND ACCURATE REPORTS OF UNSCRUPULOUS TRADERS,* SHE SAID.
THE YEAR ALSO SAW THE RESOLUTION OF A LONG-STANDING ISSUE AFFECTING FLAT BUYERS -- THE NEED FOR A STANDARD METHOD OF FLOOR MEASUREMENT, OR SALEABLE AREA, IN NEWLY BUILT FLATS.
THIS JOINT EFFORT, CO-ORDINATED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, ARRIVED AT A FORMULA ACCEPTABLE TO NINE OTHER PARTIES CONSISTING OF professional bodies comprising architects, surveyors, lawyers and RELATED GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
THE TRADE ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS HAD AGREED TO RECOMMEND TO ITS MEMBERS THE USE OF THIS STANDARD METHOD AND TO INCLUDE INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE SALEABLE AREA IN THE PRICE LISTS GIVEN IN SALES BROCHURES.
♦HOPEFULLY THIS AND OTHER MEASURES WILL RENDER THE INFAMOUS ’SHRUNKEN FLAT’ EPISODE DISCUSSED IN THIS COUNCIL NOT TOO LONG AGO A THING OF THE PAST.+ SHE COMMENTED.
MRS CHOW SAID THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD REFLECTED THE PUBLIC MOOD AND TAKEN AN INCREASING INTEREST IN CONSUMER PROTECTION NOT THE LEAST IN ENACTING A NUMBER OF PIECES OF VITAL CONSUMER PROTECTION LEGISLATION.
THESE INCLUDED AMENDMENTS IN THE DEFAMATION ORDINANCE, THE SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ORDINANCE, THE FOOD AND DRUGS (COMPOSITION AND LABELLING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS AND THE ENACTMENT OF THE MONEY CHANGERS (DISCLOSURE OF RATES, CHARGES AND COMMISSION) ORDINANCE, AND THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE.
/57........
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 37 -
NEW LAW A REALISTIC STEP TO COMBAT POLLUTION *****
air POLLUTION CONTROL (AIR CONTROL ZONE) (DECLARATION) ORDER 1986 SHOULD BE MOST WELCOME AS THE FIRST REALISTIC STEP ' TO COMBAT AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE EXPANSION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF INDUSTRY, PROFESSOR THE HON POON CHUNG-KWONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDER, PROF POON SAID THE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION RELATED TO THE DECLARATION OF THE HARBOUR AIR CONTROL ZONE AND THE TSUEN WAN - KWAI CHUNG AIR CONTROL ZONE TOGETHER WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES. ’
HE NOTED THAT BEFORE THE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES WERE DEFINED THERE HAD BEEN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS. ON THE WHOLE, THERE WERE NO ADVERSE COMMENTS.
HE SAID THAT TO ACHIEVE THESE AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INDUSTIRAL SECTOR.
+IT MAY MEAN TO THE INDUSTRIES A CHANGE IN METHOD OR ROUTINE OF OPERATIONS, THE USE OF MORE EXPENSIVE FUEL AND EVEN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT IN POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT,* HE SAID.
IF NECESSARY, THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH REASONABLE AND TIMELY ASSISTANCE, AND OPERATORS OF NEW FACTORIES SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THE NECESSITY OF STRICT AIR POLLUTION CONTROL.
PROF POON ALSO SAID THAT RIGID CONTROLS ON MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS HAD TO BE IMPOSED AND OIL COMPANIES SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FURTHER REDUCE THE LEVEL OF LEAD IN PETROLEUM. AT PRESENT, THE CONCENTRATION OF LEAD IN PETROLEUM IN HONG KONG WAS HIGHER THAN THAT IN MOST WESTERN COUNTRIES.
+REDUCING THE LEAD LEVEL FURTHER MAY MEAN SLIGHTLY MORE EXPENSIVE OIL FOR CONSUMERS BUT THAT IS THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN*, HE SAID.
PROF POON NOTED THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAD FOUND THAT THE QUALITY OF AIR IN KWUN TONG WAS RATHER UNSATISFACTORY, WITH THE LEVELS OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND PARTICULATE MATTER, AND TO A LESSER EXTENT NITROGEN DIOXIDE, EXCEEDING THE OBJECTIVES FOR THESE POLLUTANTS.
+1 DO URGE THE GOVERNMENT, FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS PIECE OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, TO CONSIDER IT ITS TOP PRIORITY TO DEVISE A FEASIBLE AND EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO RECTIFY THE UNCOMMENDABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS AT KWUN TONG AND TO STOP ANY FURTHER DETERIORATION OF AIR QUALITY IN OTHER DISTRICTS,* HE SAID.
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/38 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
38
CO-OPERATION LEADS TO EFFECTIVE AUDIT PROCESS
*****
THE SUCCESSFUL EVOLUTION OF THE AUDIT PROCESS IS THE OUTCOME OF CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE ON THE ONE HAND AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE OTHER, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TABLING THE NINTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LEE PRAISED THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT FOR THEIR WORK AS SHOWN BY MANY EXAMPLES PROVIDED BY THE REPORT.
MR LEE, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE ARRANGEMENT WAS FOUNDED ON A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES WHEREBY ONE SORT OF POWER, THE POWER TO SPEND MONEY, WAS VESTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE EXECUTIVE, AND ANOTHER SORT OF POWER, THAT OF CALLING THE EXECUTIVE TO ACCOUNT WAS VESTED IN THE COUNCIL.
+THIS DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IS A DELICATE BALANCE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT PRESENT EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS WE HAVE GOT IT JUST ABOUT RIGHT,+ HE SAID.
MR LEE STRESSED IT WAS VITAL THAT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER RESPONSIBLY AND THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS DID NOT SEEK TO ARROGATE SO MUCH POWER TO THEMSELVES THAT IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY.
+ IN THE CASE OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, THIS CHALLENGE REQUIRES THE COMMITTEE TO BE CRITICAL WHEN CRITICISM IS DUE, BUT ALSO TO BE FAIR, TO BE OBJECTIVE AND TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE,* HE ADDED.
0---------
EPD MANPOWER TO BE INCREASED *****
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO STRENGTHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR IN VIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT’S INCREASED WORKLOAD, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND today'R(wednesday)JOHN Chambers’ T0LD The legislative COUNCIL
REPLYING T0 A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT WOULD EXPAND BY 8O PER CENT (from 283 TO P0STS) 0N APR,L 1 ,F THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE VOTING OF FUNDS BY THE COUNCIL, WAS ACCEPTED.
/MR CHAMBERS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 39 -
o^r.CHAMBERS SA,D expansion was needed as a result OF *SAT*°N $E THE GOVERNMENT'S POLLUTION CONTROL ACTIVITIES IS GE? un^U*?“r 4ND to e"able ,e“ "“llutwh control i.Jmr'ies
HE SAID THAT AMONG THE 224 POSTS TO BE CREATED 91 WFRF RFOIHRfd TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED AGRICULTURAL WASTE CONTROL SCHEME- ?EQUIRED ht^aGEMENT °F SEWERAGE AND DRAINAGE PROJECTS; 33 FOR NEW A^R
REV™s Sf MVH|rCNMEEN?OPREo5otII°NS; E°UR E°R E"VIR0NMENT‘l
*AS QUITE A LONG LEAD-TIME IS REQUIRED TO RECRUIT PROFFESIONAL AND TECHNICAL OFFICERS, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY MADE A START
0N THE "ecessary recruitment prSceoures™ ’
I in UnAriDtno SAI Da
+EVEN so> !T WILL BE SOME MONTHS BEFORE THE NEW STAFF CAN
take up their posts and become fully operational,+ he added.
--------o--------
method of assessing public opinion under study
*****
the government is considering how public opinion should be collected and presented in response to the green paper on the 1987 REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR FORD SAID HE EXPECTED THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE IN ABOUT A MONTH’S TIME.
+1 AM NOT THEREFORE YET IN A POSITION TO REPLY TO DR LAM’S SPECIFIC QUESTION,+ HE SAID.
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/4O
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
40
DETECTION MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON AGAINST ARSON M- X- X M- M-
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WEAPON IN COMBATTING ARSON IS THE SUCESSFUL DETECTION AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR JEAFFRESON SAID TO DESIGN MEASURES TO PREVENT ARSON WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. ARSON WAS A DELIBERATE CRIMINAL ACT.
♦ONLY RARELY DOES NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE VICTIM CONTRIBUTE TO THE OFFENCE. MANY INCIDENTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE THE RESULT OF VANDALISM OR DOMESTIC DISPUTES,+ HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID FIRE SERVICES OFFICERS WERE TRAINED TO DETECT EVIDENCE OF ARSON.
IN 1983 THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAD ENGAGED A SPECIALIST IN INVESTIGATING ARSON TO CONDUCT COURSES FOR SELECTED OFFICERS.
BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR ALL OPERATIONAL FIRE OFFICERS WOULD HAVE UNDERGONE SPECIALIST TRAINING, WHICH WAS NOW PART OF THE THREE-YEAR TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR PROBATIONARY STATION OFFICERS.
IN ADDITION, 12 OFFICERS HAD COMPLETED ATTACHMENT TO THE FIRE AND DETECTION UNIT OF THE LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.
QUOTING NUMBERS OF ARSON CASES IN THE PAST YEARS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, + IN 1986, 490 FIRES WERE SUSPECTED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO HAVE BEEN STARTED DELIBERATELY, COMPARED WITH 463 IN 1985 AND 394 IN 1984.
+THE POLICE INVESTIGATED ALL THESE INCIDENTS AND CLASSIFIED AS ARSON 358 IN 1986, COMPARED WITH 220 IN 1984 AND 283 IN 1985.+
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAMS TO LOOK INTO THE CAUSES OF FIRES IF THE CAUSES WERE NOT CLEAR TO THOSE ACTUALLY FIGHTING THE FIRES.
♦WHEN THE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS ARSON, OR AS A MATTER OF COURSE FOR FIRES OF THIRD ALARM OR ABOVE IN INDUSTRIAL PREMISES, THE DEPARTMENT PASSES THE CASE TO THE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATION.
+STAFF OF THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP. ALL CONCERNED PREPARE A FULL REPORT,+ HE ADDED.
--------o----------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
41
TENDER DOCUMENTS CHECKED CAREFULLY *****
TENDER DOCUMENTS ARE CHECKED INTERNALLY WITHIN DESIGN DIVISIONS AND BY SPECIALIST CONTRACT ADVISERS TO AVOID POSSIBLE CLAIMS BY CONTRACTORS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AND ALL LANDS AND WORKS DEPARTMENTS DOCUMENTS AND SELECTED ONES FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY CONTRACTS ESTIMATED TO COST OVER $100 MILLION ARE CHECKED BY THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BEFORE TENDERS ARE INVITED.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN, MR BARNES SAID THE TERMS OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS WERE KEPT CONSTANTLY UNDER REVIEW BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE, WITH MEMBERS FROM ALL THE PROFESSIONS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
+ IN 1985, GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED REVISED CONDITIONS OF CONTRACTS FOR BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSTRUCTION, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESE REVISED CONDITIONS IS BEING MONITORED,+ HE SAID.
+THERE IS REGULAR LIAISON WITH THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES ON ANY MAJOR REVISION. THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF DISPUTED CLAIMS AS COMPARED WITH THE YEARS 1982, 1983 AND 1984.
+IN THESE TWO YEARS, ONLY SIX CLAIMS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ARBITRATION,* MR BARNES SAID.
HE SAID UNFORESEEABLE SITUATIONS SUCH AS GROUND CONDITIONS, DELAYS AND DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY WEATHER OR UTILITY DIVERSIONS OFTEN OCCURRED DURING CONSTRUCTION.
+S0, CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT PROVIDE FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EVENTS, SHOULD THEY OCCUR, BY CLAIMING ADDITIONAL PAYMENT.
+THUS, CLAIMS ARE A NORMAL PART OF CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT LIFE, AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE ARE ASSESSED BY THE ENGINEER OR ARCHITECT, AND RESOLVED TO THE SATISFACTION OF BOTH PARTIES AS PART OF THE NORMAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACT.
+IT IS ONLY WHEN THE AMOUNT CLAIMED OR THE CONTRACTOR’S ENTITLEMENT FOR EXTRA PAYMENT IS IN DISPUTE THAT CLAIMS GO TO ARBITRATION OR LITIGATION IN COURT,* HE SAID.
IN 1984 TO 1986, THERE WERE 16 DISPUTED CLAIMS TOTALLING $481 MILLION IN RESPECT OF PUBLIC HOUSING, PUBLIC BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS. THE AMOUNTS PAID IN SETTLEMENT OR PURSUANT TO AWARDS TOTALLED $64 MILLION.
/IN REGENT
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
42
IN RECENT YEARS ONLY IN TWO EXCEPTIONALLY COMPLEX CASES INVOLVING CLAIMS IN EXCESS OF $320 MILLION WERE PRIVATE COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS ENGAGED.
+ BY AGREEMENT LEGAL COSTS WERE PAID BY EACH PARTY; GOVERNMENT’S WERE $11 MILLION IN ONE CASE AND $18 MILLION IN THE OTHER. THE ARBITRATIONS RESULTED IN SETTLEMENTS FOR A TENTH OF THE AMOUNT CLAIMED, WHICH RESULT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
+MOREOVER GOVERNMENT’S FIRM ACTION IN THESE CASES HAS UNDOUBTEDLY DISCOURAGED OTHER EXCESSIVE CLAIMS,* MR BARNES SAID.
THE REASON FOR CLAIMS WAS BASICALLY THAT THE CONTRACTOR CONSIDERED THE REIMBURSEMENT HE HAD RECEIVED UNDER THE CONTRACT TO BE LESS THAN HIS ENTITLEMENT. THE DISPUTE AROSE FROM DISAGREEMENT EITHER AS TO WHAT RISKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WERE THE CONTRACTOR’S UNDER THE TERMS OF CONTRACT, OR AS TO WHAT ITEMS OF COST WERE REIMBURSABLE UNDER THE CONTRACT,' OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
+T0 APPRECIATE THE SCALE OF DISPUTED CLAIMS, IT IS WORTH COMPARING THOSE WITH THE TOTAL NUMBER AND VALUE OF CONTRACTS AWARDED,* HE SAID.
+IN 1985-86, 780 CONTRACTS WERE AWARDED BY GOVERNMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF $9 100 MILLION.
+DISPUTED CLAIMS OCCUR ON AVERAGE IN LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF ALL CONTRACTS, WITH AWARDS AVERAGING ONLY ABOUT 0.25 PER CENT OF TOTAL CONTRACT VALUES. I CONSIDER THE FIGURES TO BE LOW, AND GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE.*
-----0 ---------
IMMIGRATION LEVEL CAREFULLY SET X X * * *
THE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION HAS TO BE VERY CAREFULLY SET SO AS NOT TO UPSET UNDULY THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID 27 000 PERSONS WERE ARRIVING FROM CHINA EACH YEAR FOR SETTLEMENT THROUGH THE ONE-WAY PERMIT SYSTEM AGREED WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
/+IN 1986
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- '*3 -
+ IN 1986 OVER 98 PER CENT OF THESE PEOPLE CAME TO HONG KONG TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, INCLUDING A FEW WHO CAME TO JOIN OTHER CLOSE RELATIVES. NEARLY HALF (13 340 PERSONS) WERE CHILDREN JOINING A PARENT ALREADY IN HONG KONG.
+ AS LONG AS LOCAL RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO GO BACK TO CHINA TO GET MARRIED THERE ARE BOUND TO CONTINUE TO BE FAMILIES BEING SEPARATED TEMPORARILY UNTIL EXIT PERMITS CAN BE ISSUED FOR THEM TO JOIN THEIR SPOUSES OR PARENTS IN HONG KONG.+ HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT AS HE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 21 THE NUMBER OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING EACH YEAR WAS INCLUDED IN HONG KONG’S POPULATION PROJECTIONS WHICH PROVIDED THE FRAMEWORK FOR PLANNING PUBLIC SERVICES.
+AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF 27 000 PERSONS IS EQUIVALENT TO 0.5 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION,+ HE SAID.
+THIS RATE OF INCREASE, BY MEANS OF IMMIGRATION, IS VERY HIGH, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONTEXT OF HONG KONG’S SIZE AND ITS EXISTING POPULATION. THERE IS NO PLAN TO INCREASE IT,+ MR JEAFFRESON ADDED.
-----0-----
REPROVISIONING OF POLICE CADET SCHOOL PLANNED *****
THERE IS A PROJECT IN CATEGORY B OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME FOR REPROVISIONING THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL, PARTLY IN ITS PRESENT SITE IN FANLING AND PARTLY ON AN ADJACENT SITE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE CURRENT PROGRAMME WOULD PROVIDE FOR COMPLETION OF THE SCHOOL BY 1992-93.
BUT THE LATEST ESTIMATES SHOWED THAT THE NEW BUILDING WOULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE, ABOUT $80 MILLION, HE NOTED.
+IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE HAVING A FURTHER LOOK AT THE PROJECT TO SEE IF IT REALLY WILL GIVE VALUE FOR MONEY HAVING REGARD TO THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY OVER THE YEARS AND THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF SUBSIDISED FORM 4 AND FORM 5 PLACES IN THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
/MR JEAFFRESON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 44 -
MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE AIMS OF THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL WERE TWO-FOLD: FIRST, TO PREPARE YOUNG MEN, ACADEMICALLY AND PHYSICALLY, FOR RECRUITMENT INTO THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES; SECOND, TO EDUCATE YOUNG MEN TO MEET THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS ADULTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
+THE SCHOOL OFFERS A STYLE OF EDUCATION UNIQUE IN HONG KONG. ACADEMIC STUDIES ARE AT FORM 4 AND FORM 5 LEVEL BUT THE SCHOOL ALSO LAYS EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER BUILDING, THROUGH DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP AND THROUGH PHYSICAL TRAINING,* HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHOOL HAD CONSISTENTLY MET ITS OBJECTIVES. SINCE 1973, IT HAD TRAINED 3 241 CADETS OF WHOM ALL BUT 90 OR SO HAD GONE ON TO JOIN THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES. AND 2 984, ABOUT 92 PER CENT, CHOSE TO JOIN THE POLICE FORCE.
+IN 1985-86, 313 GRADUATES OF THE CADET SCHOOL JOINED THE FORCE, REPRESENTING 31 PER CENT OF ALL POLICE CONSTABLES RECRUITED THAT YEAR,* HE ADDED.
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SEWERAGE SYSTEMS BEING KEPT UNDER REVIEW * * M- * M-
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS IN THE LONG TERM TO COMPREHENSIVELY REVIEW THE SEWERAGE SYSTEMS IN VARIOUS CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE URBAN AREA, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JACKIE CHAN, MR BARNES SAID PLANNING OF A COMPHREHENS IVE SEWERAGE SYSTEM IN THE POK FU LAM AREA HAD JUST STARTED.
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO RECENTLY EMBARKED ON A STUDY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SEWERAGE MASTER PLAN FOR THE WHOLE OF EAST KOWLOON.
+THE STUDY INCLUDES A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE EXISTING SEWERS AND TREATMENT WORKS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF THE CAPACITY OF THE SEWERAGE NETWORKS NEEDED TO ACCEPT FLOWS FROM FUTURE POPULATION INCREASES,* HE SAID.
+DEPENDENT ON THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY, WORKS WILL BE PUT IN HAND TO REBUILD, RENOVATE AND EXPAND THE SEWERAGE NETWORK IN EAST KOWLOON.*
/GRADUALLY, SIMILAR ........
WEIX4E.' DAY, FEBHUAHY 18, 1)87
- -
GRADUALLY, SIMILAR STUDIES TO REVIEW AND IMPROVE THE EXISTING SYSTEM WOULD BE CARRIED OUT FOR OTHER SEWERAGE CATCHMENT AREAS IN THE URBAN AREA.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT NOWADAYS FOUL WATER SEWERAGE SYSTEMS WERE DESIGNED AND BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEAK RATE OF WASTE WATER DISCHARGE FROM THE PLANNED MAXIMUM POPULATION AND THE EXPECTED LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER NON-RESI DENT I AL ACTIVITIES IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS.
+WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENTS ARE PLANNED WHICH WILL BRING THE POPULATION OR THE LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL OR OTHER NON-RESI DENT I AL ACTIVITIES ABOVE THE ORIGINAL PLANNED LEVEL, THE CAPACITY OF THE SEWERAGE SYSTEMS NEEDS TO BE ENLARGED TO MEET THE NEW REQUIREMENTS. THE NEED FOR SUCH WORKS IS KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW,+ HE SAID.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS SOME 30 KILOMETRES OF NEW TRUNK AND BRANCH SEWERS HAD BEEN LAID IN HONG KONG AND KOWLOON BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND A FURTHER 22 KILOMETRES OF TRUNK SEWERS WERE NOW UNDER PLANNING OR CONSTUCTION.
BLOCKAGE OF SEWERS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE URBANISED AREAS IN THE TERRITORY. THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT MAINTAINED A LABOUR FORCE TO CLEAR SUCH BLOCKAGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE DEPARTMENT ALSO MANNED A TELEPHONE COMPLAINT HOTLINE THROUGH WHICH THE PUBLIC COULD REPORT CASES OF DRAIN BLOCKAGE.
+ IN 1986, ABOUT 47,000 COMPLAINT CASES WERE RECEIVED. THE MAJOR CAUSE OF SUCH BLOCKAGES WAS THE ACCUMULATION OF GREASE AND FOOD REMAINS DISCHARGED FROM FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS AND OF SOLID WASTES FROM STREET HAWKERS, CONSTRUCTION SITES AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES,* MR BARNES SAID.
+THE PROBLEM IS CONTAINED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BY REGULAR INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT GREASE TRAPS IN FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND THE NUMBER OF BLOCKAGES HAS REMAINED STEADY OVER THE PAST YEARS.*
BLOCKAGES IN SEWERS IN PRIVATE STREETS WERE DEALT WITH UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE. AN ORDER TO CLEAR THE BLOCKAGE MIGHT BE SERVED ON THE OWNER. IF THE OWNER FAILED TO COMPLY THE WORKS COULD BE CARRIED OUT BY GOVERNMENT AND THE COST RECOVERED FROM THE OWNER LATER ON.
+IN PREVIOUS YEARS BLOCKAGES IN PRIVATE STREETS WERE QUITE A MAJOR PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN SEWERS IN THE BACK LANES OF CENTRAL DISTRICT AND WAN CHAI, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT STATUTORY ACTION IS NECESSARY MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY NOWADAYS,* MR BARNES SAID.
o - -
/46
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 46 -
QUOTA SET FOR POLICE CERTIFICATES WITH HQ REDEVELOPMENT * * * * *
A DAILY QUOTA OF 200 APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE OF NO
CRIMINAL CONVICTION HAD TO BE INTRODUCED WITH THE PRESENT REDEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN ARSENAL STREET THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA FAN, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT, AS A MATTER OF POLICY, THERE WAS NO DAILY LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR SUCH CERTIFICATES.
HE SAID THE AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HANDLED IN 1986 WAS 140, WELL WITHIN THE CAPACITY OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BUT THE NUMBER DID TEND TO FLUCTUATE.
FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, HOWEVER, QUOTAS OF 200 A DAY HAD TO BE INTRODUCED, NOT BECAUSE OF LACK OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES (STAFF WITHIN THE POLICE FORCE COULD ALWAYS BE REDEPLOYED FOR THE PURPOSE) BUT BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED SIZE OF THE PRESENT CNCC OFFICE, HE SAID.
+T0 ENABLE THE PRESENT REDEVELOPMENT OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS IN ARSENAL STREET TO PROCEED, THE CNCC OFFICE HAS BEEN MOVED FROM THERE TO A TEMPORARY LOCATION INSIDE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING,+ MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
HE SAID AS THE PEAK PERIODS WERE SHORT AND INFREQUENT, IT WOULD NOT BE WORTHWHILE TRYING TO RENT LARGER PREMISES.
+WHEN THE CNCC OFFICE MOVES BACK TO THE NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING UPON ITS COMPLETION IN TWO TO THREE YEARS’ TIME, MUCH GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF ACCOMMODATION WILL BE POSSIBLE AND TEMPORARY QUOTAS FOR CNCCS SHOULD NO LONGER BE NECESSARY, HE SAID.
-------o---------
CLEARANCE UNLIKELY TO AFFECT HOUSING PROGRAMME
*****
THE CLEARANCE OF THE KOWLOON WALLED CITY WOULD UNLIKELY HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S ONGOING REHOUSING PROGRAMME IN OVERALL QUANTITIVE TERMS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR LIAO SAID THE REHOUSING COMMITMENT ARISING FROM THE CLEARANCE WOULD NOT BE KNOWN UNTIL DETAILED SCREENING HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
/+THIS PROCESS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 47 -
+THIS PROCESS HAS COMMENCED BUT WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO COMPLETE,+ HE SAID.
♦THE PRELIMINARY SURVEY INDICATES THAT ABOUT 10 000 FAMILIES WILL BE CLEARED FROM THE WALLED CITY AND THEY WILL NEED TO BE REHOUSED BY 1990,+ HE ADDED.
MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS EXAMINING ITS DETAILED PLANNING FOR THE PERIOD UP TO 1990 TO REHOUSE PEOPLE FROM THE WAITING LIST, REDEVELOPMENT, CLEARANCES AND TO SEE HOW BEST TO ACCOMMODATE THE COMMITMENT WHICH HAD ARISEN FROM THE CLEARANCE OF THE WALLED CITY.
+THE CLEARANCE WILL INEVITABLY INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR URBAN HOUSING AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO IDENTIFY NEW SUPPLEMENTARY SITES TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF URBAN PUBLIC HOUSING,* HE SAID.
OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, A TOTAL OF 140 000 FLATS WOULD BE PRODUCED UNDER THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 20 000 FLATS IN EXCESS OF THE NORMAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION TARGET OF 40 000 FLATS, HE ADDED.
+IT IS TOO EARLY TO ESTIMATE THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES STAFF COSTS, COMPENSATION PAYABLE ON CLEARANCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PARK ON THE SITE AFTER THE CLEARANCE.
+AN ESTIMATE CAN BE ESTABLISHED WHEN ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED WILL HAVE BEEN OBTAINED IN ABOUT A YEAR’S TIME,* HE SAID.
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THREE BILLS PASSED
* X X
THE CONTROL OF OBSCENE AND INDECENT ARTICLES BILL 1986, THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TWO OTHER BILLS -- THE ADOPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 AND THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987 WERE READ A SECOND TIME AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.
THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED TO FEBRUARY 25.
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/48........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- A8 -
group to examine views of travel agents M- * * * *
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRAVEL AGENTS HAS FORMED A WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE VIEWS SUBMITTED BY THE INDUSTRY REGARDING ITS FUTURE.
THE GROUP WILL SOON MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE ON HOW THE PROPOSALS COULD BE ADOPTED IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT’S STATED POLICY OBJECTIVES TOWARDS THE INDUSTRY.
CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR RAFAEL HU I, TOLD MEMBERS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S TWO BASIC PRINCIPLES WERE:
K GIVEN THE NATURE OF HOW THE TRAVEL AGENT INDUSTRY OPERATES THE GOVERNMENT IS OF THE VIEW THAT, ULTIMATELY, SELFREGULATION IS THE MOST SUITABLE AND PRACTICAL FORM OF PROTECTION FOR BOTH CONSUMER AND THE INDUSTRY; AND
* WHEN SEEN IN THE OVERALL ORDER OF IMPORTANCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC INTEREST, ANY MEASURE BY MEANS OF LEGISLATION OR OTHERWISE, WHICH INVOLVES PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION BY GOVERNMENT OVER THE INDUSTRY, would not be appropriate. THE DEGREE OF REGULATION (AND HENCE PROTECTION EXTENDED TO CONSUMERS) OVER THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, FOR INSTANCE, SHOULD NOT BE SIMILARLY APPLIED TO THE TRAVEL AGENT INDUSTRY.
DURING TODAY’S MEETING THE COMMITTEE WAS GIVEN UPDATED REPORTS ON THE REVOKING OF TRAVEL AGENTS LICENCES TO CHOICEST HOLIDAY TOURISM INVESTMENT LIMITED AND AUSTRAVEL COMPANY LIMITED.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO DISCUSSED THE POSSIBLE MEANS OF COMPENSATING AFFECTED CLIENTS OF THE TWO AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE POSITION OF THE TRAVEL AGENTS RESERVE FUND.
IT NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH THE INDUSTRY WITH A VIEW TO COME TO AN APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENT ON HOW THE RESERVE FUND CAN BE REPLENISHED.
IN THE MEANTIME, IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT UNTIL THERE ARE FIRM PROPOSALS ON HOW THE INDUSTRY CAN BE MORE FIRMLY REGULATED, THE REGISTRAR OF TRAVEL AGENTS WILL CONSULT VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND THE CONSUMER COUNCIL ON REGULATORY ACTIONS AND WILL EXERCISE HIS POWERS ON THE BASIS OF THE LAW.
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A9.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 49 -
farmers praised for doing well
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO LOCAL FARMERS FOR THEIR GOOD PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR DESPITE KEEN COMPETITION FROM IMPORTED
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
DR LEE SAID +HONG KONG FARMERS ARE REPUTED FOR THEIR DILIGENCE, ENDURANCE AND ADAPTABILITY. WITH THESE GOOD QUALITIES, THE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN GENERAL PERFORMED QUITE WELL LAS, YEAR DESPITE STRONG COMPETITION FROM IMPORT PRODUCTS.+
ADDRESSING FARMER LEADERS AT A SPRING LUNCH HOSTED BY HIM DR LEE SAID THAT DURING THE PERIOD, LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCED 158 OOO TONNES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, 17 MILLION HEAD OF LIVE POULTRY AND 570 000 HEAD OF LIVE PIGS, VALUED AT OVER #1 BILLION.
THE LOCALLY-PRODUCED FOOD IS GENERALLY OF A HIGHER QUALITY THAN THOSE IMPORTED.
THEY REPRESENTED ABOUT 34 PER CENT OF THE FRESH VEGETABLES, 44 PER CENT OF THE LIVE POULTRY AND 17 PER CENT OF LIVE PIGS CONSUMED LOCALLY LAST YEAR.
+IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT DURING THE PAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN A RENEWED PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE LOCAL PRIMARY PRODUCTION INDUSTRIES.
♦IN THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN COUNT ON THE CONTINUED SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED TO BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY,* DR LEE SAID.
TODAY’S LUNCH WAS ATTENDED BY SOME 100 RURAL AND FARMER LEADERS AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. AMONG THEM WERE THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR JOHN YAXLEY, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY, NEW TERRITORIES, DR JAMES HAYES.
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DUNN TO ATTEND EASTERN DB MEETING *****
THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, WILL ATTEND THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
SHE WILL EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH MEMBERS ON VARIOUS MATTERS CONCERNING GOVERNMENT.
DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER WHETHER AN EASTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL SHOULD BE HELD IN 1987-88.
/BEFORE THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 50 -
BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS, PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO WINNERS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT MURAL PAINTING DESIGN COMPETITION, MISS FLORENCE TO AND MISS MARINO LEUNG, BY BOARD MEMBERS MR YUEN KI-KONG AND MRS BETTY YUNG.
THE SELECTION PANEL CHOSE THE TWO WINNING ENTRIES FROM 42 SUBMISSIONS DEPICTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EASTERN DISTRICT. THEY ARE INTENDED FOR REPRODUCTION AS MURALS ON A RETAINING WALL FACING KING’S ROAD BELOW SAI WAN TERRACE.
NOTE TO ED ITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR AT 880-886, KING’S ROAD.
-----0------
COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES *****
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO EXAMINE GREEN MINIBUS SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANIST AND ITS FEEDER BUSES IN AUGUST 1988, ROUTES 45 AND 46 WILL BE WITHDRAWN AND MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY WILL REVIEW THE NEED TO REVISE THE ROUTINGS OF KMB ROUTES 59, 66 AND 66M.
OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE PROPOSED TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS AT THE JUNCTIONS OF THE TUEN MUN - YUEN LONG CORRIDOR, TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS AFTER THE CLOSURE OF CHOY YEE BRIDGE, THE PROPOSED SCHEME TO LICENSE PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ON SCHEDULED ROUTES TO CARRY GOODS ON CERTAIN ROUTES, TRAFFIC PROBLEMS NEAR MARDEN FOUNDATION CARITAS PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND THE NEED FOR CROSSING FACILITIES NEAR YAN 01 SWIMMING POOL.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TOMORROW AT 10 AM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR, TUEN MUN GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, NO. 1, TUEN Hl ROAD.
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/51........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 51 -
DB TO DISCUSS HOUSING FOR ELDERLY * * * *
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL FOR SETTING UP A SPECIAL HOUSING SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY.
SUCH A SCHEME WOULD ENABLE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO BUY FLATS ON MORE FAVOURABLE TERMS UNDER THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
THE PROPOSAL WAS MADE BY A BOARD MEMBER CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF A RELATIVELY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF SENIOR RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY PROGRESS REPORTS SUBMITTED BY COMMITTEES ON ENVIRONMENT AND WORKS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SERVICES, PUBLIC OPINION AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FINANCE.
POLICE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION.
NOTE TO EDlTORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BEGIN AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
-----o------
TUEN MUN CAR PARK SITE TO LET *****
A TUEN MUN SITE WILL BE LET ON SHORT TERM TENANCY BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
MEASURING ABOUT 4 575 SQUARE METRES, THE CASTLE PEAK ROAD SITE CAN BE USED AS A PUBLIC FEE PAYING CAR PARK.
THE INITIAL TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
TENDERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY MARCH 6.
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/52.......
4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
- 52 -
CHEQUE PRESENTATION * * *
IN SUPPORT OF THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR TAI KUEN, WILL PRESENT A CHEQUE FOR f20 000 ON BEHALF OF THE HOP YICK CO LTD TO THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALAN WONG, TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 9.20 AM AT MR TAI’S OFFICE IN THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, 13TH FLOOR, TAI KIU GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, YUEN LONG.
------0-------
TRAFFIC MEASURES IN CENTRAL TO CONTINUE *****
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL SINCE NOVEMBER LAST YEAR FOR UTILITY DIVERSION WORKS WILL REMAIN IN FORCE FOR ANOTHER FIVE WEEKS FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
THESE ARE «
* NO VEHICLE EXCEEDING SEVEN METRES IN LENGTH, INCLUDING FRANCHISED BUSES, IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SECTION OF POTTINGER STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
* THE WESTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF GILMAN STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL WILL REMAIN A 24-HOUR I DAILY RESTRICTED ZONE. ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES ARE BANNED FROM STOPPING FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
*
*
NO VEHICLE OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES IS ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL TO SOUTHBOUND GILMAN STREET.
VEHICLES ON WESTBOUND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL HEADING FOR DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL ARE DIVERTED TO WING WO STREET.
/£ CHB ROUTES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 19$7
- 53
K CMB ROUTES 11. 25 AND 75 ARE RE-ROUTED VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HARc6uRT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE QUEENSWAY FOR JOURNEYS LEAVING THE CENTRAL BUS STATION. TEMPORARY BUS STOPS ARE SET UP ON CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL OUTSIDE CONNAUGHT CENTRE AND CITY HALL.
* CMB ROUTES 3A, 4, 7 AND CENTRAL, GILMAN STREET, STREET AND QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL BUS STATION.
37 ARE RE-ROUTED VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, QUEEN VICTORIA CENTRAL FOR JOURNEYS LEAVING THE
-----0------
TWO URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED
*****
TWO ROAD SECTIONS ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL BE MADE URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
IN WAN CHAI, THE SECTION OF HENNESSY ROAD EASTBOUND BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 139 AND 149 WILL BECOME A PEAK-HOUR (7 - 10 AM AND 4 - 7 PM) URBAN CLEARWAY.
IN THE MID-LEVELS, THE EASTERN KERBSIDE LANE OF ROBINSON ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH GARDEN ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY OPERATING ROUND THE CLOCK.
WITHIN THE URBAN CLEARWAYS, NO VEHICLE OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
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TRAFFIC CHANGES AT ADMIRALTY
* * * * *
MOTORISTS SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR TRAFFIC CHANGES AT ADMIRALTY WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF DRAKE STREET BETWEEN COTTON TREE DRIVE AND TAMAR STREET WILL BE OPENED TO ALL VEHICLES HEADING FOR QUEENSWAY EASTBOUND. HOWEVER. NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY.
ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE BANNED FROM THE MTR ADMIRALTY STATION (WEST) BUS TERMINUS, WHICH IS THE TERMINAL POINT FOR CMB ROUTES 12M, 40M AND 70M.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EN-ROUTE BUS STOP FOR ROUTES 16, 99 720 721 AND 722 WILL BE RELOCATED TO THE MTR ADMIRALTY STATION’(EAST) TERMINUS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACTING GOVERNOR VISITS aIRPORT ........................... 1
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS AT WORK OF TAX-COLLECTORS .......... 1
SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION ............................. 2
HO COMPLETES MISSION TO KOREA ............................ 2
CARE FOR THE HOMELESS URGED .............................. 3
TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT RAPID .................... 4
INSPECTION TOUR OF ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES ...... 5
CIVIC EDUCATION BOOST FOR CENTRAL-WESTERN ................ 6
VEHICLES MADE IN 1997 REQUIRE COMPULSORY INSPECTION ...... 7
CONTROLLED TIPPING OF REFUSE AT JORDAN VALLEY ............ 8
SPORTS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT AWARDED ........................ 9
SENINhR ON SOCLJj STUDIES SYLLABUS HELD .................. 9
COMPUTER GRAPHIC DISPLAY CONTEST STILL OPEN ............. 10
CROSS-COUNTRY TEST FOR NORTH RESIDENTS .................. 10
PROPOSALS TO SOLVE TUNNEL CONGESTION FOR DISCUSSION ..... 11
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS LRT TRAFFIC PROPOSALS ........... 12
VISIT TO REHABILITATION CENTRE .......................... 12
TURKEY JOINS SPEEDPOST NETWORK .......................... 13
LAUNCHING OF MUSEUM aPPEAL .............................. 14
ANNUAL SPEECH DAY ....................................... 14
FUN DAY FOR FAMILIES .................................... 15
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR KOWLOON WALK.................... 15
NO FREE PARKING ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS.................. 17
STREET CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION ............... 18
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1 HZ
1
ACTING GOVERNOR VISITS AIRPORT M K X * >
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, THIS (THURSDAY; _ AFTERNOON VISITED HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR a FIRoT-HANd LOOK AT FACILITIES.
SIR DAVID WAS BRIEFED BY CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ON THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT, WITH EMPHASIS ON OPERATIONAL SAFETY AND PLANS FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE AIRPOR I.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION MR J.T. THORPE, SIR DAVID THEN TOURED THE PASSENGER TERMINAL BUILDIN'j WHERE
sSw THE DEPARTURE HALL FACILITIES INCLUDING THE SECURAIR CONTROL ROOM AND A TRANSIT SECURITY SEARCH CUBICLE.
FOLLOWING THIS HE WENT TO THE AIRCRAFT PARKING APRON AREAo WORK IN PROGRESS AT THE HONG KONG AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING AND THE HONG KONG AIR CARGO TERMINAL.
AND SAW COMPANY
- 0 - -
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS AT WORK OF TAX-COLLECTORS * * * *
A 515 MILLION COMPUTER SET-UP HAS RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED IN THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT TO COPE WITH INCREASING WORKLOAD, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, WAS TOLD DURING HIS VISIT TO THE DEPARTMENT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR ANTHONY AU YEUNG, AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MR ALLAN GILL, HE INSPECTED THE SET-UP WHICH IN MAY WILL REPLACE THE ONE INSTALLED EIGHT YEARS AGO.
BEFORE VISITING THE COMPUTER ROOM, MR FORD ALSO TOURED THE INVESTIGATION UNIT — ONE OF THE SIX UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT — WHERE ABOUT 70 TAX INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING SUSPECTED TAX EVASION CASES.
LAST YEAR 357 CASES WERE COMPLETED AND 5175 MILLION IN TAX AND PENALTIES WERE RECOVERED.
MR FORD THEN VISITED THE COLLECTION HALL AND SAW PEOPLE PAYING THEIR TAXES.
MR AU YEUNG AND MR GILL ALSO BRIEFED MR FORD ON THE STAFFING AND TECHNICAL MATTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND DISCUSSED WITH HIM ITS FUTURE PLANS.
o
Thursday, February 19, 1987
2
SIMO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION * * * * *
The two sides of the SINO-BRITISH land commission have agreed THAT THE COMMISSION’S ELEVENTH MEETING WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 25, 1987. THE MEETING WILL DISCUSS THE EXTENSION OF NEW TERRITORIES LEASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF ANNEX I I I TO THE JOINT DECLARATION.
HO COMPLETES MISSION TO KOREA
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO, WAS RETURNING TO HONG KONG THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING AFTER TWO DAYS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND SENIOR KOREAN OFFICIALS IN SEOUL.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED DURING HIS VISIT BY CURRENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE AND DIRECTOR OF TRADE DESIGNATE, MR MICHAEL SZE.
THIS WAS THE LAST OF THREE VISITS UNDERTAKEN BY MR HO TO CONVEY HONG KONG’S FREE TRADE MESSAGE. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY VISITED TOKYO AND WASHINGTON.
WHILE IN SEOUL, THE DELEGATION MET THE MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR R HA WOONG-BAE, THE DIRECOTR-GENERAL OF THE MINISTRY’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE PROMOTION BUREAU, AND THE CHAIRMEN OF THE KOREAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE ILHAE FOUNDATION.
DISCUSSIONS CENTRED ON BILATERAL TRADE ISSUES, THE GATT NEW ROUND, AND THE THREAT OF PROTECTIONISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
ON TWO WAY TRADE, MR HO SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME OF LIBERALISATION ON IMPORTS OF MANUFACTURES AS WELL AS THE GROWTH IN HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO KOREA IN 1986.
HOWEVER, CERTAIN ITEMS OF INTEREST TO HONG KONG REMAINED UNDER SURVEILLANCE OR WERE NOT IN THE PROGRAMME OF LIBERALISATION Al ALL, AND THE OVERALL TRADE BALANCE REMAINED OVERWHELMINGLY IN KOREA’S FAVOUR.
«■ | THEREFORE URGED THOSE WHOM I MET TO NOTE OUR POSITION AS THE THIRD LARGEST IMPORTER OF KOREAN PRODUCTS, AND OUR LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN THEIR MARKET,* HE SAID.
/ON MULTILATERAL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
ON MULTILATERAL ISSUES, THE TWO SIDES EXCHANGED VIEWS ON PROGRESS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND OF GATT TALKS. MR HO NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THE SIMILAR VIEWS BETWEEN KOREA AND HONG KONG ON MOST ISSUES, AND HOPED THIS WOULD CONTINUE.
POSSIBLE TRADE LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES WAS A MAJOR ISSUE OF CONCERN IN THE TALKS. +l TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK KOREA’S ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION, AND ALSO BRIEFED MINISTER RHA ON MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN WASHINGTON, FOLLOWING MY RECENT VISIT THERE,+ MR HO SAID.
IN 1986, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA WAS HONG KONG’S EIGHTH LARGEST TRADING PARTNER. THOUGH IT RANKED HIGH AS A SUPPLIER OF IMPORTS IT RANKED ONLY 27TH AS A MARKET FOR THE TERRITORY’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
- - 0-----------
CARE FOR THE HOMELESS URGED X X X *
APART FROM CARING FOR THE ELDERLY MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, WE SHOULD ALSO SPARE SOME THOUGHTS FOR STREET SLEEPERS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PO LEUNG KUK LOK WAH SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, MRS DOE NOTED THAT THE UNITED NATIONS HAD DECLARED 1987 AS THE + INTERNAT IONAL YEAR OF SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS*, CALLING FOR GLOBAL ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM.
*IN HONG KONG, THE PROBLEM HAS ALSO AROUSED WIDE PUBLIC CONCERN AND ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, IT HAS ALL ALONG BEEN TRYING TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO HELP THESE HOMELESS PEOPLE TO GET ACCOMMODATION, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER PERSONAL CARE SERVICES,+ SHE SAID.
HRS DOE NOTED THAT AMONG THE 1 333 STREET SLEEPERS SURVEYED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR, ABOUT 20 PER CENT, OR 268 PEOPLE, WERE ELDERLY PERSONS.
♦LIKE OTHER SENIOR CITIZENS, THEY NEED SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND OTHER WELFARE SERVICES AND THEY CAN SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS AND LEAD A BETTER LIFE IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CARE ABOUT AND ACCEPT THEM,* SHE SAID.
MRS DOE NOTED THAT THE LOK WAH CENTRE WAS THE FIRST SUCH OPERATED BY PO LEUNG KUK AND THAT T HE KUK WAS PLANNING MULT I-SERVICES CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN WONG CHUK HANG.
/MOREOVER, THE .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
MOREOVER, THE CENTRE WAS THE FIRST GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY IN LOK WAH ESTATE, ENABLING ELDERLY PEOPLE THERE TO ENJOY A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SHE SAID.
MRS DOE COMMENDED THE PO LEUNG KUK FOR ITS UNFAILING EFFORTS IN PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHE HOPED THAT THE KUK WOULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND ITS SERVICES.
IUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT RAPID
*****
TUEN MUN’S INDUSTRIAL SECTOR HAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH NOTICEABLE GROWTH IN THE TYPE, SIZE AND NUMBER OF FACTORIES AS WELL AS EMPLOYMENT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, MR YIP HING-CHUNG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE +INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN, 1985 SURVEY+ PRESS CONFERENCE, MR YIP SAID A SURVEY WAS CARRIED OUT IN 1983 TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS AND TO PROPOSE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY INDUSTRI AL I STS.
+IN 1985, A WORKING GROUP HEADED BY MR TSO SHIU-WAI WAS FORMED TO MONITOR THE GENERAL PERFORMANCE OF INDUSTRIAL AREAS, THE NEEDS OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS, AND TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS CONFRONTING INDUSTRIALISTS AND WORKERS,+ SAID MR YIP.
COVERING MAINLY INDUSTRIAL AREAS 9 AND 12, LOCATED ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF TUEN MUN RIVER ALONG PUI TO ROAD, THE SURVEY CONSISTED OF TWO PARTS — FIRSTLY, A SURVEY OF ALL EXISTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION ON OCCUPANCY-VACANCY RATES, DESIGN, USAGE AND OPERATIONl SECONDLY, THE OWNER-OPERATOR OF ALL IDENTIFIABLE MANUFACTURING FIRMS WERE INTERVIEWED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT TODAY’S CONFERENCE, MR TSO SAID THAT THE FLOORSPACE OF FACTORIES HAD INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT BETWEEN 1983 AND 1985 WHILE THE TOTAL OCCUPIED FLOORSPACE INCREASED BY 42 PER CENT FROM 740 000 SQUARE METRES TO MORE THAN ONE MILLION SQUARE METRES. THE AVERAGE FLOORSPACE FOR A FACTORY WAS 570 SQUARE METRES, WITH AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT. AT THE SAME TIME, THE VACANCY RATE DROPPED FROM 27.5 PER CENT TO 15.5 PER CENT.
/+ PRICES FOR
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
- 5 -
♦PRICES FOR FLATTED FACTORIES IN TUEN MUN, DURING THE THIRD-QUARTER OF 1985, WERE BETWEEN $1 360 AND $2 100 PER SQUARE METRE FOR UPPER FLOOR PREMISES AND BETWEEN S3 500 AND $6 500 PER SQUARE METRE FOR GROUND FLOOR PREMISES, WHICH WERE GENERALLY LOWER THAN OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE TERRITORY.
♦IN TERMS OF NUMBER AND SIZE OF INDUSTRY, THE FIVE MAIN TYPES OF INDUSTRY IN TUEN MUN ARE PLASTICS, METALS, GARMENTS, ELECTRONICS AND TEXTILES. THEY ACCOUNT FOR 80 PER CENT OF ALL MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN THE DISTRICT.+
MR TSO SAID THE NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN THE TWO INDUSTRIAL AREAS WAS 30 225, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT COMPARED TO 21 300 IN 1983-%
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE PROPORTION OF WORKERS LIVING IN TUEN MUN INCREASED FROM 36.4 PER CENT TO 57.3 PER CENT WHICH SHOWED THAT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL MARKET AND JOB EXPECTATIONS OF THE LOCAL WORKERS WERE MORE CLOSELY MATCHED, HE ADDED.
MR TSO SAID THAT DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR IN TUEN MUN EXPERIENCED RAPID DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION IN TERMS OF FLOORSPACE, EMPLOYMENT AND NUMBER OF COMPANIES. IN ADDITION, FACTORY OPERATORS WERE QUITE CONTENT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.
DETAILS AND FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY ARE INCLUDED IN A SPECIAL REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD.
-----0-----
INSPECTION TOUR OF ANIMAL WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITIES
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED. AND HIS SENIOR STAFF TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED A NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK FARMS IN THE PAT HEUNG AREA TO VIEW THE METHODS USED BY NEW TERRITORIES FARMERS TO DISPOSE OF ANIMAL WASTES.
THE PARTY ALSO TOURED THE PILOT-SCALE COMPOSTING PLANT AT NGAU TAM MEI WHICH EVERY MONTHS TURNS AROUND 180 TONS OF ANIMAL WASTE INTO AN ENRICHED SOIL SUITABLE FOR LANDSCAPING OR HORTICULTURAL PURPOSES.
/IN ADDITION,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
6
IN ADDITION, THEY WENT TO HANG TAU TO SEE A RIVER SO POLLUTED BY AGRICULTURAL WASTES THAT IT HAS A THICK CRUST OVER THE ENTIRE SURFACE.
A PROGRAMME TO CONTROL THE POLLUTION RESULTING FROM ANIMAL WASTE WAS LAST YEAR PRESENTED TO DISTRICT BOARDS AND ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING FARMING INTERESTS, AND DISCUSSED AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES THE BANNING OF LIVESTOCK FARMING ON HONG KONG ISLAND, IN KOWLOON AND NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. IN ALL OTHER AREAS THE DISCHARGE OF ANIMAL WASTE WILL BE CONTROLLED BY REGULATIONS.
BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF FARMS, THE PROGRAMME WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER TEN YEARS IN THREE PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE WILL INCLUDE ALL THE BANNED AREAS, AND ESTABLISH CONTROLS IN THE TOLO HARBOUR AREA AND THE NORTH DISTRICT.
THE SECOND PHASE WILL EXTEND CONTROLS TO MOST OF THE REMAINING HEAVILY POLLUTED AREAS, IN PARTICULAR THE YUEN LONG HINTERLAND.
THE THIRD PHASE WILL BE THE OUTLYING ISLANDS AND A FEW REMAINING AREAS OF MAINLAND NEW TERRITORIES.
TO HELP FARMERS COMPLY WITH THE NEW CONTROLS THE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN EACH CONTROLLED AREA, SET UP COLLECTION SERVICES FOR ANIMAL WASTE. EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING SUCH SERVICES HAS BEEN GAINED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THROUGH THE OPERATION OF THE PAT HEUNG COLLECTION SCHEME, ESTABLISHED ORIGINALLY BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, AND SINCE APRIL 1, 1986 OPERATED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT.
THE PARTY ALSO SAW THE COLLECTION SERVICE IN OPERATION WHICH PICKED UP ANIMAL WASTE DELIVERED BY FARMERS TO ROADSIDE COLLECTION POINTS.
------0-------
CIVIC EDUCATION BOOST FOR CENTRAL-WESTERN * * X X X
A FULL RANGE OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED FROM LATE FEBRUARY UNTIL MID-MARCH TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG RESIDENTS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT.
PROGRAMMES INCLUDING YOUTH CAMP, SEA CRUISE, RESEARCH PROJECT, EXHIBITIONS, AND COMPETITIONS WILL BE PRESENTED IN A PACKAGE KNOWN AS THE +CIVIC EDUCATION SUITE+.
/AIMED AT........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
AIMED AT INVOLVING VARIOUS SOCIAL GROUPS, THE PROJECT WILL HELP ENHANCE RESIDENTS’ KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISTRICT’S CHARACTERISTICS AND INDUCE A SENSE OF BELONGING.
AS A PRELUDE TO THE +SUITE+, A CIVIC EDUCATION CAMP FOR WORKING YOUTHS WILL BE HELD AT THE SAN SHEK WAN YOUTH CAMP ON LANTAU THIS WEEKEND.
A GET-TOGETHER SESSION FOR MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS WILL BE HELD ON BOARD A YACHT ON MARCH 7.
BETWEEN MARCH 2 AND 7, THERE WILL BE A BOOK EXHIBITION ON CIVIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES HELD AT THE YMCA AT BRIDGE’S STREET. %
A JOINT SCHOOL EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE CIVIC-MINDEDNESS AMONG STUDENTS WILL ALSO BE STAGED AT THE SHUN TAK CENTRE FROM MARCH 12 FOR THREE DAYS.
COMPETITIONS ON CARICATURE DRAWING AND PAINTING HAVE BEEN ORGANISED FOR CHILDREN TO STIMULATE THEIR INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER COMPETITION TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT LANDMARKS IN THE DISTRICT WILL BE HELD FOR THE YOUNGER AGE GROUP ON MARCH 15.
RESIDENTS MAY ALSO TAKE PART IN A RESEARCH PROJECT ON CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, INITIATED BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY.
SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE +CIVIC EDUCATION SUITE+ IS ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY BUILDING AND SERVICES COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ICAC, THE COUNCIL OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL HEADS, CARITAS HONG KONG, YMCA AND THE YWCA.
FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5-8523OO2 OR 5-8171843.
-----o------
VEHICLES MADE IN 1977 REQUIRE COMPULSORY INSPECTION X * X * *
GOODS VEHICLES, SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES AND TRAILERS MANUFACTURED IN 1977 WHICH REQUIRE A NEW LICENCE ON OR AFTER JUNE 1 THIS YEAR WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO EXAMINATION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO LICENCE RENEWAL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT THE MEASURE WOULD COME INTO EFFECT TOMORROW (FRIDAY). AT PRESENT, VEHICLES IN THESE THREE CATEGORIES ARE REQUIRED TO PASS A TEST BEFORE RELICENSING ONLY IF THEY ARE MANUFACTURED BEFORE 1977.
/THE SPOKESMAN .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
8
THE SPOKESMAN SAID A CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS WILL BE ISSUED TO GOODS VEHICLES, SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES AND TRAILERS WHICH HAVE PASSED EXAMINATION AT THE DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE IN CHEUNG YIP STREET, KOWLOON.
+THE CERTIFICATE WILL ONLY BE VALID FOR FOUR MONTHS AND SHOULD BE PRODUCED FOR LICENCE RENEWAL APPLICATIONS,* HE SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR VEHICLE EXAMINATION ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL LICENSING OFFICES AND VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES OF THE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO MAKE EARLY APPOINTMENTS TO AVOID INCONVENIENCE WHEN THEIR LICENCES EXPIRE.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 3-7597505.
_______n---------
CONTROLLED TIPPING OF REFUSE AT JORDAN VALLEY X * X X X
A CONTRACT FOR THE CONTROLLED TIPPING OF REFUSE AT JORDAN VALLEY, EAST KOWLOON, WAS SIGNED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE CONTRACTOR, KO’S CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
WORK UNDER THE CONTRACT, WHICH INCLUDES ASSOCIATED ROADS AND DRAINAGE WORK, WILL START ON FEBRUARY 27.
THE $9.3 MILLION CONTRACT WILL RUN FOR 20 MONTHS. DURING THIS PERIOD, ALL WORKING FACES OF THE TIP WILL BE SEALED OFF TWICE DAILY TO ELIMINATE HEALTH AND FIRE HAZARDS. IT WILL INVOLVE THE SPREADING AND COMPACTING OF REFUSE IN LAYERS AND COVERING EACH LAYER WITH EARTH AS TIPPING PROCEEDS.
THE WORKS AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE DRAINAGE (CONSTRUCTION) DIVISION OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1937
9
SPORTS EQUIPMENT CONTRACT AWARDED M H X K H
A $350 000 CONTRACT FOR THE DESIGN, SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION CF SPORTS EQUIPMENT FOR AN INDOOR GAMES HALL AT KOWLOON BAY RECREATION GROUND HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL INCLUDE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED BASKETBALL BACKSTOPS, GYMNASTIC EQUIPMENT, AND COURT FITTINGS FOR VOLLEYBALL AND BADMINTON.
INSTALLATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN APRIL, A MONTH BEFORE THE UNOFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW SPORTS FACILITY TO THE PUBLIC.
- - 0 - -
SEMINAR ON SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS HELD X * X *
A GROUP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS TODAY (THURSDAY) ATTEND A SEMINAR ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS (FORM 4 AND FORM 5).
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT-ORGANISED SEMINAR WAS HELD AT THE ANNEXE OF THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN MONG KOK.
THE SEMINAR IS TO FAMILIARISE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS WITH THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS (FORM 4 AND FORM 5) WHICH WAS INTRODUCED TO SCHOOLS AS A PILOT SCHEME SINCE SEPTEMBER 1984. THE SYLLABUS IS NOW OPEN TO ALL SCHOOLS.
SPEAKING AT THE SEMINAR WERE TEACHERS OF THE SOCIAL STUDIES PILOT SCHEME IN SCHOOLS INCLUDING MISS ELEANOR FOK, MRS ATHENA POON AND MRS S.Y. CHING.
THEY POINTED OUT THAT THE SUBJECT WHICH COULD INCORPORATE ELEMENTS OF CIVIC EDUCATION, SEX EDUCATION AND MORAL EDUCATION HAD AROUSED MUCH INTEREST AMONG PUPILS IN THE COURSE OF THE PILOT SCHEME.
THE SUBJECT ALSO PROVIDED USEFUL INFORMATION AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSION SO THAT GOOD RELATIONSHIP COULD BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN TEACHERS AND PUPILS.
- - 0 - -
/10
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
10
COMPUTER GRAPHIC DISPLAY CONTEST STILL OPEN *****
COMPUTER SOFTWARE DESIGNERS WISHING TO TAKE PART IN THE PERSONAL COMPUTER GRAPHIC DISPLAY CONTEST ARE URGED TO SEND IN THEIR ENTRIES BY MARCH 6.
ORGANISED BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE, THE CONTEST IS ONE OF THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WEEK TO BE HELD IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
CONTESTANTS ARE REQUIRED TO DESIGN A SERIES OF GRAPHIC DISPLAYS, FOCUSSING ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, EITHER IN STATIC ELECTRONICS PICTURE FORM OR DYNAMIC CARTOONISED ELECTRONICS STORIES OR GAMES. THE TIME FOR DISPLAYING THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MESSAGES IS UNLIMITED AND THE USE OF SOUND OR background MUSIC IS OPTIONAL.
THE WINNER OF THE CONTEST WILL BE AWARDED $5 000 WHILE THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP WILL RECEIVE $3 500 AND $2 000 RESPECTIVELY. THERE ARE ALSO 10 CREATIVITY PRIZES OF $500 EACH.
WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE SHUN TAK SHOPPING ARCADE IN CENTRAL BETWEEN MARCH 19 AND 21.
ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY EMPLOYEES’ GENERAL UNION, ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE ON THE 13TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL.
- 0 - -
CROSS-COUNTRY TEST FOR NORTH RESIDENTS * * * *
RESIDENTS IN NORTH DISTRICT ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE ANNUAL CROSS COUNTRY RACE TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, MARCH 8.
THE RACE WILL BE DIVIDED INTO WOMEN’S AND MEN’S SECTIONS WITH THE WOMEN COVERING EIGHT KILOMETRES AND THE MEN 10 KILOMETRES.
WOMEN WILL START THE RACE IN HUNG LING VILLAGE AT THE ENTRANCE OF PING CHE ROAD WHILE THE MEN WILL START AT SING PING PUBLIC SCHOOL IN TA KWU LING. THEY WILL ALL FINISH AT THE SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND IN S HEUNG S HU I .
/THE ANNUAL
11
the annual race is organised by the sheung shui sports
ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD.
DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27. APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE NORTH DISTRICT CHOI YUEN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE, CHOI YUEN ESTATE ; SHEUNG SHUI PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE, SAN FUNG AVENUE; CHEUNG WAH COMMUNITY HALL, CHEUNG NAH ESTATE AND THE SHEUNG SHUI SPORTS ASSOCIATION, 47 FU HING STREET, SHEUNG SHUI.
PROPOSALS TO SOLVE TUNNEL CONGESTION FOR DISCUSSION
* * * * *
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO DISCUSS PROPOSALS TO SOLVE CONGESTION AT LION ROCK TUNNEL.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED SCHEME TO LICENSE CERTAIN PUBLIC LIGHT BUS ROUTES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO CARRY GOODS AND THE TAXI POLICY REVIEW.
DISCUSSION WILL ALSO RESUME ON THE DIVERSION OF KMB ROUTE 88K, THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF N.T. KMB ROUTE 63K AND BUS SERVICES TO TIN SAM AREA.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TOMORROW AT 9.30 AM AT THE SIXTH FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, KCR HOUSE.
o -------
/12........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
12
DB COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS LRT TRAFFIC PROPOSALS
*****
MEMBERS OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS TWO PROPOSED TRAFFIC MEASURES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRANSIT SERVICE AREA OF THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM AT A MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE MEASURES ARE THE INTRODUCTION OF ABOUT 20 RESTRICTIONS AT SIGNALISED JUNCTIONS ALONG THE TUEN MUN - YUEN LONG CORRIDOR AND OF A NEW GREEN MINIBUS SERVICE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING KMB ROUTE 56 RUNNING BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND TAI TONG.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A PROPOSED SCHEME TO LICENSE PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ON CERTAIN SCHEDULED ROUTES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO CARRY GOODS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BE HELD TOMORROW IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM of the YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT,
13TH FLOOR, TAI KIU GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, YUEN LONG.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIME OF MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO 3 PM
FROM THE 10 AM START ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED.
VISIT TO REHABILITATION CENTRE
*****
A PRESS VISIT TO THE MARGARET TRENCH MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR REHABILITATION HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO SEE PRISONERS TAKING PART IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
PRISONERS FROM PIK UK HAVE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS PROVIDED DOMESTIC SERVICE AND TAKEN PART IN GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION WORK AT THE CENTRE.
STAFF OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN THE PRISONERS’ ROLE IN THESE PROJECTS.
/THE CERAMIC........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
THE CERAMIC WORKSHOP OF THE CENTRE, SET UP FOLLOWING A DONATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT, WILL BE OPENED AT 11.30 AM ON
THE SAME DATE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISIT. REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE LEAVING FOR THE PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, AT 11J AM TOMORROW.
TRANSPORT FOR MEDIA
CENTRE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S WAN CHAI , HONG KONG,
----o------
TURKEY JOINS SPEEDPOST NETWORK
*****
SPEEDPOST SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO TURKEY FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23), THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).
THIS WILL BRING TO 49 THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN THE SPEEDPOST NETWORK SERVED FROM HONG KONG.
SPEEDPOST ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR TRANSMISSION TO ALL AREAS IN TURKEY.
ITEMS POSTED ON MONDAY TO FRIDAY FOR DELIVERED ON THE SECOND WORKING DAY WHILE WILL BE DELIVERED ON THE NEXT WORKING DAY
TURKEY, DELIVERY WILL NORMALLY TAKE ONE WORKING
ISTANBUL WILL BE
THOSE POSTED ON SATURDAY FOR OTHER AREAS IN
DAY LONGER
ONLY +0N DEMAND* SERVICE IS AVAILABLE.
THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT PER ITEM IS 10 KG AND THE POSTAGE RATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ITEMS WEIGHING UNDER 250 G
ITEMS WEIGHING BETWEEN 250 G AND 500 G 195
EACH SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONAL 500 G *25
/meanwhile,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
14
MEANWHILE, SPEEDPOST SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO ALL DESTINATIONS IN TAIWAN, WHICH PRESENTLY IS AVAILABLE ONLY THE MAJOR CITIES.
TO
CUSTOMERS REQUIRING MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO TURKEY AND TAIWAN AND THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE GENERALLY SHOULD CONTACT THE POSTAL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES ON
5-8471108.
-----o------
LAUNCHING OF MUSEUM APPEAL * * * * *
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT WILL LAUNCH A MUSEUM APPEAL AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT 3 PM TOMMORROw (FRIDAY) IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSc., CENTRAL.
SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM AND ITEMS OF HISTORICAL INTEREST TO HONG KONG WILL BE ON DISPLAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
------0-------
ANNUAL SPEECH DAY * * *
The secretary for municipal services, mr. a.k.chui, will ADDRESS THE ANNUAL SPEECH DAY OF QUEEN’S COLLEGE TOMMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 5.45 PM.
MRS CHUI WILL DISTRIBUTE SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES TO STUDENTS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
------o--------
/15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
- 15 -
FUN DAY FOR FAMILIES * * *
OVER 1 800 FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL BE HAVING A DAY OF FUN AT THE ANNUAL FAMILY DAY ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE ANNUAL EVENT WILL BEGIN WITH THE EYE-DOTTING OF A LION BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR MICHAEL SMITH, FOLLOWED BY A LION DANCE PERFORMED BY THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES STAFF.
APART FROM GAMES AND COMPETITIONS, THERE WILL BE A POLICE DOG DEMONSTRATION, A MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOW, AND A DISPLAY OF FIREARMS AND A FIRE ENGINE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANNUAL FAMILY DAY TO BE HELD THIS SUNDAY FROM 1 PM TO 4.30 PM AT THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT COMPOUND AT 12 OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.
------0-------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR KOWLOON WALK
X k X X *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN WONG TAI SIN ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) FOR THE +KOWLOON WALK FOR MILLIONS*.
THE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDE ROAD CLOSURES, TRAFFIC RE-ROUTINGS AND DIVERSIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES. DETAILS ARE:
ROAD CLOSURES
FROM 7 AM TO NOON
X THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF FUNG MO STREET BETWEEN HENG LAM STREET AND FU MEI STREET:
X THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WESTBOUND TO FUNG MO STREET SOUTHBOUND;
X THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF FUNG MO STREET FLYOVER;
X MA CHAI HANG ROAD BETWEEN MA CHAI HANG MINI-ROUNDABOUT AND WONG TAI SIN ROAD ;
/• WONG TAI SIN .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
16
* WONG TAI SIN ROAD BETWEEN MA CHAI HANG ROAD AND THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO UPPER WONG TAI SIN ESTATE BLOCK 8;
* THE NEAR-SIDE LANE OF SHA TIN PASS ROAD NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN LUNG FUNG STREET AND TSZ WAN SHAN ROAE ;
* THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING FROM SHA TIN PASS ROAD TO CHUK YUEN ROAD; AND
* THE UNNAMED ROAD BETWEEN CHUK YUEN ROAD AND WONG TAI SIN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED AT ITS JUNCTION WITH WONG TAI SIN ROAD.
FROM 7 AM TO 3 PM
* SHA TIN PASS ROAD BETWEEN TSZ WAN SHAN ROAD AND FEI NGO SHAN ROAD ?
* JAT’S INCLINE BETWEEN FEI NGO SHAN ROAD AND NGAU CHl WAN STREET .
* JAT’S INCLINE BETWEEN NGAU CHI WAN STREET AND CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD; AND
* FEI NGO SHAN ROAD BETWEEN A POINT ABOUT 300 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AND JAT’S INCLINE.
FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM
* NGAU CHI WAN STREET.
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS
* BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM, FUNG SHING STREET WEST OF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. LEFT TURN FROM FUNG SHING STREET EASTBOUND ONTO CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE PROHI BITED I
* THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM FU MEI STREET EASTBOUND TO FUNG MO STREET SOUTHBOUND WILL BE BANNED FROM 7 AM TO NOON, WHILE THE RIGHT TURN BAN FROM FU MEI STREET EASTBOUND TO WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE LIFTED;
/• MOTORISTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
- 17 -
* MOTORISTS TRAVELLING FROM CHOI HUNG AND TSZ WAN SHAN TO LOK FU AND CHUK YUEN ARE ADVISED TO USE PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, CHOI HUNG ROAD, SHA TIN PASS ROAD, TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD AND FUNG MO STREET NORTHBOUND;
* MOTORISTS TRAVELLING FROM CHUK YUEN ESTATE TO WONG TAI SIN UPPER ESTATE ARE ADVISED TO USE CHUK YUEN ROAD, ROAD Al, MA CHAI HANG INTERCHANGE, LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, FUNG TAK ROAD, SHA TIN PASS ROAD AND WONG TAI SIN ROAD;
* VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF FU MEI STREET RIGHT TURNING ON TO FUNG MO STREET SOUTHBOUND SHOULD RE-ROUTE VIA WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD, HENG LAM STREET AND FUNG MO STREET SOUTHBOUND ; AND
* MOTORISTS HEADING FROM CHUK YUEN TO LOK FU ARE ADVISED TO USE ROAD Al, MA CHAI HANG MINI-ROUNDABOUT, LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND, PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, CHOI HUNG ROAD, SHA TIN PASS ROAD, TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD, FUNG MO STREET AND HENG LAM STREET.
DIVERSION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES
FROM 7 AM TO NOON, A NUMBER OF BUS AND GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES WILL BE DIVERTED TO AVOID THE CLOSED ROADS. THESE INCLUDE KMB ROUTES 1, 2F, 3C, 5E, 7M, 11C AND TUNNEL BUS 113; AND GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES 33, 52 AND 53M. MEANWHILE, FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM, GREEN MINIBUS ROUTE 16 WILL OMIT NGAU CHI WAN STREET.
-------o----------
NO FREE PARKING ON SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS * * * *
THE OPERATING HOURS OF 56 PARKING METERS IN SAI YING PUN «ILL BE EXTENDED TO SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FROM 10 AM THIS SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE METERS ARE LOCATED AT HIGH STREET BETWEEN CENTRE STREET AND EASTERN STREET AND TWO SECTIONS OF THIRD STREET BETWEEN WATER STREET AND POK FU LAM ROAD, AND BETWEEN WESTERN STREET AND CENTRE STREET. THEY WILL OPERATE FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, CHARGING THE SAME RATES AS ON NORMAL WEEKDAYS.
THESE METERS CAN BE DISTINGUISHED BY THE WHITE PAINT ON THE UPPER PARTS OF THE POSTS.
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/18........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1987
18
STREET CLOSED FOR FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
*****
A SECTION OF HlN KENG STREET NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH CHE KUNG MIU ROAD IN SHA TIN WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21) TO FEBRUARY 23 BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 5.30 AM.
THIS IS TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS HIN KENG STREET. DURING THE CLOSURE, ACCESS TO SHEUNG KENG HAU AND HA KENG HAU WILL BE MAINTAINED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
CONTESTS PAGE NO.
SUFFICIENT TIME TO BRING IN ANY CHANGES ................... 1
MACLEOD EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER U.S. TEXTILES BILL.......... 2
ANNUAL REPORT ON HK PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT ............... 3
EFFECTIVE CIVIL SERVICE NEEDED FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD........ 4
PARTICIPATION THE KEY IN DEVELOPING CIVIC EDUCATION........ 4
AG CAT.Tfi FOR GREATER COMMUNAL AWARENESS OF IAN .......... 6
INDUSTRY STUDY FOCUSSES ON PHOTOGRAPHIC, OPTICAL GOODS .... 8
FRENCH QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED ................... 10
DECEMBER ORDERS-ON-HAED, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT .. 11
REGIMENT DELVES INTO ITS HISTORY .......................... 14
KWAI CHUNG CONTAINIR PORT TO BE EXPANDED................... 15
HUNG HING ROAD FLYOVER OPENING............................. 15
MONG KOK’S GOOD CITIZENS TO GIT AWARDS .................... 16
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED UI CAUSEWAY BAY................. 17
KOWLOON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE DEMOLISHED ............... 17
SOCCER FINAL TO CLOSE ANTI-DRUGS DRIVE..................... 18
FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION FOR TSIM SEA TSUI .............. 18
WINNING PHOTOS GO ON DISPLAY .............................. 19
PAINTERS, CALLIGRAPHISTS TO DSiONSTHATE SKILLS ............ 19
/VOCATIONAL........
VOCATIONAL COURSES ADMISSION EROCADURLS MODIFIED................ 20
CRAFT COURSES OPEN TO FORM 3 STUDENTS .......................... 21
.BANQUET BOOST FO.v JONG TAI SIN NEIGHBOUFlHOOD NATCH........ 22
. . TSING HONG YIN NGAI SOCIETY TWO YEARS OLD.................... 22
. JJARILTY SHOU TO .'JNTJRTAHT FALLING iUSTDlOTS................. 23
SEdlllAR l-'Cii SPORTS LEADERS ......••••••••••••••••••••••»• 23
APPLICATIONS CALLED TW COiixUNITY PROJECT TO3DS................. 24
TENDERS INVITJD NCR LINK ROAD SECTION.......................... 24
ROADS IN ABLRD1AIN REMAIN CLOSED.............................. 25
QUEE1T STREET BAN CN &.AVY VEHICLES............................. 2$
ROAD CLOSURE IN TAI PC .................................... 25
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1937
1
SUFFICIENT TIME TO BRING IN ANY CHANGES M H M
THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON THE 1987 REVIEW AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR WOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO BRING IN ANY CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED IN TIME FOR THE 1988 SESSION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR FORD WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE OPENING OF THE SHA TIN CENTRAL LIBRARY.
ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD SHELVED PLANS TO SET UP AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE, MR FORD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL CONSIDERING HOW PUBLIC OPINIONS MIGHT BE COLLECTED AND ASSESSED.
IT WAS HOPED THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THIS WOULD BE MADE IN ONE MONTH’S TIME, HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION WHETHER CHINA WAS AGAINST DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997, MR FORD SAID IT WOULD NOT BE WISE TO SPECULATE ON WHAT PEOPLE’S VIEWS MIGHT BE.
+AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES, I THINK THE ANSWER IS NOT TO TAKE NOTICE OF WHAT SPECULATION THERE IS ABOUT, SIMPLY TO GIVE THE VIEWS WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR CONSULTATION TO GIVE YOUR VIEWS, THE PUBLIC TO GIVE THEIR VIEWS FREELY,+ HE SAID.
+1 DON’T THINK ANY PURPOSE IS SERVED BY TRYING TO, AT THIS STAGE, TRYING TO SPECULATE ABOUT WHAT THE POSITION MIGHT BE. AFTER ALL, WE HAVEN’T YET ISSUED THE GREEN PAPER,+ MR FORD ADDED.
ASKED WHETHER HONG KONG WOULD BE AFFECTED BY TRADE PROTECTIONISM WITH THE APPROACH OF 1997, MR FORD SAID IT WAS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HONG KONG CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TO FACE DURING 1987.
+WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR STRONG TRADING POSITION. AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT IT WILL BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR US TO DO ALL WE CAN TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE AGAINST ANY PROCESS TOWARDS TRADE PROTECTIONISM IN 1987,+ HE SA ID.
ASKED ABOUT PLANS FOR A NEW BRANCH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, MR FORD SAID: +WE HAVE YET TO COME TO A DECISION ON THAT. I DARESAY IT WILL TAKE US A COUPLE OF MONTHS.+
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
2
MACLEOD EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER U.S. TEXTILES BILL * * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING THAT AN INITIAL READING OF THE NEW TEXTILES BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) SHOWS THAT IT GOES MUCH FURTHER THAN ITS SPONSORS HAVE REVEALED AND WOULD BE IN STARK CONFLICT WITH INTERNATIONAL TRADE RULES.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, MR MACLEOD SAID: +CLEARLY WE NEED TO STUDY THE DETAILS FURTHER, AND ALSO ASSESS ANY FURTHER STATEMENTS MADE BY THE SPONSORS OR OTHERS IN THE UNITED STATES. HOWEVER, SOME PRELIMINARY COMMENTS CAN BE MADE NOW.
+FIRST, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT ABANDONING THE MULTI-ElBRE ARRANGEMENT AND ALL THE BILATERAL TEXTILE AGREEMENTS SO PAINFULLY NEGOTIATED RECENTLY. WHAT WOULD REPLACE THIS SYSTEM IS NOT MADE CLEAR BUT, FOR EXAMPLE, OPTIONS COULD INCLUDE IMPORT QUOTAS, WHICH WOULD BE A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS.
♦SECONDLY, ALTHOUGH THE BILL IS PRESENTED AS IF IT COULD BE JUSTIFIED UNDEA THE GATT, I CANNOT SEE ANY WAY IN WHICH THIS COULD IN FACT BE SO. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BILL INVOLVES A BLANKET ASSUMPTION OF SERIOUS INJURY ACROSS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY, BYPASSING THE MACHINERY WHICH EXISTS IN THE UNITED STATES FOR ASSESSING INJURY, AND MAKING NO ATTEMPT TO CARRY OUT SUCH AN ASSESSMENT - PERHAPS WISELY, SINCE THE FACTS DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH AN ASSUMPTION.
♦THE BILL ALSO UNILATERALLY PRE-LIMITS THE COMPENSATION WHICH COULD BE PAID, AND IGNORES THE FACT THAT IF SUCH COMPENSATION IS NOT MUTUALLY AGREED THEN UNDER THE GATT, RETALIATION IS THE NEXT OPTION AVAILABLE.
♦LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, THE JENKINS BILL, THIS PROPOSAL IF IMPLEMENTED WOULD PUT AT RISK THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM -PARADOXICALLY, TEARING UP INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AT THE VERY TIME WHEN A DETERMINED EFFORT IS BEING MADE IN GENEVA TO DO THE VERY OPPOSITE AND TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING SYSTEM.
♦AN URGENT APPRAISAL OF THE FULL IMPLICATIONS OF THE BILL AND OF HOW BEST TO COMBAT IT IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN CONSULTATION WITH OUR STAFF AND ADVISERS BOTH HERE AND IN THE UNITED STATES.+
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
3
ANNUAL REPORT ON HK PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT
*****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND THE COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAD PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT ON HONG KONG 1985-86, AND THE REPORT IS BEING PUBLISHED IN THE FORM OF WHITE PAPER IN LONDON TODAY (FRIDAY).
+ HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT AGREED IN 1985, DURING THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES ON THE HONG KONG BILL, TO PRODUCE ANNUAL REPORTS ON HONG KONG AND TO LAY THEM BEFORE PARLIAMENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SERIES OF REPORTS IS TO KEEP PARLIAMENT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG.+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THIS IS THE SECOND ANNUAL REPORT. THE FIRST RECORDED EVENTS FROM THE INITIALLING OF THE DRAFT SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG, IN SEPTEMBER 1984, TO THE END OF OCTOBER 1985. THE PRESENT REPORT COVERS THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 30, 1985 TO DECEMBER 31, 1986. IT IS HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION THAT EACH SUBSEQUENT REPORT SHOULD COVER A CALENDAR YEAR,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE REPORT CONTAINS A GENERAL SURVEY OF THE MAIN EVENTS IN HONG KONG DURING THIS 14-MONTH PERIOD.
IT COVERS THE VISIT TO THE TERRITORY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, THE PROGRESS MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION, PROGRESS TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS, LOCAL REACTIONS TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY, SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES PROPOSED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND SECURITY.
THE REPORT IS BEING PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN HONG KONG TODAY AND WILL BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 25.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE REPORT, AVAILABLE BILINGUALLY, FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23), AND FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE AND THE GlS PUBLISHING SUB-DIVISION. SECOND FLOOR, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, CENTRAL, FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
4
EFFECTIVE CIVIL SERVICE NEEDED FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD
*****
HONG KONG HAS ENTERED INTO A MOST IMPORTANT PERIOD IN ITS HISTORY AND A RESPONSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED FOR THE CHALLENGING TIMES AHEAD, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR HARNAM GREWAL, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT AN ANNUAL SPRING RECEPTION HE HOSTED FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, MR GREWAL SA IDs +AND MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE CALLED UPON TO SHOW ITS METTLE AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A RESPONSIVE, EFFICIENT AND STABLE ADMINISTRATION.
+THIS IS A HEAVY BURDEN BUT I AM SURE WE CAN AND SHALL RISE TO THE CHALLENGE.+
MR GREWAL SAID HE WAS KEENLY AWARE THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF BURNING ISSUES THAT WERE OF DEEP CONCERN TO THE CIVIL SERVICE.
+1 CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WILL DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES IN A SENSIBLE AND FAIR MANNER, HAVING REGARD TO THE ASPIRATIONS AND CONCERNS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE WIDER PUBLIC INTEREST,+ HE SAID.
ABOUT 250 GUESTS REPRESENTING CIVIL SERVICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS, SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ATTENDED THE RECEPTION.
- - 0 - -
PARTICIPATION THE KEY IN DEVELOPING CIVIC EDUCATION * * * *
A VITAL INGREDIENT IN CIVIC EDUCATION IS PARTICIPATION, THE SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN, TOLD A CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION TODAY (FRIDAY).
+IT (CIVIC EDUCATION) CANNOT BE DONE BY EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM OR BY THE CREATION OF NEW POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS ALONE, IMPORTANT THOUGH THE THEORY OF HOW A SOCIETY WORKS AND THE FRAMEWORK IN WHICH IT WORKS MAY BE.
+THE VITAL INGREDIENT OF CIVIC EDUCATION IS PARTICIPATION, AND IN THIS SENSE CIVIC EDUCATION IS AS PRACTICAL AN ACTIVITY AS SPORT OR MUSIC,+ SHE SAID DURING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DAY-LONG CONFERENCE.
/SHB SAID
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 198?
5 -
SHE SAID PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TOOK MANY FORMS AND WAS NOT RESTRICTED TO CASTING VOTES AND HOLDING MEETINGS. THE AIM WOULD BE TO FIND OUT HOW BEST A CITIZEN MIGHT CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY AND BENEFIT FROM IT AND HOW THE CITIZEN MIGHT BEST PREPARE FOR, AND HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON, CHANGES IN SOCIETY, SHE ADDED.
MISS DUNN SAID MANY PEOPLE WERE ALREADY CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVING SOCIETY AND LEARNING THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS ON PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT POLICY.
SHE CITED THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT ON THE TRIAD PROBLEM AS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
+MY COLLEAGUES ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND I RECEIVED A VERY CLEAR IMPRESSION OF THE THOUGHTFULNESS AND CONSTRUCTIVENESS BEHIND THE COMMENTS MADE BY ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON THESE PROPOSALS, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE CHANGES IN THIS AREA NOW BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OWE A GREAT DEAL TO THE BALANCED, RESPONSIBLE AND JUDICIOUS ADVICE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY,* SHE SAID.
MISS DUNN SAID HONGKONG NOW HAD A COMMUNITY OF CITIZENS WHO WERE READY AND WILLING TO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY AS A LIVELY, FREE, AND CARING SOCIETY, AND THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION HAD CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO IT.
+CIVIC EDUCATION, ORGANISED IN AN IMAGINATIVE AND FLEXIBLE MANNER, IS, TOGETHER WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND OPEN GOVERNMENT, A MEANS OF ENSURING THAT ALL OUR CITIZENS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE IN A HEALTHY AND POSITIVE WAY,* SHE ADDED.
IN A CLOSING ADDRESS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, CALLED FOR A DYNAMIC APPROACH IN THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION TO COPE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY.
MR LIAO SAID THE PEOPLE’S CONCEPTION OF CIVIC RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS WOULD CHANGE IN THE COURSE OF TIME AS SOCIETY DEVELOPED.
HE SAID THE THEME OF THE CONFERENCE REFLECTED THIS DYNAMIC APPROACH IN PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION.
MR LIAO ALSO SPOKE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION FROM RESIDENTS AND THE NEED FOR THEM TO EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO STRIVE FOR THE GOAL AND IDEAL OF CIVIC EDUCATION.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE CONFERENCE IN FORMULATING FUTURE POLICIES AND DIRECTIONS IN CIVIC EDUCATION.
/the conference .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
6
the conference was organised by the committee on the promotion of civic education to provide a forum for discussing and FORMULATING FUTURE STRATEGIES.
FOCUSSING ON THE THEME OF +CIVIC EDUCATION, ITS DIRECTION AND SIGNIFICANCE*, THE CONFERENCE DREW NEARLY 200 PARTICIPANTS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS.
THEY INCLUDED EDUCATIONALISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, URBAN COUNCIL, REGIONAL COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS.
MAIN SPEAKERS INCLUDED MR DAVID CHEUNG CHl-KWONG, MRS RITA FAN, MR STEPHEN CHENG PO-HONG, DR MARGARET NG, DR C.Y. HUANG AND MR ANTHONY NEOH.
TOPICS INCLUDED THE CO-ORDINATION OF CIVIC EDUCATION INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM} PROMOTION OF PUBLIC CONCERN ABOUT CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AT BOTH CENTRAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS. HOW TO BLEND HONG KONG’S UNIQUE CULTURE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIC EDUCATION. AND CIVIC EDUCATION AND THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIETY AND CIVIC RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
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AG CALLS FOR GREATER COMMUNAL AWARENESS OF LAW
*****
THE LAW IS THERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT CRD INARY PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO IT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
+WE NEED TO BUILD-UP A GREATER COMMUNAL AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAW,+ MR THOMAS SAID IN AN ADDRESS TO POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
+AND TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ORDINARY PEOPLE, I THINK WE NEED NOT ONLY MORE LAWYERS, BUT AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO BE BETTER EDUCATED ABOUT THE LEGAL SYSTEM.
+THAT IS A PROCESS THAT MUST BEGIN IN THE SCHOOLS. IT IS JUST AS VALUABLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAW AS IT IS TO KNOW ABOUT MONEY, TRADE, HYGIENE AND HEALTH.+
/MR THOMAS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
MR THOMAS STRESSED THAT HE WAS NOT INTENDING THAT PEOPLE WERE > TO BE ENCOURAGED TO GO TO THE COURTS AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE, AND COMMENTED THAT HE DID NOT THINK HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE LITIGIOUS BY NATURE.
+THEY WISH, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, TO SETTLE DISPUTES WITHOUT RECOURSE TO THE LAW IN A WAY THAT AVOIDS CONFRONTATION AND PRESERVES MUTUAL RESPECT. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OCCASIONS WHEN RIGHTS HAVE TO BE ENFORCED IF THEY ARE TO BE ENJOYED.*
MR THOMAS SAID THAT SINCE JOINING THE GOVERNMENT HE HAD NOTICED A LACK OF LAWYERS IN DEPARTMENTS OUTSIDE HIS CHAMBERS AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.
WHILE IT MIGHT NOT BE NECESSARY OR ALWAYS DESIRABLE FOR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO HAVE THEIR OWN IN-HOUSE PRACTISING LAWYERS, IT WAS SURELY BENEFICIAL FOR VARIOUS DISCIPLINES TO HAVE WITHIN THEIR RANKS PEOPLE WITH LEGAL BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCE.
+LAWYERS ARE TO BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE RANKS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITIES CF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY DISCHARGED IF THERE WAS IN HONG KONG MORE WIDESPREAD LEGAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGHOUT THE ADMINISTRATION,* HE SAID. >
ON HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT AT PRESENT EXISTED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR GREATER PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS WELCOMED THE RECENT DECISION BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG TO STEP UP ITS INTAKE OF LAW GRADUATES FROM 125 TO 150 NEXT YEAR. HE ALSO WELCOMED THE PLANS OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC TO ESTABLISH A SECOND GRADUATE LAW SCHOOL BY 1988.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IF HONG KONG WAS TO RETAIN ITS POSITION AS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL AND TRADING CENTRE, THERE WOULD BE A CONTINUING NEED FOR LAW FIRMS FROM OVERSEAS TO OPERATE IN THE TERRITORY TO SERVICE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY.
HONG KONG ALSO NEEDED TO KEEP EXPERIENCED EXPATRIATE LAWYERS BECAUSE IT WAS STILL DEPENDENT ON THEM TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTAGE CF EXPERIENCED LOCAL LAWYERS.
+BUT THE THRUST OF POLICY MUST BE TO ENCOURAGE THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF MORE CHINESE SPEAKING LAWYERS TO MEET THE COMMUNITY’S NEEDS,* HE ADDED.
IN THIS, THE UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER TEACHING INSTITUTIONS HAD I A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY, AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND PRESSING NEED WAS TO ENCOURAGE MORE OF THE BEST LOCAL LAW GRADUATES TO STAY ON TO TEACH LAW TO UNDERGRADUATES.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
8
INDUSTRY STUDY FOCUSSES ON PHOTOGRAPHIC, OPTICAL GOODS
*****
HONG KONG’S PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY HAS COME UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT IN A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THE STUDY REPORT, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED, SHOWS THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS ONE OF HONG KONG’S FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY SUFFERS FROM STRONG COMPETITION, SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED PRODUCT DESIGNERS, AND DIFFICULTIES OVER BREAKING INTO THE HlGH-END OF THE MARKET.
THE REPORT CITES A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THE INDUSTRY’S RAPID GROWTH OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES AND THESE INCLUDE: EFFORTS BY MANUFACTURERS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS AS WELL AS THE EFFICIENCY OF THEIR PRODUCTION METHODS- THE AVAILABILITY OF A PRODUCTIVE AND RELATIVELY CHEAP LABOUR FORCE- THE INCREASED POPULARITY OF PHOTOGRAPHIC INSTRUMENTS- AND A WELL-ESTABLISHED SYSTEM OF SUB-CONTRACTING SUPPORT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF OPTICAL GOODS.
THE REPORT NOTES THAT HONG KONG’S PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS ARE NOW WELL ACCEPTED IN OVERSEAS MARKETS, AND THAT +ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY SOURCES, THE TERRITORY IS THE LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF HIGH-END PRISMATIC BINOCULARS IN THE WORLD AND IS CONSISTENTLY THE LEADING EXPORTER.+
BUT THE STUDY ALSO IDENTIFIES A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS FACING THE INDUSTRY.
IN THE CASE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC GOODS, THE REPORT SAY: +ALTHOUGH LOCAL COMPETITION IS NOT KEEN BECAUSE OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS (40 ESTABLISHMENTS WITH 7 799 WORKERS) ENGAGED IN THIS INDUSTRY, HONG KONG ENCOUNTERS STRONG COMPETITION FROM TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA FOR MARKETS OF LOW-PRICED CAMERAS OR FLASHLIGHTS WITH SIMPLE DESIGNS, AND FROM JAPAN IN RESPECT OF THE MORE SOPHISTICATED HIGHER-END PRODUCTS.
+IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, LOCAL MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN FORCED TO CUT PRICES AND LOWER PROFIT MARGINS.*
AS FOR OPTICAL GOODS, THE STUDY BLAMES STRONG COMPETITION, IN THIS CASE BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL, FOR STEADILY DROPPING PRICES OF SPECTACLES AND FRAMES IN RECENT YEARS.
AGAIN THE TOUGHEST COMPETITION COMES FROM SOUTH KOREA AND TAIWAN IN THE MARKET FOR LOWER-PRICED PRODUCTS, WHILE JAPAN LEADS IN THE HIGHER-PRICED MARKET.
/the study .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 198?
- 9 -
THE STUDY QUOTES BRAND-NAMES AND CUSTOMER PREJUDICE AS THE CHIEF BARRIER TO HlGH-END MARKETS. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE LACK OF EXPERIENCED PRODUCT DESIGNERS IN THE INDUSTRY WHICH MEANS THAT LOCAL DESIGNS LACK CREATIVITY.
FOR THE OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED BY A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR. SAYS THE REPORT, +LOW WAGES AND AN UNFAVOURABLE WORKING ENVIRONMENT HAVE DETERRED PEOPLE FROM JOINING THE INDUSTRY. A MAJORITY OF THE WORKERS ARE MIDDLE-AGED AND HAVE BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 10 YEARS.*
STUDIES ON SPECIFIC INDUSTRIAL SECTORS SUCH AS THIS COMPLEMENT THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME OF TECHNO-ECONOMIC AND MARKETING STUDIES ON MAJOR INDUSTRIAL GROUPS COMMISSIONED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT AND UNDERTAKEN BY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS.
THE STUDY WAS BASED ON FINDINGS OBTAINED FROM RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS WITH LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS MANUFACTURERS, IT EXAMINES THE PRODUCTION, DEVELOPMENT AND EXPORT PROSPECTS OF THE INDUSTRY. THE AIM IS TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE PRESENT STATE OF THE INDUSTRY AND TO SUGGEST FUTURE TRENDS.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY HAS EXPERIENCED CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS AND ACCOUNTED FOR #1 692 MILLION OR 1.3 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORT IN 1985.
THE VALUE OF EXPORTS REPRESENTED INCREASES OF 7.2 PER CENT OVER 1984 AND 110.4 PER CENT OVER 1980.
THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE LARGEST MARKET FOR HONG KONG’S PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS TAKING UP 37 PER CENT ($625 MILLION) OF THE INDUSTRY’S EXPORTS IN 1985. OTHER MAJOR MARKETS INCLUDE THE UNITED KINGDOM, CHINA AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY.
LOOKING AHEAD TO LIKELY FUTURE TRENDS FOR THE OPTICAL GOODS INDUSTRY, THE REPORT SAID: + HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO FACE KEEN COMPETITION FROM TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA IN THE PRODUCTION OF SPECTACLES AND FRAMES FOR THE LOWER-END MARKET AND FROM JAPAN IN RESPECT OF THE HIGHER-END MARKET.
+ AS IS THE CASE WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHIC GOODS INDUSTRY, THESE COUNTRIES HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF EITHER LOWER PRODUCTION COSTS OR MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT.*
HOWEVER, CHINA WITH ITS VAST POPULATION IS CONSIDERED A BIG POTENTIAL MARKET FOR HONG KONG'S PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS.
/THE REPORT .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 198?
- 10 -
THE REPORT FORECASTS THAT THE TWO SECTORS WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT THEIR ACTIVITIES TO THE ASSEMBLY OF COMPONENT PARTS AND TO BE FAIRLY LABOUR-INTENSIVE.
♦LARGE-SCALE AUTOMATION IS UNLIKELY MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY CAPITAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED AND THE LACK OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT,+ IT SAID.
THE STUDY REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT SOME MANUFACTURERS ARE TRANSFERRING PART OF THEIR OPERATIONS TO CHINA TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHEAP LABOUR AND LAND THERE.
THE NEXT STUDY IN THE SERIES WILL BE ON THE TOYS INDUSTRY. PREPARATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN AND AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT HAS BEEN ENGAGED TO PROVIDE MARKET RESEARCH INFORMATION SO THAT THE REPORT WILL INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT AND LIKELY FUTURE TRENDS IN HONG KONG’S MAJOR MARKETS.
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FRENCH QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS LIFTED * * * * *
A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT NOTICE HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE FRENCH AUTHORITIES THAT THE RESIDUAL QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS OF DIGITAL QUARTZ WATCHES, TOYS AND RADIOS FROM HONG KONG HAD BEEN LIFTED WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1, 1987.
HONG KONG’S EXPORTS TO FRANCE IN THESE ITEMS AMOUNTED TO $188 MILLION IN 1986.
FRANCE HAD BEEN MAINTAINING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AGAINST IMPORTS OF A NUMBER OF ITEMS FROM HONG KONG SINCE THE 196O’S.
AS A RESULT OF HONG KONG’S REPRESENTATIONS THROUGH BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EEC AND IN THE GATT, THE NUMBER OF ITEMS HAD BEEN GRADUALLY REDUCED OVER THE YEARS.
COMMENTING ON THE RECENT LIFT OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE THREE PRODUCTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED THAT THE LIBERALISATION OF THE FRENCH RESTRICTIONS AGAINST IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG HAD BEEN FINALLY COMPLETED.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
11
DECEMBER 0RDERS-0N-HAND, EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL FIGURES OUT *****
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE 200 LARGEST FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED IN DECEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH THAT IN DECEMBER 1985 AS WELL AS THAT IN NOVEMBER 1986, ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARING DECEMBER 1986 WITH THE SAME MONTH IN 1985, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS WERE REPORTED IN THE WEARING APPAREL, TEXTILES AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT IN THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY RECORDED A DROP IN ITS ORDERS POSITION.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1986, THE VOLUME OF ORDERS IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES INCREASED, WHILE THAT IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES REMAINED STABLE.
THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE WAS UNCHANGED IN DECEMBER 1986 COMPARED WITH THAT IN DECEMBER 1985 AS WELL AS THAT IN NOVEMBER 1986. WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, SEVERAL INDUSTRIES RECORDED INCREASES IN EMPLOYMENT OVER DECEMBER 1985, INCLUDING THE FOOD AND DRINKS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR THE WEARING APPAREL AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES. WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1986, EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY WENT UP SLIGHTLY WHILE THAT IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES RECORDED SOME DECLINE.
ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED, EXCEPT THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCT INDUSTRY, RECORDED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN PAYROLL AND IN PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN DECEMBER 1986 OVER THE SAME MONTH IN 1985.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1986, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE RECORDED FOR ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED EXCEPT THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY.
PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE HIGHER IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES AND MORE OVERTIME WORK IN SOME OF THE FACTORIES SURVEYED.
/IN THE ......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 198?
12
IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT REMAINED STABLE WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH. OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS DUE TO OVERTIME PAYMENTS AND BONUSES. COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1985, EMPLOYMENT SHOWED A MODERATE INCREASE, WHILE PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
IN THE SERVICES SECTORS, THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT WAS SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH WHILE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF YEAR-END BONUSES.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1985, THE SERVICES SECTORS TAKEN TOGETHER EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS. HOWEVER, A SLIGHT DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED IN HOTELS AND IN PUBLIC UTILITIES.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS ARE SHOWN IN TABLES WHICH HAVE BEEN SENT BY FACSIMILE NETWORK AND ALSO BOXED FOR COLLECTION.
THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMPANIES IN T HE 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 THE MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE. NEVERTHELESS, THESE RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 1986 IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AND AT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES COUNTER, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, AT SI.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON 5-8234820.
/A. Orders-on-hand .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 198?
- 13 -
A> Orders-on-hand in manufacturing industries
Orders-on-hand
Industry in terms of months for December 1986 % increase/ decrease over
Nov. 86 Dec. 8$
Wearing apparel 4.86 ♦ 10
Textiles 2.90 • 18
Plastic products 3.57 9 -6
Fabricated metal products 4.32 6 37
Electrical and electronic products 5.08 1 5
Others 4.43 * 1
All above industries 4.48 2 1
B. Employment and earnings
Persons engaged at the %
end of December 1986 Per capita earnings
% increase/ % increase/
decrease over as in decrease over
December 1986
Industry/Services Nov. 86 Dec. 83 (HKS) Nov. 86 Dec. 85
Manufacturing • e 3 786 13 14
Food and drinks 1 5 4 685 21 14
Wearing apparel • -9 3 362 14 18
Textiles ♦ 2 4 176 21 15
Plastic products -1 -2 3 078 -1 13
Fabricated metal ♦ 1 3 140 3 -1
products
Electrical and -2 5 3 505 13 14
electronic products •
Others • 3 4 955 11 9
Construction** * 2 5 113 3 11
Services ♦ 2 8 409 44 14
—■
Banks * 6 9 135 68 9
Hotels * -2 5 122 31 2
Public utilities ♦ -1 8 033 37 24
Others ♦ 4 9 582 35 8
* Changes within ^0.5#
** Persons engaged cover company employees only; site workers employed by
labour-only sub-contractors not included.
Note : Unlike ’’orders-on-hand” and ’’per capita earnings” which are average figurest the total no. of persons engaged by the firms surveyed is not meaningful information on its own because this is a panel survey and is therefore not shown.-
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
14
REGIMENT DELVES INTO ITS HISTORY
*****
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) TODAY (FRIDAY) LAUNCHED A MAJOR APPEAL SEEKING UNIFORMS, MEDALS, EQUIPMENT BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS TO ASSIST IT IN SETTING UP A MUSEUM. '
+ THE STORY OF THE REGIMENT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE STORY OF HONG KONG,+ SAID HONORARY COLONEL, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. +THE VOLUNTEERS OF TODAY CAN DIRECTLY TRACE THEIR HISTORY BACK TO 1854 ONLY 13 YEARS AFTER HONG KONG WAS FOUNDED.+
THE BRAVERY OF THE CHINESE, PORTUGUESE, ENGLISH AND OTHER NATIONALITY SOLDIERS OF THE HONG KONG VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS IN THE 1941 BATTLE AGAINST THE JAPANESE IS INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN SAID MR HEYWOOD. ’
TODAY THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT CARRIES ON THE PROUD TRADITIONS OF VOLUNTEERING IN HONG KONG.
+FOR SOME YEARS WE HAVE FELT THE NEED TO ESTABLISH A PROPER MUSEUM IN WHICH HISTORICAL ITEMS CAN BE PROPERLY DISPLAYED AND WHERE THE STORY OF THE REGIMENT CAN BE TOLD,+ HE SAID. +WE WOULD BE MOST INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO HAS SOMETHING WHICH THEY MIGHT BE OF INTEREST.+
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT WHILE A LOCATION FOR THE MUSEUM HAD NOT YET BEEN FINALISED, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT A START BE MADE ON COLLECTING ITEMS.
+UNFORTUNATELY, ALL REGIMENTAL RECORDS AND ITEMS OF INTEREST WERE LOST DURING THE JAPANESE OCCUPATION OF HONG KONG FROM 1941 TO 1945. I WOULD LIKE, THEREFORE, TO APPEAL FOR HELP IN BUILDING UP A COLLECTION OF MEMORABILIA AND RECORDS.
+WE ARE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHS, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT, REGIMENTAL SILVER, LETTERS, DOCUMENTS, BOOKS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS, BADGES AND MEDALS.
+UNDERSTANDABLY, INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT WISH TO PART WITH SOME ITEMS AND, THEREFORE, WE WOULD, IF POSSIBLE MAKE COPIES BEFORE RETURNING THEM TO THEIR OWNERS.+
IN ADDITION TO THE SETTING UP OF A MUSEUM WORK IS NOW PROCEEDING ON THE OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT. MR PHILLIP BRUCE HAS BEEN COMMISSIONED BY THE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION TO PRODUCE THIS AND IS NOW ENGAGED IN RESEARCH.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT ANYONE WITH MATERIAL WHICH THEY FELT WOULD INTEREST THE REGIMENT’S MUSEUM SHOULD CONTACT THE COMMANDING OFFICER, LT. COL. J. HUTCHINS, ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) SPORTS ROAD, HAPPLY VALLEY, ON 5-761371.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
15
KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT TO BE EXPANDED * * * * X
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO DREDGE AND RECLAIM ABOUT 263.7 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEA-BED AT LAI CHI KOK AS PART OF THE FURTHER EXPANSION OF KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT.
THE EXISTING CONTAINER TERMINALS WITH SIX BERTHS AT KWAI CHUNG ALREADY RANK AS THE LEADING CONTAINER PORT IN ASIA AND AMONG THE TOP THREE IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF THROUGHPUT.
WORK ON THE NEW TERMINAL NO. 6 IS WELL UNDERWAY AND ONE OF ITS THREE BERTHS WILL BE READY FOR OPERATION IN 1989.
THE PROPOSED RECLAMATION AND DREDGING WORK AT LAI CHI KOK IS FOR TERMINAL NO. 7 AND ITS BACK-UP AREAS.
WORK, INCLUDING DREDGING OF THE SEA-BED FOR MARINE APPROACHES, IS EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL 1988 AND BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1993.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NOTICE TOGETHER WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT’S SURVEY AND MAPPING OFFICE AT MURRAY BUILDING, WHERE COPIES CAN BE PURCHASED, AND AT SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE.
WRITTEN OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS AND LANDS BY APRIL 19.
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HUNG HING ROAD FLYOVER OPENING * X X X X
A NEW FLYOVER IN WAN CHAI WILL BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
THE HUNG HING ROAD FLYOVER, WHICH PROVIDES A NEW LINK BETWEEN WAN CHAI AND CAUSEWAY BAY, IS EXPECTED TO EASE CONGESTION ON EASTBOUND GLOUCESTER ROAD.
THERE VEHICLES PROCEEDING TO THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND ARE OFTEN HELD UP BY TRAFFIC QUEUES HEADING FOR THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.
/from then
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
- 16
FROM THEN ON, VEHICLES FROM WAN CHAI RECLAMATION HEADING FOR CAUSEWAY BAY AND NORTH POINT CAN TRAVEL VIA SEAFRONT ROAD HUNG HING ROAD AND THE NEW FLYOVER TO JOIN VICTORIA PARK ROAD.
HOWEVER, NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP ON THE NEW FLYOVER FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY.
TO COINCIDE WITH ITS OPENING, THE SECTION OF SEAFRONT ROAD BETWEEN FLEMING ROAD AND TONNOCHY ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TO TWO-WAY OPERATION, WHILE WAN SHING STREET EXTENSION WILL BE RE-ROUTED TO ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
AT THE SAME TIME, NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT FROM SEAFRONT ROAD EASTBOUND ON TO THE WAN CHAI FERRY PIER TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE OR TONNOCHY ROAD SOUTHBOUND.
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MONG KOK’S GOOD CITIZENS TO GET AWARDS X X X X X
THIRTY-SIX MONG KOK RESIDENTS WILL RECEIVE THE DISTRICT’S GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 3 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) IN QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL.
PRIZES WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED TO WINNERS OF THE FIGHT CRIME PAINTING, COLOURING AND BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITIONS HELD LAST YEAR.
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS BRENDA FUNG= POLICE DEPUTY DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR LEUNG FUNG~SHUN= AND AN ART INSPECTOR FROM EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MRS MARGARET MAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 3 PM TOMORROW IN QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL, SAI YEE STREET.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
17
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED IN CAUSEWAY BAY * * * * *
A TOTAL OF 26 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, AT THE BACK LANE OF TSI NG FUNG STREET AND THE SIDE LANE OF WING HING STREET IN CAUSEWAY BAY WERE PULLED DOWN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN A CLEARANCE OPERATION.
THE OPERATION WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CLEARANCES AIMED AT ELIMINATING GAS LEAKAGE RISKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL BLACK SPOTS IN REAR LANES IN EASTERN DISTRICT.
THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES INCLUDE ONE SHOP AND TWO WORKSHOPS, NINE STORAGE STRUCTURES AND SIX DOMESTIC UNITS. THE REMAINDER WERE USED AS KITCHENS AND CANOPIES.
NINE PERSONS WERE AFFECTED BY THE CLEARANCE. TWO FAMILIES DECLINED A REHOUSING OFFER FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND TWO ACCEPTED A TEMPORARY HOUSING OFFER IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. TWO SINGLE PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE URBAN AREA.
CO-ORDINATED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE OPERATION WAS JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
THREE OTHER CLEARANCE OPERATIONS WILL BE CARRIED OUT AT BACK LANES OF TSAT TSZ MUI ROAD, KING’S ROAD AND CHUN YEUNG STREET LATER THIS MONTH.
IN ALL, 178 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WILL BE CLEARED. OF THE 48 FAMILIES AFFECTED, 40 WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REHOUSING IN EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES OR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS.
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KOWLOON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE DEMOLISHED
*****
ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN TO DEMOLISH TWO SETS OF ILLEGAL ROOFTOP STRUCTURES IN KOWLOON.
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WILL APPLY IN THE HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON MAY 20 FOR CLOSURE ORDERS TO BE MADE AGAINST THE STRUCTURES ON THE MAIN ROOF OF 496 - 510 CHATHAM ROAD, AND 208 -220A MA TAU WEI ROAD.
THE AUTHORITY POSTED NOTICES OF ITS INTENTION OF THE STRUCTURES TODAY (FRIDAY).
ORDERS TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURES WERE ISSUED TO OCCUPANTS UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE IN AUGUST, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 1985, BUT THEY WERE NOT COMPLIED WITH.
THEY WILL NOW BE DEMOLISHED ONCE THE COURT DECIDES TO MAKE THE CLOSURE ORDER. CLOSING THEM PRIOR TO DEMOLITION ENSURES THAT THERE IS NO DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
- - 0 - -
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1037
- 18 -
SOCCER FINAL TO CLOSE ANTI-DRUGS DRIVE * * * *
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS SOCCER TOURNAMENT FINAL AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE SAU NGA ROAD NO. 3 PLAYGROUND IN HIP WO STREET, KWUN TONG, BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE EVENT, MARKING THE END OF THE TWO-MONTH ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN IN THE DISTRICT, IS BEING JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, ) MR GORDON MORTIMER; DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN ; CHAIRMAN OF , THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, MR LAM HANG-FAI; CHAIRMAN OF THE v KWUN TONG DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR MAU KEI-ON; AND ' CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR LAM KIN-KWOK.
APART FROM MATCHES IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP, THERE WILL BE A PERFORMANCE BY THE CIVIL AID SERVICES BAND.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE AN INVITATION MATCH BETWEEN THE WINNING TEAM AND A CELEBRITY TEAM COMPRISING POPULAR SINGERS, TV ARTISTES AND FILM STARS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 3 PM WHILE THE INVITATION MATCH BETWEEN THE WINNING TEAM AND THE CELEBRITY TEAM IS SCHEDULED FOR 3.30 PM.
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FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION FOR TSIM SHA TSUI * X * X X
A FIRE PREVENTION EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD AT THE CENTENARY GARDEN IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST THIS SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) TO SUSTAIN PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PREVENT FIRE IN THE PREVAILING DRY SEASON.
THE EXHIBITION, PART of this YEAR’S fire prevention campaign WHICH CARRIES THE THEME +SMOKE KILLS+, WILL START FROM NOON TO 3 PM.
VISITORS TO THE CENTENARY GARDEN WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE DANGER OF SMOKE FROM FIRES. THERE WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYS ON BOTH GENERAL FIRE AND COUNTRYSIDE FIRE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PICK UP A LEAFLET CONTAINING USEFUL INFORMATION ON HOW TO MINIMISE HARM IN THE EVENT OF FIRE AND GIVEAWAY ITEMS SPONSORED BY THE KWONG ON BANK.
THE NEXT EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD AT THE ABERDEEN CENTRE OPEN SQUARE ON MARCH 8.
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/19.....-
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
19
WINNING PHOTOS GO ON DISPLAY * * *
ABOUT 100 PHOTOGRAPHS DEPICTING THE SHA TIN FESTIVAL AND CHRISTMAS AND LUNAR NEW YEAR LIGHTINGS IN THE DISTRICT WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE RIVERSIDE PLAZA TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY.
THE EXHIBITS WERE ENTRIES IN A PHOTOGRAPH COMPETITION JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON SHA TIN FESTIVE LIGHTINGS AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND TWO COMMERCIAL FIRMS.
PRIZES WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED TO CONTEST WINNERS AT A CEREMONY TOMORROW.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION AND THE PRIZEPRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LEO KWAN WING-WAH, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR NG CHAN-LAM, AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MR ANDREW WONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EXHIBITION OPENING AND PRIZEPRESENTATION CEREMONY AT 2 PM TOMORROW IN THE CORRIDOR ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF RIVERSIDE PLAZA.
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PAINTERS, CALL IGRAPHISTS TO DEMONSTRATE SKILLS
MORE THAN 20 FAMOUS ^INTERS AND CALL I GRAPH I STS W^LL DEMONSTRATE THEIR SK ILLS AT THE CLOS ING CEREMONY OF THE WAN cuai DISTRICT CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL TO BE HELU Al inc MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ENJOY FAVOURITE CHINESE TUNES PERFORMED BY A CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
im AnniTinu AWARDS WILL BE GIVEN TO WINNERS OF THE OPEN CHINESE CHE^S COMPETITION HELD DURING THE WEEK-LONG FESTIVAL.
/OFFICIATING .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
20
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS CARMAN CHIU, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, MR LEE KON.
NOTE TO EDITORS I
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE FESTIVAL AT THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, Ol KWAN ROAD, AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY.
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VOCATIONAL COURSES ADMISSION PROCEDURES MODIFIED
*****
THE PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION TO POST-FORM 3 COURSES IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES WILL BE MODIFIED TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEREST OF VOCATIONALLY-INCLINED STUDENTS.
AS FROM THE 1987-88 ACADEMIC YEAR, FORM 3 OR MIDDLE 3 STUDENTS TAKING PART IN THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT (JSEA) SYSTEM WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ALLOCATION OF A SUBSIDISED FORM 4 PLACE IN A GRAMMAR SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR APPLICATION FOR A POST FORM 3 VOCATIONALLY-ORIENTED PLACE.
AN APPLICANT WHO HAS NOT BEEN OFFERED A PLACE IN SUCH A MANNER WILL STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF A FORM 4 PLACE UNDER THE JSEA SYSTEM.
AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WAS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF STUDENTS WITH A GENUINE INTEREST TO ENROL IN A VOCATIONALLY ORIENTED COURSE TO GAIN ADMISSION TO A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OR AN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRE.
EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT MANY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR SUCH COURSES DID NOT TAKE UP PLACES OFFERED TO THEM. AS A RESULT, OTHER VOCATIONALLY-INCLINED STUDENTS, WHO WISHED TO TAKE UP POST-FORM 3 COURSE PLACE, BUT WERE NOT EVEN SHORTLISTED FOR INTERVIEW, WERE DEPRIVED OF THE CHANCE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
HE CALLED ON PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WITH CHILDREN PROGRESSING TO FORM 3 OR MIDDLE 3 NEXT YEAR IN SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE JSEA SYSTEM, TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE MODIFIED PROCEDURE UNDER WHICH THEY WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO SIGN ANY CONSENT FORM AFTER THEIR CHILDREN HAD BEEN SELECTED FOR A VOCATIONALLY-ORIENTED COURSE.
SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE JSEA HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE MODIFIED PROCEDURE IN A RECENT CIRCULAR ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS WITH ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT SHOULD APPROACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
21
CRAFT COURSES OPEN TO FORM 3 STUDENTS * * X *
FORM 3 STUDENTS ARE BEING INVITED TO APPLY, THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS, FOR ENTRY INTO FULL-TIME CRAFT LEVEL COURSES OFFERED BY TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IN THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR.
A TOTAL OF 39 POST FORM 3 COURSES, 22 FROM EIGHT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND 17 FROM EIGHT TRAINING CENTRES, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE UP A CRAFT CAREER THROUGH TECHNICAL EDUCATION OR INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID THAT FORM 3 OR MIDDLE 3 STUDENTS STUDYING IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WILL HAVE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF TECHNICIAN PREPARATORY COURSES IN MAJOR DISCIPLINES.
+THESE ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICIAN PREPARATORY COURSES ARE DESIGNED AS BRIDGING COURSES FOR GRADUATES FROM POST FORM 3 COURSES, PROVIDING THEM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROGRESS TO FULL-TIME TECHNICIAN LEVEL STUDIES WHICH ARE NORMALLY RESTRICTED TO POST FORM 5 STUDENTS.
+THESE BRIDGING COURSES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE DISCIPLINES OF COMMERCE, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCT I ON,+ HE SAID.
AS FOR COURSES OFFERED AT THE EIGHT INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THEY PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR STUDENTS TO PREPARE THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT AFTER COMPLETION OF THEIR STUDIES.
+TRAINEES WHO HAD COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING AT INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER RELEVANT TRADES OR BECOME APPRENTICES AND RECEIVE FURTHER TRAINING ON THE JOB.+
THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OFFER COURSES IN THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES s MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, MARINE ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION, MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINEERING, INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, PRINTING, DESIGN, CLOTHING, TEXTILE, COMMERCIAL STUDIES AND CHILD CARE.
THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES WHICH PROVIDE CRAFT LEVEL COURSES COVER AUTOMOBILES, ELECTRICAL, GAS, ELECTRONICS, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PLASTICS, PRINTING AND THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY.
STUDENTS CAN MAKE TWO CHOICES FROM ANY COURSES OPERATED IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES. COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO SCHOOLS BEFORE MARCH 10.
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/22
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
22
BANQUET BOOST FOR WONG TAI SIN NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
*****
A SPRING FESTIVAL BANQUET WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) EVENING FOR ABOUT 700 PARTICIPANTS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT.
THE BANQUET HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO PROMOTE TIES AMONG NEIGHBOURS AND TO REINFORCE THE SCHEME.
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING HOUSEHOLDS IN THE TERRITORY-WIDE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME.
SINCE THE SCHEME WAS BEGUN IN 1985, A TOTAL OF 5 131 HOUSEHOLDS FROM 17 HOUSING BLOCKS IN THE DISTRICT HAVE JOINED.
OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE BANQUET WILL INCLUDE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE MEMBER, DR HO KAM-FAI J DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR K.H. LI) WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICHOLAS YEKj AND CHAIRMAN OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR ALBERT LI.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH SCHEME SPRING FESTIVAL BANQUET TO BE HELD TOMORROW AT 8 PM AT THE DRAGON WAY RESTAURANT AT THE FIRST FLOOR OF WONG TAI SIN SHOPPING CENTRE (ABOVE THE WONG TAI SIN MTR STATION).
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TSING HONG YIN NGA I SOCIETY TWO YEARS OLD
*****
THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE SECOND INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE TSING HONG YIN NGA I SOCIETY AT THE CHEUNG CHING ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE TSING HONG YIN NGAI SOCIETY WAS THE FIRST WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION FORMED IN THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT. IT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF DISTRICT OFFICE AND HAS NOW ABOUT 150 MEMBERS.
AMONG THE EVENTS THE SOCIETY HAS ORGANISED ARE FAMILY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PICNICS, VISITS AND INTEREST COURSES, AND BALLET LESSONS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SECOND INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE TSING HONG YIN NGAI SOCIETY AT THE CHEUNG CHING ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 2 PM TOMORROW.
- - 0 - -
/23........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
23
VARIETY SHOW TO ENTERTAIN FANLING RESIDENTS *****
RESIDENTS OF FANLING WILL BE ENTERTAINED AT A VARIETY SHOW AT THE CHEUNG WAH ESTATE CENTRAL PLAYGROUND TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
ORGANISED BY THE FANLING RURAL COMMITTEE WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE SHOW IS PART OF A SERIES OF LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION BEING HELD THROUGHOUT THE NORTH DISTRICT.
.TH,E PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE SINGING, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS AND A LUCKY DRAW.
AMONG the GUESTS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNGj DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG J AND THE SHEUNG SHU I POLICE DIVISIONAL COMMANDER, MR NG HON-KWAN. *
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE VARIETY SHOW AT 7.30 PM TOMORROW AT THE CHEUNG WAH ESTATE CENTRAL PLAYGROUND, FANLING.
- - 0 - -
SEMINAR FOR SPORTS LEADERS * * * *
The SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES MR a k run will
OPEN THE SEMINAR AND ADDRESS DELEGATES. ’ ' ' CHUI> WILL
MR fTkE ^A,5hA!N C0UNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT
MR. F.K. MJ, WILL TAKE THE CHAIR IN THE OPEN FORUM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
24
APPLICATIONS CALLED FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDS *****
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN YAU MA TEI WISHING TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES OR PROJECTS BEFORE MID-MARCH CAN APPLY FOR SPONSORSHIP FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT, 14TH FLOOR, 490 NATHAN ROAD.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SECRETARIAT BY FEBRUARY 24 FOR THE BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AT ITS MEETING ON FEBRUARY 26.
EACH APPLICATION FORM SHOULD BE USED TO APPLY FOR SPONSORSHIP OF ONE ACTIVITY ONLY.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 3-77OO424.
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TENDERS INVITED FOR LINK ROAD SECTION
*****
OF
TO
. ™E HlGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR CONSTRUCTION A SECTION OF THE MA ON SHAN-NAI CHUNG LINK ROAD FROM LOK WO SHA NAI CHUNG.
THE SECTION FORMS SHAN WITH THE SAI KUNG
PART OF A SCHEME TO LINK SHA TIN AND MA ON PENINSULA.
THE CONTRACT WILL
„ ... COMPRISE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 1.6 KILOMETRES
OF TWO-WAY ROAD, TOGETHER WITH FOOTPATHS AND A CYCLE TRACK.
A BRANCH ROAD WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED TO THE BEACH AT LOK WO SHA. CAR AND COACH PARKING FACILITIES WILL BE BUILT NEAR T HE BE AC H.
THE EXISTING CAR PARK AT NAI CHUNG WILL BE ENLARGED TO PROVIDE A BUS TERMINUS, A MAXICAB STAND AND COACH AND CAR PARKING SPACES.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 13.
CONSTRUCTION WORK MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN APRIL AND TAKE 16
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1987
25
ROADS IN ABERDEEN REMAIN CLOSED *****
THE SECTION OF CHENGTU ROAD IN ABERDEEN BETWEEN ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD AND LOK YEUNG STREET AND THE SECTION OF LOK YEUNG STREET BETWEEN CHENGTU ROAD AND TUNG SING ROAD WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23). THEY HAD BEEN CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOLLOWING A WATER MAIN BURST LAST FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13).
DURING THE CLOSURE, CMB ROUTES 70, 70M, 72, 98 AND 107 HAVE BEEN DIVERTED VIA ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD WESTBOUND AND ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD ON THEIR JOURNEYS TO ABERDEEN.
OTHER VEHICLES INCLUDING PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND GREEN MINIBUS ROUTES 4, 5, 26, 27 AND 35M HAVE TO USE ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD WESTBOUND, FUNG TIN STREET AND NAM NING STREET ON JOURNEYS TO CHENGTU ROAD.
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QUEEN STREET BAN ON HEAVY VEHICLES * * * *
TO FACILITATE UTILITY DIVERSION WORK, NO VEHICLE EXCEEDING 5.5 TONNES GROSS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SECTION OF QUEEN STREET BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD WEST AND CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST IN WESTERN DISTRICT FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
THE MEASURE WILL LAST FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
ROAD CLOSURE IN TAI PO *****
ON PONG ROAD BETWEEN ITS NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN JUNCTIONS WITH ON TAI ROAD IN TAI PO WILL BE CLOSED FROM 8 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23) TO 8 PM ON FEBRUARY 25 TO FACILITATE DEMOLITION WORK IN THE AREA.
ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT THOSE FOR LOCAL ACCESS, WILL BE DIVERTED TO ON TA| ROAD DURING THE CLOSURE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
CONTENTS PaGE NO.
WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION ........... 1
MORE SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS PLANNED ................ 2
36 Named good citizens in mong kok ............................. 3
IMPORTANCE OF CO-ORDINaTION IN SPORTS DEVELOPMENT .............. L
PRIZES FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE IN EaSTERN ................. 6
KWUN TONG FACILITIES TO BE IMPROVED............................. 7
FUN AFTERNOON FOR RESIDENTS IN KWal CHUNG EaST.................. 8
FUN DaY FOR SHEUNG SHUI RESIDENTS .............................. 9
TAI CHI DEMONSTRATION „T KJN D..Y ............................. 10
FUN FaIR FOR CHILDREN ......................................... 10
TOUR OF COMPUTER EDUCaTIcN CENTRE ............................. 11
OFFICE ON THE MOVE............................................ n
WORK ON NEXT STaGE OF OPEN SPACE TO START ..................... 12
SHa TaU KOK ROaDWORK CONTE .CT AW. TIDED....................... 12
PRINCESS MaRG.JffiT ROAD, WATERLOO RO,.D TRAFFIC CHaNGES.... 13
RESTRICTED ZONES SET UP IN HUNG HOM ........................... 13
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
1
WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION *****
THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION HAD EMBARKED ON A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TOGETHER WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND RESIDENTS BODIES TO PROMOTE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CIVIC EDUCATION AMONG RESIDENTS, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MRS RITA FAN, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT A VARIETY SHOW TO MARK THE CLOSING OF J HE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, MRS FAN SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD SET ASIDE $250 000 IN 1986-87 TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN ORGANISING CIVIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
+AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMMITTEE WILL ALSO REVIEW REGULARLY THE OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF CIVIC EDUCATION TO MEET THE RAPID CHANGES OF OUR SOCIETY,* SHE SAID.
+IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE IS COLLECTING REFERENCE MATERIALS IN PREPARING AN INFORMATION KIT ON A CIVIC EDUCATION RESOURCE INDEX.
♦THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING TASKS FOR HONG KONG AS THE COMMUNITY IS FACING AN IMPENDING REFORM ON ITS POLITICAL STRUCTURES.
+IN ORDER TO BUILD A STABLE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE MORE EDUCATED AND INVOLVED IN THESE RESPECTS,* SHE SAID.
THE COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION WAS FORMED BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR. ITS MEMBERS COMPRISE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
MRS FAN SAID SHE WAS PLEASED THAT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT HAD TAKEN THE LEAD IN LAUNCHING A YEAR-LONG CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN IN 1986-87 AND THAT THE CAMPAIGN WOULD CONTINUE NEXT YEAR.
TONIGHT’S VARIETY SHOW FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY POPULAR SINGERS, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHORUS AND THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT DANCE GROUP AS WELL AS A DRAMA BY THE HO MAN TIN SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE.
THE SHOW, SPONSORED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
-----o------
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
- 2
MORE SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS PLANNED
*****
REGIONAL OUTREACHING TEAMS WILL BE SET UP BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO AUGMENT EXISTING SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, AFTER VISITING THE HOME OF LOVE OPERATED BY THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY FOR STREET SLEEPERS IN THE EX-SHAM SHU I PO ARMY CAMP TODAY (SATURDAY).
DURING THE VISIT, SHE HANDED OVER TO THE SUPERVISOR, SISTER VICTORIA, THE KEYS FOR ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION TO BOOST THE HOME’S CAPACITY FROM 40 TO 60.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT A NUMBER OF MEASURES WOULD BE INTRODUCED TO STEP UP SERVICES FOR STREET SLEEPERS TO MARK THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS.
+WE BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY EFFORTS IN THE DISTRICTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED, SO WE WILL BE INVOLVING VOLUNTEERS IN OUR REGIONAL OUTREACH TEAMS,+ SHE SAID.
FOUR TEAMS WILL BE ORGANISED TO COVER HONG KONG ISLAND, EAST KOWLOON, WEST KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THEY WILL CONTACT STREET SLEEPERS, DELIVER RELIEF ARTICLES AND BLANKETS TO THEM AND ESCORT THEM IF REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION OF IDENTITY CARDS, MEDICAL SERVICES AND ANY OTHER WELFARE SERVICES.
+OUR FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES ARE IN FACT RENDERING THESE SERVICES BUT IT IS HOPED THAT WITH THE SETTING UP OF SPECIAL TEAMS, GREATER EFFORTS CAN BE DEVOTED TO PERSUADING THESE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE STREETS AND ACCEPT OUR SERVICES,* MRS CHAN SAID.
ANOTHER PLAN TO MOBILISE COMMUNITY EFFORTS WOULD BE TO DEDICATE THIS YEAR’S OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME TO HELPING THE HOMELESS, SHE ADDED.
THE SCHEME IS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBSIDISE YOUTH GROUPS IN CARRYING OUT INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROJECTS WHICH ARE CONDUCIVE TO THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY.
AS FOR STREET SLEEPERS SUSPECTED TO BE MENTALLY ILL, SHE NOTED THAT THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY WAS IN COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND SUSTAINED AND FRIENDLY PERSUASION WAS NEEDED TO GET THEM TO ACCEPT ASSISTANCE.
+WE ARE PLANNING A NEW FACILITY CALLED DAY RELIEF CENTRE CUM TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR THIS SPECIAL TARGET GROUP,* SHE SAID.
ARE DAY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
THE DAY RELIEF CENTRE WILL PROVIDE OUTREACHING SERVICE, INCLUDING FOOD DELIVERY AND COUNSELLING; PERSONAL CARE SERVICE SUCH AS BATHING, HAIR-CUTTING, FREE CLOTHING AND ESCORTING SERVICE FOR APPLICATION FOR IDENTITY CARDS, MEDICAL TREATMENT OR OTHER REHABILITATIVE SERVICES AS ADVISED BY MEDICAL DOCTORS OR MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKERS.
CENTRE STAFF WILL ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR LIAISING WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS HOSPITALS, CLINICS OR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO WORK OUT LONG-TERM WELFARE PLANS FOR CLIENTS WHO WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TRANSIT ACCOMMODATION IN THE TEMPOARY SHELTER.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD BE RUN BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT.
+SUBJECT TO EVALUATION, THIS MAY BECOME A LONG-TERM PROVISION,+ SHE SAID.
MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO LIAISING WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO DISCUSS HOW THEIR EXISTING FACILITIES FOR STREET SLEEPERS CAN BE PUT TO BETTER USE.
+IN ADDITION, A STEERING GROUP WILL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO CO-ORDINATE PROGRAMMES IN THIS AREA, TO MONITOR PROGRESS AND TO LIAISE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
+HOWEVER, SOME CO-ORDINATION AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL IS CLEARLY DESIRABLE SINCE THE PROBLEMS FACING STREET SLEEPERS CALL FOR THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,+ MRS CHAN SAID.
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36 NAMED GOOD CITIZENS IN MONG KOK X X X X X
THIRTY-SIX MONG KOK RESIDENTS WHO HAVE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING BRAVERY AND INITIATIVE IN COMBATING CRIMES RECEIVED THE 1986 GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS TODAY (SATURDAY).
NOTING THAT THE FIGURE WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE THAT OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, MR CHAN LAI-SANG, SAID THAT IT SHOWED THAT MONG KOK PEOPLE HAD BECOME MORE READY AND DETERMINED TO WIPE OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
/OFFICIATING AT
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
OFFICIATING AT THE AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY, HE PRAISED RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR CIV IC-MINDEDNESS IN REPORTING AND DETECTING CRIMES, AS WELL AS IN ASSISTING THE POLICE TO APPREHEND CRIMINALS.
+THEY HAVE ALSO CO-OPERATED WITH THE POLICE IN SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS, IDENTIFICATION PARADES AND TESTIFYING IN COURT TO BRING THE CULPRITS TO JUSTICE,+ HE SAID.
THE RECIPIENTS, 31 MEN AND FIVE WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 13 AND 70, HELPED THE POLICE IN CASES INCLUDING BURGLARY, ROBBERY, THEFT AND INDECANT ASSAULT.
A 70-YEAR-0LD RESIDENT, MR LAW SIN-CHEUNG, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MONG KOK NORTH AREA COMMITTEE, WAS AMONG THE RECIPIENTS.
WINNERS OF THE FIGHT CRIME PAINTING, COLOURING, AND BOOKMARK DESIGN COMPETITIONS HELD EARLIER FOR STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED PRIZES AT TODAY’S CEREMONY.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDED THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS BRENDA FUNG, DEPUTY DISTRICT COMMANDER (MONG KOK), MR LEUNG FUNG-SHUN, AND AN ART INSPECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MRS MARGARET MAN.
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IMPORTANCE OF CO-ORDINATION IN SPORTS DEVELOPMENT
*****
nr- F0R CO-ORDINATION IN THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT
OF SPORTS WAS STRESSED AT A SEMINAR FOR SPORTS LEADERS HELD AT THE FORMER LEGCO CHAMBER TODAY (SATURDAY).
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THE URBAN COUNCIL
In ?c) and The jub,le^ sports centre (jsc)
SPORTS AN§ RECREATION™ °PP0RTUNITY T0 TALK AB°UT THEIR WORK IN
IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LAST SEMINAR WAS HELD IN OCTOBER 1980. un . TALKS WERE GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES:
* ’ CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT (CRS); MR F.K. HU, MR SAMUEL WONG REPRESENTING THE URBAN COUNCIL* MR LAM KIN-MING REPRESENTING THE REGIONAL COUNCLI AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, MR Sd WELLS.
/THE CHAIRMAN
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
5 -
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE BOARD, MR DENIS BRAY, WAS ALSO PRESENT.
IN POINTING OUT THAT THE GOVERNING SPORTS BODIES PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SPORTS DEVELOPMENT, MR HU, WHO INITIATED THE SEMINAR, SAID IN THIS MAJOR ENTERPRISE, THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNING BODIES, THE JSC, THE UC AND RC, AND THE CRS MUST BE PROPERLY CO-ORDINATED.
+IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE NOT DUPLICATED INSTEAD, IT SHOULD BE ORGANISED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER IN THE PURSUIT OF THE COMMON OBJECTIVE TO PROMOTE SPORT, RECREATION AND THE UTILISATION OF FACILITIES, SO THAT RESOURCES ARE MADE USE OF IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER. THIS IS THE MESSAGE OF THE SEMINAR,* HE SAID.
MR HU ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE CRS, THE DEMARCATION OF RESPONSIBILITY IN FUNDING SPORT BETWEEN THE CRS, THE UC AND THE RC-THE CRS’S SPORTS DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND THE STRATEGY IN THE PROMOTION OF SPORT IN HONG KONG.
APART FROM THE SEVEN STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL, MR HU SAID THERE WAS A WORKING PARTY ON SPORTS IN EDUCATION.
+WE ALL REALISE THAT HONG KONG IS A PLACE WHERE COMPETITION IS KEEN ON ALL FRONTS AND THERE IS EVERY URGE FOR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC SUCCESS, VERY OFTEN AT THE EXPENSES OF SPORT AND RELAXATION,* HE SAID.
MR HU EXPLAINED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE WORKING PARTY WAS TO EXAMINE WHETHER THERE WERE WAYS AND MEANS IN WHICH SPORT MIGHT BE INTEGRATED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND BE GIVEN PROPER RECOGNITION.
HE SAID THE WORKING PARTY HOPED TO COMPLETE ITS STUDY SOME TIME THIS YEAR.
THE SECRETARY FOR MUNICIPAL SERVICES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI, WHO OPENED THE SEMINAR, TOLD THE DELEGATES THAT SINCE 1985 A NUMBER OF CHANGES HAD TAKEN PLACE.
WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, THE FORMER RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WAS DISSOLVED IN APRIL 1985 AND THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH WAS FORMED TO ASSUME POLICY FUNCTIONS
I
^RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
- 6 -
-♦-responsibilities for the organisation and funding of RECREATION AND SPORT ACTIVITIES AT DISTRICT LEVELS HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THESE ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENT ROLES UNDERTAKEN BY THE DIFFERENT BODIES SO AS TO ACHIEVE A CO-ORDINATED APPROACH,* MR CHUI SAID.
+FOR MANY YEARS, BOTH THE CRS AND UC HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO SPORTS DEVELOPMENT. THE FORMATION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN 1986 HAS ADDED TREMENDOUS IMPETUS TO SPORT,* HE SAID.
+WITH THE IMPENDING DIVESTMENT OF JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN A JOCKEY CLUB ENDOWMENT OF $350 MILLION, WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE GREAT ADVANCES MADE IN THE NOT TOO FAR OFF FUTURE. HOWEVER, THESE DIVERSE RESOURCES NEED TO BE CLOSELY COORDINATED.
+ IT IS THE AIM OF THIS SEMINAR, THEREFORE, TO EVALUATE THE CURRENT FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS AND DEMARCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO CONSIDER HOW WE CAN BEST CO-ORDINATE AND IMPROVE THE UTILISATION OF THESE RESOURCES TO ENSURE AN ILLUSTRIOUS FUTURE FOR SPORT IN HONG KONG.*
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PRIZES FOR OUTSTANDING YOUNG PEOPLE IN EASTERN *****
OUTSTANDING YOUTHS IN EASTERN DISTRICT WILL BE AWARDED THEIR PRIZES IN A CEREMONY ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE FOR 1986-87 TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AT THE KIANGSU AND CHEKIANG PRIMARY SCHOOL HALL IN NORTH POINT.
TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT-WIDE CIVIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR 1986-87, THE COMMITTEE HAS ORGANISED AND CO-ORGANISED A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES WITH THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, EASTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE AND OTHER DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS.
THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED AN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PROJECT IN CIVIC EDUCATION, +KNOWING THE HISTORICAL FIGURES AND GEOGRAPHY OF CHINA*, ADVANCED YOUTH LEADERSHlP TRAINING COURSE, CAMP FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND ABLED BODIES AND CANTONESE OPERA FOR THE ELDERLY.
/AT TOMORROW'S
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
- 7 -
AT TOMORROW’S PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY, 50 STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES AFTER COMPLETING THE ADVANCED YOUTH LEADERS HlP TRAINING COURSE, TWO YOUTH BODIES IN CHAI WAN AND SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE AWARDED PRIZES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING CIVIC EDUCATION PROJECTS, WHILE 40 STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE AWARDS IN THE CHINESE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY QUIZ.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, A SINGING PERFORMANCE WILL BE STAGED BY THREE POPULAR SINGERS AND THE DANCING TEAM OF KIANGSU AND CHEKIANG PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL PERFORM FOR THE AUDIENCE.
EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BOWEN LEUNG! CHAIRMAN OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, MR SHUM CHOI-SANG! AND REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR KWOK NAI-SIK WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT RECREATION CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW AT KIANGSU AND CHEKIANG PRIMARY SCHOOL HALL, 30 CHING WAH STREET, NORTH POINT.
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KWUN TONG FACILITIES TO BE IMPROVED *****
FACILITIES AND THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN KWUN TONG WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NUMBER OF WORKS PROJECTS AND MORE SYSTEMATIC TOWN PLANNING, THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE +NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN KWUN TONG+ EXHIBITION, MR CHAN GAVE A BRIEF OUTLINE OF MAJOR WORKS PROJECTS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT.
HE SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD BUDGETTED $362 MILLION IN PROVIDING CULTURE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR KWUN TONG RESIDENTS IN ITS FIVE-YEAR PLAN.
MR CHAN SAID THE EXHIBITION WOULD ENABLE RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT NEW WORKS PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE DISTRICT. IT WOULD ALSO SERVE TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG RESIDENTS.
/THE EXHIBITION .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
- 8
THE EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BROAD’S WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
IT FOCUSSES ON THREE SUBJECTS* HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT PLANS, AND CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TODAY AND MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23) FROM 8 AM TO 10 PM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF TELFORD CENTRE IN TELFORD GARDEN (MTR WEST EXIT) ; AND FROM FEBRUARY 24 TO 26 FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM IN THE KWUN TONG COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TSUI PING ROAD.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WITH MR CHAN WERE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR LAM HANG-FAI i URBAN COUNCIL MEMBER, MR STEPHEN LAU ; CHIEF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICER OF THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR C.S. LEUNGj AND CHIEF HOUSING MANAGER (KOWLOON EAST), MR SO YAT-CHEUNG.
-----0------
FUN AFTERNOON FOR RESIDENTS IN KWAI CHUNG EAST
* X X X X
ABOUT 3 000 RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE SHEK LEI ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE OPEN DAY IN KWAI CHUNG EAST TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
SPONSORED BY THE KWAI CHJNg AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT BOARD. THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE WITH THE AIM OF INTRODUCING ITS FACILITIES, A NEW STUDY ROOM IN PARTICULAR, TO RESIDENTS.
THE STUDY ROOM, NEWLY-INSTALLED WITH MODERN EQUIPMENT WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE LOCALS, CAN ACCOMMODATE 40 STUDENTS AT A TIME.
THE EVENT IS ALSO INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1986 TO SERVE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA, NOW NUMBERING AROUND 60 000.
THERE WILL BE A VARIETY SHOW, FOLK DANCES, GAMES STALLS AND AN EXHIBITION TO INTRODUCE THE WORKS OF VOLUNTARY GROUPS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN KWAI TSING DISTRICT.
/PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING THE EXHIBITION MAY ALSO HAVE A FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UP AT A COUNTER MANNED BY DOCTORS OF A CLINIC RUN BY THE YUEN YUEN INSTITUTE.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE KWAI TSI NG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK. OTHER GUESTS WILL INCLUDE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR HO TUNG-CHING AND CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE CENTRE, MRS NANCY LAM.
- 0 - -
FUN DAY FOR SHEUNG S HU I RESIDENTS
*****
RESIDENTS OF SHEUNG SHU I WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A DAY OF FUN TOMORROW (SUNDAY) IN A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE FUN DAY IS ORGANISED BY THE SHEUNG S HU I RURAL COMMITTEE.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A SPORTS CARNIVAL AT THE SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND AT 10 AM AND GAMESTALLS TO BE MOUNTED AT THE CHOI YUEN ESTATE COVERED PLAYGROUND AT 2 PM.
A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING DANCE, DRAMA AND POPULAR SONGS BY TELEVISION ARTISTES WILL BE HELD AT 7.30 PM AT THE SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND. ADMISSION IS FREE.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE VARIETY SHOW WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG, NORTH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, AND THE FRONTIER DISTRICT COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, MR GYWN LLOYD.
- - 0 -
/10
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
10 -
TAI CHI DEMONSTRATION AT FUN DAY
X * *
A DEMONSTRATION OF TAI CHI (SHADOW BOXING) WILL BE STAGED AT A FUN DAY TO BE HELD AT MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE FUN DAY IS TO PROVIDE WHOLESOME RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR RESIDENTS.
A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES WILL BE FEATURED INCLUDING SINGING, ACROBATICS AND MAGIC SHOWS.
MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICER, MRS BRENDA FUNG, AND A MEMBER OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, DR RONALD LEUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE FUN DAY TOMORROW AT 2.30 PM AT THE MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND, SAI YEE STREET.
------o-------
FUN FAIR FOR CHILDREN
* * * * *
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOLDING ITS 25TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CHILDREN’S PARTY AT WAH YAN COLLEGE, KOWLOON, TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES A LION DANCE, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, SONGS AND DANCE, COMPETITIVE EVENTS AND A VARIETY OF GAMES STALLS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 12.30 PM AND A PM.
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/11.........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
11
TOUR OF COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE *****
THE COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO STRENGTHEN COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR NEXT WEEK.
A TOUR HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO PREVIEW FACILITIES AT THE COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE AT 19 HOK YUEN STREET, HUNG HOM, AT 3 PM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISIT TO THE CENTRE.
------0-------
OFFICE ON THE MOVE * * *
THE TRADE STATISTICS BRANCH OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL BE MOVING ITS OFFICE NEXT MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23) FROM KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, CENTRAL TO WAN CHAI TOWER I, 12 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING ENQUIRIES SHOULD GO TO:
FLOOR
* ENQUIRIES ON TRADE STATISTICS 17/F
* ENQUIRIES ON SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS 17/F
* TRADE CLASSIFICATION 17/F
* CARGO MANIFEST SUBMISSION
- NON-OCEAN 18/F
- OCEAN 17/F
* TRADE DECLARATION MATTERS
- OCEAN, AIR AND LAND 18/F
- JUNK 17/F
/* TRADE VALUATION ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1987
12 -
* TRADE VALUATION AND REFUND/RECOVERY OF 16/F
DECLARATION CHARGE
H APPLICATION FOR LANDING CERTIFICATES AND 16/F
ENDORSEMENT OF CARGO MANIFESTS AND TRADE
DECLARATIONS
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE BRANCH ON 5-8234868.
-------0 ---------
WORK ON NEXT STAGE OF OPEN SPACE TO START
X- X X X X
Wl
BY
WORK ON PHASE II OF A DISTRICT OPEN SPACE AT HA KWA LL SIART SOON FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF AN fill.12 MILLION the territory development department.
I CHUNG CONTRACT
the project involves constructing a major children’s PLAYGROUND, FITNESS AREA, MAZE, PICNIC AND BARBECUE FACILITIES AND SITTING AREAS, ALL WITHIN A NATURAL TREE SETTING. THE AREA WILL BE EXTENSIVELY LANDSCAPED. '
WHEN COMPLETED IN LATE 1987, THE OPEN SPACE WILL SERVE RESIDENTS FROM NEARBY HOUSING ESTATES, INCLUDING LAI KING LAI YIU, KWAI FONG AND KWAI CHUNG ESTATES.
PHASE I WORK WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR.
------0--------
SHA TAU KOK ROADWORK CONTRACT AWARDED
X X X X X
.....THE TERRITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A MILLION CONTRACT FOR WIDENING THE SHEK CHUNG AU SECTION KOK ROAD TO ENHANCE TRAFFIC FLOW NEAR THE BORDER.
S20.4
OF SHA TAU
the project also involves construction of a sewage
WORKS ON RECLAIMED LAND IN THE WESTERN PART OF SHA TAU KOK THRFF DISTRIBUTOR ROADS, A CAR AND LORRY PARK, FOOTPAIHS AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. wifhiho aiw AbbULIAIED
TREATMENT
/IN ADDITION, ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1?87
- 15 -
IN ADDITION, A TEMPORARY CAR PARK WILL BE BUILT TO REPLACE ON-STREET CAR PARKING BAYS ALONG SHA TAU KOK ROAD AFFECTED BY THE PROJECT.
MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO MINIMISE DISTURBANCE TO MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS.
WORK HAS STARTED AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 15 MONTHS.
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PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, WATERLOO ROAD TRAFFIC CHANGES
*****
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD AND WATERLOO ROAD FROM TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24) TO FEBRUARY 26 BETWEEN 10 PM AND 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO ENABLE BEAMS AT THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD FLYOVER NEAR PERTH STREET TO BE REMOVED.
PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN ARGYLE STREET AND THE DOWN-RAMP OF THE FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC, EXCEPT THOSE WISHING TO GAIN ACCESS TO DUNBAR ROAD AND PERTH STREET.
THE EXISTING BUS-ONLY LANE ON THE OUTERMOST TRAFFIC LANE OF WATERLOO ROAD SOUTHBOUND BENEATH THE FLYOVER WILL BE WITHDRAWN TEMPORARILY.
VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON SOUTHBOUND WATERLOO ROAD AND ARGYLE STREET WESTBOUND HEADING FOR PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED TO WATERLOO ROAD, PUI CHING ROAD AND SHEUNG HING STREET TO REJOIN PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD.
KMB ROUTE 7B ON ITS JOURNEY TO HUNG HOM FERRY WILL BE DIVERTED TO WATERLOO ROAD, PUI CHING ROAD AND FAT KWONG STREET INSTEAD OF PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, SHEUNG HING STREET AND FAT KWONG STREET BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL ROUTINGS.
-----o------
RESTRICTED ZONES SET UP IN HUNG HOM
*****
TWO SECTIONS OF WINSLOW STREET IN HUNG HOM WILL BE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED ZONES FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM STARTING 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24).
THEY ARE THE SOUTHERN SIDE BETWEEN WINSLOW STREET UNDERPASS AND LO LUNG HANG STREET AND THE NORTHERN SIDE BETWEEN CHATHAM ROAD AND LO LUNG HANG STREET.
NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS IN THE TWO AREAS.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
•YES' TO LIFE BUT 'NO' TO DRUGS ........................... 1
COMPUTER AID IK ASSESSING SOCIAL WORKER MANPOWER SITUATION 2
SUPPORT NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ................... 3
MORE PEOPLE FIND JOBS THROUGH LES ......................... 4
SUGGESTIONS TO DB GET l^UICK ACTION ....................... 5
GOOD EMPLOYMENT PROFILE FOR 1980 TI GRADUATES ............. 7
ALERT ELDERLY FOIL DECEPTION ATTEMPTS ..................... 7
TALENT QJEST TO PUT ACROSS 'FIGHT CRIME' MESSaGE .......... 8
CLOSING OF WaN CHaI CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL............... 9
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COURSE ....... 9
BOARD TO DISCUSS POWERLINE ALIGNMENT ...................... 10
WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FUN FAIR ........................ 11
I I
CONTRACTS FOR TEMPORARY MARKET AWaRDED..................... 11
DISCUSSION ON REVISED LAYOUT PLAN ......................... 12
TO KW^ WmN WATER CUT...............................-....... 12
LEFT-TURN BaN TO CONTINUE.................................. 12
> ->R
’*ES’ TO LIFE BUT 'NO' TO DRUGS * * * * *
YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD ALL SAY +YES+ TO LIFE BUT + NO+ TO DRUGS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR GORDON MORTIMER, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE 1986-87 KWUN TONG DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS SOCCER TOURNAMENT FINAL AND PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY, MR MORTIMER REMINDED YOUNG PEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD ENCOUNTER VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
♦ AND, AMONG THEM DRUGS MAY BE ONE+, HE SAID, NOTING THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS AIMED AT AROUSING YOUNG PEOPLE'S AWARENESS OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF DRUGS.
WHILE PAYING TRIBUTE TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSES AND SUPPORT TO THE CAMPAIGN, HE APPEALED FOR A CONCERTED EFFORT FROM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE HONG KONG DRUG-FREE.
+ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT AND PRACTICAL PARTICIPATION FROM THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE FORM A SIGNIFICANT PART IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS,+ MR MORTIMER STRESSED.
THE TWO-MONTH-LONG KWUN TONG DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, LAUNCHED LAST DECEMBER, WAS JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) AND THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
MR MORTIMER SAID THE SELECTION OF A SOCCER TOURNAMENT AS THE MAIN ACTIVITY OF THE CAMPAIGN GAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO SPREAD ANT I-NARCOTICS MESSAGES IN AN INFORMAL WAY AND IN RELAXING SURROUNDINGS.
+AND, I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY FOR YOU TO USE YOUR ENERGY,+ HE ADDED.
THROUGH A SERIES OF HARD AND CHALLENGING ROUNDS, LAM TIN (SOUTH) TEAM OUTPLAYED 13 OTHER TEAMS AND EMERGED AS THE CHAMPION.
MEANWHILE YAU TONG TEAM WERE THE FIRST RUNNER-UP AND THE SECOND RUNNER-UP WERE SAU MAU PING (SOUTH) TEAM.
BESIDE THE SOCCER COMPETITION, ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE AFTERNOON WAS PROVIDED BY THE CIVIL AID SERVICES BAND.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY’S EVENT WAS AN INVITATION MATCH BETWEEN THE WINNING TEAM AND THE CELEBRITY TEAM WHICH COMPRISED POPULAR SINGERS, TELEVISION AND MOVIE ARTISTES.
OTHER GUESTS OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WERE CHAIRMAN OF THE KWUN TONG DFCC MR MAU KEI-ON, CHAIRMAN OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MR LAM HANG-FAI, DISTRICT OFFICER (KWUN TONG), MR EDDY CHAN, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN MR LAM KIN-KWOK.
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/2........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
- 2 -
COMPUTER AID IN ASSESSING SOCIAL WORKER MANPOWER SITUATION *****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS INSTALLED A COMPUTER AND IS SETTING UP, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, A +SOCIAL WORK PERSONNEL INFORMATION SYSTEM,+ THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR AT THE CITY POLYTECHNIC ON THE MANPOWER SITUATION OF THE WELFARE FIELD, SHE SAID: +THE SYSTEM AIMS TO IMPROVE THE ASSESSMENT OF THE MANPOWER POLICY AND TO PRODUCE ACCURATE INFORMATION SPEEDILY SO THAT THE POLICY CAN BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE ACTUAL NEEDS.
♦THIS COMPUTERISED SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO OPERATION EARLY NEXT YEAR.+
MRS GOODSTADT NOTED THAT IN 1987-88 THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE GRADUATES WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 162 WHILE THE NUMBER OF NEW POSTS, IN THE DEPARTMENT AND IN THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WOULD TOTAL AROUND 200.
THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF VACANCIES THAT HAD TO BE FILLED, SHE SAID.
+IN THE DEPARTMENT ALONE, THERE ARE ABOUT 100 NEW POSTS AND SOME 50 VACANCIES ARISING FROM RET IREMENT/RESI GNAT ION AT THE ASSISTANT SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (ASWO) GRADE THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED.
♦ IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SUPPLY AND THE DEMAND LEAVING MORE THAT 100 POSTS UNFILLED,+ SHE SAID.
+AS WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RECRUIT ENOUGH ASWO’S NEXT YEAR, WE MUST ADOPT SOME MAKESHIFT MEASURES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SO AS NOT TO AFFECT THE SERVICES WE ARE PLANNING TO DEVELOP.
♦ WE ARE LEFT WITH NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE WITH THE PRACTICE WE IMPLEMENTED IN 1984 TO BRING DOWN THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES, WHICH IS TO RECRUIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF NON-SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES TO FILL THESE ASWO POSTS.
♦ THESE NEW RECRUITS WILL BE ENROLLED IMMEDIATELY IN SPECIAL SOCIAL WORK COURSES ORGANISED FOR THEM BY THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THUS SAFEGUARDING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE,+ SHE SAID.
JUDGING FROM THE EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST TWO TO THREE YEARS, THIS MEASURE HAD PROVEN EFFECTIVE IN SOLVING THE MANPOWER SHORTAGE, SHE SAID.
SHE ADDED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, HAD AGREED THAT THIS FLEXIBLE MEASURE BE CONTINUED.
/+WE WILL
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
- 5 -
+WE WILL CONSIDER ALL OTHER WAYS AND MEANS TO SOLVE THE SHORTAGE PROBLEM BUT THIS INTERIM MEASURE WILL NOT BE RESCINDED UNTIL A BALANCE IS STRUCK BETWEEN THE DEMAND AND THE SUPPLY,+ SHE SAID.
+AT THE SAME TIME, PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES WHEN RECRUITING ASWO’S,+ SHE STRESSED.
ANOTHER CONTINGENCY MEASURE WOULD BE TO SET UP ADDITIONAL SENIOR SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT (SSWA) POSTS TO ALLEVIATE THE ASWO SHORTAGE PROBLEM. AND AT THE SAME TIME, IMPROVE THE PROMOTION PROSPECTS OF THE SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT GRADE, MRS GOODSTADT SAID.
AS FOR THE SOCIAL WORK DIPLOMA-HOLDERS, SHE SAID THE VARIOUS COLLEGES WERE EXPECTED TO TURN OUT AROUND 240 GRADUATES IN 1987-88.
+THE NUMBER OF NEW POSTS AND VACANCIES WILL BE OVER 200, WITH 70-80 IN THE DEPARTMENT AND 150-160 IN THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
+EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CAN BE DESCRIBED AS ADEQUATE FOR DIPLOMA-HOLDERS THIS YEAR,+ SHE SAID.
MRS GOODSTADT ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WELFARE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE MANPOWER SITUATION, PRIORITIES IN APPORTIONING MANPOWER, STAFFING STRUCTURES FOR DIFFERENT SERVICES AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS..
-------o----------
SUPPORT NEEDED FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
*****
,m„££?PER^T 1VE SPIRlT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE WAS IMPORTANT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION toSayE(SJnDA?)NG K°K DISTRICT 0FFICER> MRS BRENDA FUNG, SAID
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE MONG KOK SOUTH AREA COMMITTTE FUN DAY, MRS FUNG SAID THE EFFECTIVE PROMOTION OF THE SCHEME DEPENDED VERY MUCH ON PEOPLE’S CONCERN ABOUT LOCAL AFFAIRS.
„tAND ,T ,S IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO THE GOVERNMENT, SO THAT THEIR NEEDS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT MATTERS,«• SHE SAID. ACCOUNT IN
MRS FUNG PAID TRIBUTE TO MEMBERS OF THE MONG KOK SOUTH AREA “rei!Uh!nF«!ntacIs «§Ms?rg‘nising L0CflL ACTim,ES TO
/+BY ORGANISING
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
4
+BY ORGANISING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES, THE COOPERATIVE SPIRIT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE IS PUT INTO PRACTICE,+ SHE SAID.
MRS FUNG ALSO NOTED THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN LIAISING WITH OTHER LOCAL BODIES AND IN JOINING HANDS WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO STRIVE FOR BETTER WELFARE FOR THE PEOPLE.
SHE URGED THE SOUTH AREA RESIDENTS TO KEEP UP THEIR COOPERATIVE SPIRIT, TO BEAR THE INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AT HEART, AND TO GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS.
THE FUN DAY WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
ABOUT 1 OOO PEOPLE WERE THREATED TO A TWO-HOUR SHOW PRESENTED BY THE SOUTH AREA TAI CHI CLASS, SINGERS, ACROBATS AND MAGICIANS.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS AT THE FUNCTION INCLUDED AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, DR RONALD LEUNG; CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH AREA COMMITTEE, IP CHI-HOI? AND DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR CHOW CHUN-FAI.
-------o---------
MORE PEOPLE FIND JOBS THROUGH LES * * * * *
THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE (LES) OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT PLACED MORE THAN 36 800 PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 15 PER CENT OVER 1985.
AND THE SERVICE WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF 106 000 VACANCIES BY EMPLOYERS LOOKING FOR STAFF, A RISE OF ABOUT 46 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE, MR YEUNG CHI-KIN, SAID IT PROVIDED A FREE PLACEMENT SERVICE HELPING EMPLOYERS TO RECRUIT SUITABLE STAFF AND JOB-SEEKERS TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT.
HE EXPECTED THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES ABOUT WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED WOULD INCREASE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS EMPLOYERS TENDED TO RECRUIT NEW EMPLOYEES AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE SERVICE OPERATES FROM 15 OFFICES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/JOB-SEEKERS CAN
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
- 5
JOB-SEEKERS CAN REGISTER WITH THE OFFICES NEAREST TO THEIR HOMES WHILE EMPLOYERS CAN CONTACT THE OFFICES BY TELEPHONE TO GIVE PARTICULARS OF VACANT POSTS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
+VACANCIES ARE DISPLAYED AT ALL OFFICES OF THE LES WHERE JOB-SEEKERS CAN MAKE THEIR OWN PRELIMINARY SELECTIONS,* MR YEUNG SAID.
♦SUITABLE CANDIDATES WILL ALSO BE SELECTED FROM REGISTERED JOB-SEEKERS FOR INTRODUCTION TO PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS.
♦BUT WHETHER THE EMPLOYER OFFERS EMPLOYMENT TO A CANDIDATE OR WHETHER THE CANDIDATE ACCEPTS THE OFFER IS ENT I RELY-VOLUNTARY FOR BOTH PARTIES.*
LAST YEAR, THE MAJORITY OF THE JOBS HANDLED FELL INTO THREE MAIN OCCUPATION GROUPS: CLERICAL AND RELATED JOBS, SERVICE JOBS, AND PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORT JOBS.
JOB-SEEKERS WHO POSSESS POST-SECONDARY OR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS MAY APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT’S HIGHER EDUCATION EMPLOYMENT SERVICE WHICH OPERATES FROM TWO OFFICES — ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OTHER IN KOWLOON.
MR YEUNG ADDED THAT TO FURTHER IMPROVE ITS SERVIE TO THE PUBLIC, THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE HAD RECENTLY INSTALLED A NEW FACSIMILE SYSTEM WHICH ENSURED THAT VACANCY NOTIFICATIONS ’■/ERE CIRCULATED QUICKLY TO SPEED UP THE PLACEMENT PROCESS.
------0-------
SUGGESTIONS TO DB GET QUICK ACTION *****
A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS BY SOUTHERN DISTRICT RESIDENTS ON A WIDE-RANGE OF DISTRICT MATTERS WERE PROMPTLY DEALT WITH BY THE DISTRICT BOARD. nunriLi utALl
□HOT “SING IHE +MY SUGGESTION TO THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD* ^TGRAMMF SCHEME» CIVIC-MINDED RESIDENTS DREW THE BOARD’S ATTENTION TO VARIOUS PROBLEMS RANGING FROM SEWER BLOCKAGE STRAY DOGS, DAMAGED AMENITY FACILITIES TO ILLEGAL PARKING*
/AFTER RECEIVING
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 198?
6 -
after receiving the complaints, the southern district office CONDUCTED SITE VISITS AND LIAISED WITH RESPECTIVE DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS THE URBAN SERVICES, TRANSPORT AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS AND THE POLICE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THE RESIDENTS WERE ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE PROGRESS OF ACTION TAKEN AND THE OUTCOME.
IN ABERDEEN, A YUE FA I COURT RESIDENTS POINTED OUT THAT THE SITTING-OUT AREA ALONG THE WATERFRONT NEAR THE SLIP ROAD OF THE ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD FLYOVER LACKED ROAD CROSSING FACILITIES.
TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PUT UP TWO +PEDESTRIANS CROSSING AHEAD* SIGNS FOR MOTORISTS.
AN AP LEI CHAU RESIDENT’S COMPLAINT OF A DEFECTIVE SWING IN A SITTING-OUT AREA NEAR THE AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE WAS PROMPTLY ACTED ON BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO TOOK ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THE OPERATOR OF A STORE IN ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD FOR CAUSING OBSTRUCTION.
IN OTHER CASES, RAILINGS WERE PLANTED NEAR THE ENTRANCE OF TIN WAN HILL VILLAGE I TO PREVENT ILLEGAL PARKING AFTER A RESIDENT POINTED OUT THAT LORRIES ILLEGALLY PARKED THERE BLOCKED STREET LIGHTS, AND COULD GIVE RISE TO CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES.
THE URBAN DRAINAGE DIVISION AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TOOK JOINT ACTION TO CLEAR REFUSE AND SILT CLOGGING A GULLY DRAIN IN WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, WHILE THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT CARRIED OUT OPERATIONS TO CATCH STRAY DOGS NEAR WAH LAM PATH, WAH FU ESTATE.
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE POSTGRAMME SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1983 SO THAT RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY THOSE LIVING IN REMOTE AREAS, TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS TO THE BOARD MORE CONVENIENTLY.
THE NUMBER OF POSTGRAMMES RECEIVED BY THE BOARD BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 1985 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 1986 ROSE BY 37 PER CENT TO 168 FROM 122 THE PREVIOUS YEAR AFTER 15 NEW DISTRIBUTION POINTS WERE ESTABLISHED FOR RESIDENTS TO OBTAIN THE POSTAGE FREE postgrammes.
THE 72 DISTRIBUTION POINTS INCLUDE THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES, POST-OFFICES, GOVERNMENT OFFICES, COMMUNITY HALLS, MAJOR BANKS, PETROL STATIONS AND VARIOUS KAlFONG AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION PREMISES.
- 0 - -
/7
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
GOOD EMPLOYMENT PROFILE FOR 1980 Tl GRADUATES * * * *
A RECENT SURVEY SHOWED THAT TECHNICIAN COURSE GRADUATES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WERE EARNING AN AVERAGE MONTHLY INCOME OF $5 659 WITHIN SIX YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, REPRESENTING AN AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE OF 15.6 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS.
THE SURVEY, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND CONDUCTED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, WAS AIMED AT STUDYING THE EMPLOYMENT PROFILE OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED IN 1980 FROM THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
IT SHOWED THAT OF THE 1 767 GRADUATES, ONLY TWO PER CENT WERE UNEMPLOYED AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY, AND OVER 70 PER CENT HAD TAKEN UP PART-TIME STUDIES AFTER GRADUATION.
OF THE EMPLOYED GRADUATES, MOST OF THEM ARE WORKING IN THE MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMERCIAL AND SERVICES TRADES. MOST OF THEM (75 PER CENT) WERE SATISFIED WITH THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT, WORKING HOURS AND JOB NATURE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.
AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY, ABOUT 79 PER CENT OF THE EMPLOYED GRADUATES WERE HOLDING JOBS RELEVANT TO THE COURSES THEY STUDIED IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT MORE STUDIES OF THIS KIND IN THE FUTURE, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE FINDINGS OF SUCH STUDIES ASSIST THE COUNCIL IN FORMULATING TECHNICAL EDUCATION PLANNING BY THROWING LIGHT ON THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF THE GRADUATES AND THE DEGREE OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE BY INDUSTRY ON A LONG-TERM BASIS,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
- - 0 - -
ALERT ELDERLY FOIL DECEPTION ATTEMPTS
*****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS AGAIN URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY RECIPIENTS OF WELFARE BENEFITS, TO BE ON THEIR GUARD AGAINST PEOPLE POSING AS STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE APPEAL FOLLOWS A RECENT SPATE OF DECEPTION ATTEMPTS REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT’S FIELD UNITS IN TO KWA WAN, LAM TIN, WONG TAI SIN AND NGAU TAU KOK.
+IT IS GRATIFYING TO SEE THAT THE PROSPECTIVE VICTIMS, SIX ELDERLY RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANTS, WERE ALL ABLE TO FOIL SUCH ATTEMPTS,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
/HE SAID
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
8 -
he said that special had been made by field staff to advise CLIENTS TO BE ON THE ALERT AND WHEN THEY HAD ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE IDENTITY OF ANY VISITOR CLAIMING TO BE A DEPARTMENT STAFF MEMBER THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH THE FIELD UNIT IMMEDIATELY.
+OUR CLIENTS HAD TAKEN HEED OF THE ADVICE AND SUCCESSFULLY SCARED OFF THE IMPOSTOR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
he pointed out that the common tactic of the impostors was TO OFFER SPECIAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS REFERRAL FOR COMPANSSI ONATE RE-HOUSING, ON THE PAYMENT OF A CERTAIN SUM OF MONEY.
+MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SHOULD NOTED THAT OUR DEPARTMENT, IN offering services, follows well-defined eligibility criteria and ALL SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE,+ HE SAID.
IF WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE IN DOUBT OF THE IDENTITY OF ANY VISITOR CLAIMING TO BE AN SWD STAFF MEMBER, THEY SHOULD CALL THE DISTRICT’S FIELD UNIT OR THE SWD HOTLINE — 3-432255 — IMMEDIATELY.
------0 ------
TALENT QUEST TO PUT ACROSS ’FIGHT CRIME’ MESSAGE * X * * *
THE +FIGHT CR IME+ MESSAGE WILL BE CONVEYED IN VARIOUS PERFORMANCES AT A TALENT QUEST TO BE HELD NEXT SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
PARTICIPANTS OF THE +FIGHT CRIME TALENT COMPETITION+ WILL GIVE SINGING AND DRAMA PERFORMANCES TO PUT ACROSS THE MESSAGE.
WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED TROPHIES AND ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE SOUVENIRS.
THE COMPETITION WILL START AT 7.30 PM AT THE COMMUNITY HALL CF CARITAS, CAINE ROAD, CENTRAL. IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) AND THE COUNCIL OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT SCHOOL HEADS.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE SHOW CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE AT THE GROUND FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 5-8523485.
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/9........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
9
CLOSING OF WAN CHA I CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL * * * * *
WAN CHA| RESIDENTS APPRECIATED THE FINE WORKS OF MOPE THAN ?r PAINTERS AND CALLIGPAPHI STS WHO DEMONSTRATED THE IP SKILLS AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT’S CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL at the MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TODAY (SUNDAY).
THOSE ATTENDING ALSO S«W THE WINNERS OF THE OPEN CHINESE CHESS COMPETITION PLAY A FRIENDLY MATCH WITH EACH OTHER AND ENJOYE ) MUSIC PERFORMED BY A CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY, WAN CHA| DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, SA ID THE FESTIVAL HAD BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING CHINESE CULTURE IN THE DISTRICT AND HOPED THAT SIMILAR activities WOULD BE ORGANISED FOP RESIDENTS IN the FUTURE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHA| DISTRICT BOARD, MR LEE KON, SAID THAT THE FESTIVAL HAD PROVIDED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND HELPED CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING to the DISTRICT.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS AT TODAY’S CEREMONY INCLUDED THE DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MPS PEGGY LAM, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICE0, MISS CAPMAN CHIU.
THE WEEK-LONG CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL WAS ORGANISED BY THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD W|th tml ASSISTANCE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MUSIC OFFICE AND the amateur CHINESE CHESS ASSOCIATION.
- - 0 -
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE
*****
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WITH INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE ARE INVITED TO ENROL IN A FULL-TIME ONE-YEAR TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE AT THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE STARTING IN SEPTEMBER.
THE COURSE IS INTENDED FOR MATURE STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING UP TEACHING AS A PROFESSION AND WHO HAVE ACQUIRED SOME YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING OR TECHAN I CAL ENGINEERING.
APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS A HIGHER DIPLOMA, HIGHER CERTIFICATE OR DIPLOMA IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING OR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, AWARDED BY POLYTECHNICS OR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION.
/INDUCEMENT GRANTS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 198?
INDUCEMENT GRANTS WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS DURING THEIR COURSE OF STUDY AT A MINIMUN OF $1 650 PER MONTH UP TO A MAXIMUN OF $2 500 PER MONTH, CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF RELEVANT POST-QUALIFICATION INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE AT 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI. APPLICANTS MUST HAND IN THE COMPLETED FORMS TO THE COLLEGE BY MARCH 20.
- - 0 -
BOARD TO DISCUSS POWERLINE ALIGNMENT X X X X X
THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, AT A MEETING ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24), WILL DISCUSS THE ALIGNMENT OF A HIGH-VOLTAGE OVERHEAD CABLE TO BE INSTALLED IN THE DISTRICT.
THE 400-KIL0WATT POWERLINE IS ONE OF TWO PROPOSED BY THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LIMITED TO TRANSMIT ELECTRICITY FROM DAYA BAY TO THE NEW TERRITORIES BY EARLY 199O’S.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE APPLICATIONS FOR DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS AND REPORTS BY VARIOUS COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING AT 9.30 AM ON TUESDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE TAI PO COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 152-172 KWONG FUK ROAD.
- 0 - -
/11
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
11
WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FUN FAIR
* * * *
ABOUT 2 OOO CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS HAD AN AFTERNOON OF FUN AND GAMES AT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S 25TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CHILDREN’S PARTY TODAY (SUNDAY).
ORGANISED FOR CHILDREN OF WATERWORKS STAFF, the PARTY WAS HELD AT WAH YAN COLLEGE, KOWLOON.
THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED AT LION DANCE, ACROBATIC AND MAGlC SHOWS, SONGS AND DANCE, AND COMPETITIVE EVENTS.
FOURTEEN GAMES STALLS WERE ORGANISED BY VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
MR TOMLINSON PRESENTED TROPHIES TO WINNERS OF THE GAMES STALLS COMPETITION.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR K.L. WONG, ALSO OFFICIATED AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
EACH CHILD WAS GIVEN A GIFT PARCEL AND A RED PACKET.
THE AFTERNOON FUN FAIR CONCLUDED WITH A RAFFLE DRAW.
-----0------
CONTRACTS FOR TEMPORARY MARKET AWARDED
*****
TWO CONTRACTS AMOUNTING TO $460 623 HAVE BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR BUILDING SERVICES WORK AT TAI KOK TSUI TEMPORARY MARKET.
ONE OF THE CONTRACTS IS FOR SUPPLYING AND INSTALLING ELECTRICAL FACILITIES, WHILE THE OTHER IS FOR SUPPLYING AND INSTALLING A MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM.
THE MARKET OCCUPIES A 6 700-SQUARE-METRE SITE BOUNDED BY TA। KOK TSUI ROAD, FUK TSUN STREET AND IVY STREET, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER.
FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE MEAT, FISH AND POULTRY STALLS, 195 MINI-STALLS AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES.
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/12........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1987
12
DISCUSSION ON REVISED LAYOUT PLAN
*****
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24) TO DISCUSS A REVISED LAYOUT PLAN FOR JORDAN VALLEY NORTH PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO OPEN MEETINGS OF THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE REPORTS FROM CHAIRMEN OF THE BOARD'S COMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS AND FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY IN THE THIRD FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING IN TUNG YAN STREET.
-----o--------
TO KWA WAN WATER CUT * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN (FEBRUARY 25) FOR MAINS
TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TO KWA WAN WILL HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 4 PM ON WEDNESDAY WORK.
PREMISES BOUNDED BY TO KWA WAN KWEI CHOW STREET AND LOK SHAN ROAD
ROAD, MEI KING STREET, WILL BE AFFECTED.
-------o ---------
LEFT-TURN BAN TO CONTINUE
*****
THE EXISTING RESTRICTION STREET EASTBOUND TO SAI YEUNG FORCE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THIS COMPLETED.
ON LEFT-TURN MOVEMENT FROM BOUNDARY CHOI STREET NORTH WILL REMAIN IN
YEAR WHEN ROAD WORK IN THE AREA IS
MOTORISTS WISHING TO GAIN ACCESS CHOI STREET, NORTH OF BOUNDARY STREET ROAD SOUTHBOUND AND POPLAR STREET.
TO THE NORTHSIDE OF SAI YEUNG SHOULD TRAVEL VAI TAI PO
-------o----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PREMATURE TO DISCUSS WHITE PAPER NOW, SIR DAVID ............... 1
FS TO PRESENT BUDGET WEDNESDAY ................................ 2
SIR DAVID TO OPEN COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE ................... 3
HOLMES TO OPEN NEW FIRE SERVICES HQ.......................... 4
SOUTHERN SEEKS SUPPORT FOR YOUDE FUND ......................... 5
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED IN KOWLOON CITY .................... 5
TOWN PARK PLANNED FOR YUEN LONG ............................... 6
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS TOMORROW......... 7
HAMMOND INSPECTS FOOD PRODUCTION PLANT ........................ 7
SCREENING PLANT BEING BUILT aT NORTH POINT .................... 8
MORE STUDY ROOMS AVAILABLE IN KWUN TONG ....................... 9
REST GARDEN BEING BUILT TOR SAU MAU PING ...................... 9
FOSTER CARE UNIT OFFICE MOVES ................................ 10
WATER STORAGE FIGURE ....................................... 10
PERMANENT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHSUNG SHUI ........................ 10
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
1
PREMATURE TO DISCUSS WHITE PAPER NOW, SIR DAVID
*****
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, STRESSED THIS (MONDAY) EVENING THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE AND FAR TOO EARLY NOW TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE WHITE PAPER ON POLITICAL REVIEW.
HE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER ATTENDING A SPRING RECEPTION OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
HE SAID: +1 THINK THE NEXT THING IS THE ISSUE OF THE GREEN PAPER, AND THEN, HOPEFULLY, A GOOD PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, AND THEN THE WHITE PAPER. BUT TO START PUBLIC DEBATE NOW ABOUT WHEN PRECISELY THE WHITE PAPER IS GOING TO COME OUT -- IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE PREMATURE.
♦WE'LL PUBLISH THE WHITE PAPER WHEN WE ARE READY AND WHEN THE PUBLIC DEBATE IS COMPLETE. BUT AS I SAID, THE THING NOW IS REALLY, AS A COMMUNITY, TO THINK ABOUT THE GREEN PAPER AND, WHEN IT’S PUBLISHED, TO COMPARE OUR REACTIONS TO IT, THEN WE HAVE THE WHITE PAPER. WE MUST PUBLISH THE WHITE PAPER AT THE RIGHT TIME.
+IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED IN 1988, THAT THE WHITE PAPER IS PUBLISHED IN SUFFICIENT TIME AND TO ALLOW FOR THE LEGISLATION AND THE CHANGES TO BE PUT IN PLACE.
♦THESE ARE THE IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER REALLY IN THE TIMING. AND I’M SURE THAT IT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN TIME FOR ALL THOSE CHANGES, IF THERE ARE TO BE CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE,* HE SAID.
ASKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WHITE PAPER AND THE TIMING OF THE BASIC LAW, SIR DAVID SAID THE TWO PROCESSES OF CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE GOING ALONG AT THE SAME TIME AND THE RELATIONSHIP WAS QUITE OBVIOUS.
+THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF THE EQUATION IS THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
SIR DAVID ADDED THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE TIMING OF THE BASIC LAW WHILE CONSIDERING WHEN TO PUBLISH THE WHITE PAPER.
♦ THE TWO THINGS ARE SEPARATE, BUT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE THE COMMON DENOMINATOR AND THE CONSULTATION IS GOING ALONG AT THE SAME TIME.*
- - 0 - -
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
2
FS TO PRESENT BUDGET WEDNESDAY M- * * M-
HONG KONG’S BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1987-88 WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25).
THE PROCEEDINGS WILL START AT 2.30 PM, WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, MOVES THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1987 AND OUTLINES HONG KONG’S ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1987-88.
THE ESTIMATED HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE BILL TO BE PUBLISHED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE THE SAME AFTERNOON.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH 18 AND 19, WHEN MEMBERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.
ON APRIL 1 AND 2 OFFICIALS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY MEMBERS.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL ON MAY 6.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE ' BROADCAST LIVE OVER RTHK’S RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).
RTHK WILL ALSO BROADCAST LIVE THE OTHER BUDGET SITTINGS ON MARCH 18 AND 19, APRIL 1 AND 2 AND MAY 6 ON RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).
THE BUDGET SITTINGS WILL ALSO BE COVERED, IN NORMAL NEWSCASTS AND BULLETINS OF RTHK, COMMERCIAL RADIO, HK-TVB AND ATV.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
GIS WILL PROVIDE FACILITIES ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25) TO ENABLE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO START WORK ON THEIR BUDGET STORIES EARLY IN THE DAY. MEDIA ORGANISATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO NOTE THAT NO PART OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET SPEECH OR BUDGET RELATED DOCUMENTS WHICH THEY HAVE OBTAINED IN ADVANCE IS TO BE PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST BEFORE IT IS DELIVERED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
FROM 10.45 AM ON WEDNESDAY, MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT THE FIRST, BACKGROUND, PART OF THE SPEECH AT THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL.
/THOLE WHO .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2J, 1987
- 3 -
THOSE WHO WISH MAY STAY TO WORK ON THEIR COPIES. AT 12.30 PM, THERE WILL BE A CLOSED WORKING SESSION AT THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM WHEN THOSE WHO THEMSELVES CHOOSE TO REMAIN WILL BE GIVEN THE SECOND PART OF THE SPEECH, WHICH CONTAINS THE REVENUE PROPOSALS. THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE ROOM UNTIL AFTER THE FINANCIL SECRETARY HAS CONCLUDED HIS SPEECH.
OFFICERS FROM THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH AND FINANCE BRANCH WILL BE PRESENT FROM 11 AM TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION WHICH MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE ON THE BACKGROUND TO THE SPEECH.
LIGHT REFRESHMENTS HAND TO OFFER HELP.
WILL BE SERVED AND GlS OFFICERS WILL BE ON
0
SIR DAVID TO OPEN COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE
*****
THE COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WHICH CAME INTO OPERATION LAST DECEMBER, WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
LOCATED IN HOK YUEN STREET, HUNG HOM, IT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH A SA.5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE MACLEHOSE FUND AS ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MEASURES TO PROMOTE COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.
THE CENTRE SERVES AS A TRAINING AND RESOURCE CENTRE FOR TEACHERS OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND THEIR PEERS IN OTHER SCHOOL SUBJECTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN USING COMPUTERS IN CLASSROOM TEACHING.
THE CENTRE IS EQUIPPED WITH A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF MICROCOMPUTERS, EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE PACKAGES, CONTROL TECHNOLOGY DEVICES, AND A RANGE OF ELECTRONIC AND AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT FOR TRAINING AND RESEARCH PURPOSES.
THERE ARE TWO BASIC TRAINING UNITS AT THE CENTRE. THE FIRST CONDUCTS ADVANCED COURSES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF COMPUTER STUDIES AND THE SECOND UNIT OFFERS COMPUTER AWARENESS AND LITERACY COURSES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TEACHERS OF OTHER SUBJECTS.
/THE CENTRE........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2J, 1987
4
THE CENTRE HAS A SEPARATE UNIT TO ORGANISE COURSES AND SEMINARS ON COMPUTER CONTROL TECHNOLOGY. THE UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH ROBOTS, BUGGIES, COMMUNICATION DEVICES, PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS, SUPPORTING SOFTWARE PACKAGES AND COMPUTERS FOR TEACHERS TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS.
IT ALSO HAS A SOFTWARE REVIEW UNIT PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR THE REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER ASSISTED INSTRUCTIONS OR COMPUTER ASSISTED LEARNING PACKAGES FOR USE IN CLASSROOM TEACHING.
IN ADDITION, THERE IS A LIBRARY TO PROVIDE REFERENCE MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND TEACHER-MEMBERS OF THE CENTRE. IT IS STOCKED WITH A COLLECTION OF BOOKS AND JOURNALS ON COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.
SINCE IT CAME INTO OPERATION LAST DECEMBER, THE CENTRE HAS BEEN OFFERING A SERIES OF SHORT COURSES ON COMPUTER AWARENESS FOR 150 SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE AT 19 HOK YUEN STREET, HUNG HOM, KOWLOON, AT 3 PM ON THURSDAY.
------o-------
HOLMES TO OPEN NEW FIRE SERVICES HQ
X X * X *
THE FIRST PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES.
THE $70 MILLION BUILDING, LOCATED AT 1 HONG CHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, HAS BEEN BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE A MAXIMUM OF 3 000 STAFF.
THE OPENING WILL REPRESENT A MILESTONE FOR MR HOLMES, WHO WILL BE RETIRING TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS’ SERVICE IN HONG KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
AT 11 AM ON
YOU ARE INVITED
TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY
THURSDAY AND TO TAKE PART IN A CONDUCTED TOUR OF THE FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS BUILDING AT 1 HONG CHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST.
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/5........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
- 5 -
southern seeks support for youde fund
*****
the southern district board is appealling to district bodies
AND RESIDENTS ORGANISATIONS TO SUPPORT THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND.
THE BOARD HAS SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO CO-ORDINATE FUND RAISING EFFORTS AND ITS DONATION DRIVE WILL LAST UNTIL THE END OF APRIL.
LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO THE DISTRICT’S SIX AREA COMMITTEES AND MORE THAN 250 LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS, FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BODIES.
WILL
MORE
IN THE LETTER, THE WORKING GROUP CHAIRMAN, MR ALBERT POON URGE RESIDENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORTHY CAUSE SO THAT ’ YOUNG PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE HIGHER
EDUCATION.
RESIDENTS MAY MAKE OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICES RECEIPTS WILL BE ISSUED RECEIPT CAN PLACE THEIR
DONATIONS THROUGH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT IN ABERDEEN CENTRE, WAH FU AND STANLEY. AND RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT REQUIRE A DONATIONS IN BOXES AT THE THREE OFFICES.
♦ALL DONATIONS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, ARE WELCOME + MR POON ADDS.
SPOKESMAN SAID THE DISTRICT HAS FROM RESIDENTS. A NUMBER OF FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR
A SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE ALREADY RECEIVED ABOUT «121 000 SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO OBTAINED BOXES COLLECTING DONATIONS.
-------o --------
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES CLEARED IN KOWLOON CITY
*****
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CLEARANCE OPERATION TO REMOVE 27 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND 11 OVERSIZED CANOPIES IN REAR LANES IN HUNG HOM AREA BEGAN TODAY (MONDAY).
THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND CANOPIES IN EIGHT REAR LANES ARE BOUNDED BY PAK KUNG STREET, SHUN YUNG STREET, WO CHUNG STREET, FAT KWONG STREET AND MA TAU WAI ROAD.
THE OPERATION, EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY TOMORROW (TUESDAY), IS CO-ORDINATED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AND JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
/AMONG THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 6 -
AMONG THE STRUCTURES CLEARED, FIVE WERE USED FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSE, WHILE 22 WERE FOR STORAGE AND COMMERCIAL USES.
SIX FAMILIES COMPRISING 13 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE OPERATION HAVE BEEN OFFERED REHOUSING IN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AND PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCKS.
THE TWO-DAY CLEARANCE IS PART OF AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT’S ENVIRONMENT.
SINCE THE PROGRAMME STARTED IN 1982, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE HAS CARRIED OUT 44 CLEARANCE OPERATIONS TO REMOVE ABOUT 500 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN REAR LANES TOGETHER WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
------0-------
TOWN PARK PLANNED FOR YUEN LONG
* * * * *
A 7.6-HECTARE TOWN PARK IS TO BE BUILT AT YUEN LONG TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
MAJOR FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE TWO LAKES, A PAGODA, CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA, TERRACE GARDEN AND RAVINE GARDEN, A PERFORMING AREA WITH COVERED STAGE AND THREE SOCCER PITCHES.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN SEPTEMBER AND BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1989.
TO FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOWN PARK, AT SHU I NGAU LING, ALL EXISTING ROADS, TRACKS AND FOOTPATHS WITHIN THE WORKS AREA ARE TO BE CLOSED BEFORE BEING DEMOLISHED AND LATER REPLACE BY A COMPREHENSIVE NEW FOOTWAY SYSTEM AND EIGHT MINOR FOOTBRIDGES.
MAJOR FOOTWAYS WHICH CAN BE USED AS ACCESS FOR EMERGENCY AND SERVICE VEHICLES WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED.
THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR ACCESS TO THE SCOUT HALL NEARBY WILL BE MAINTAINED.
TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN ACCESS WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE WAR MEMORIAL ON TWO DAYS EACH MAY AND TO THE CLAN GRAVES AND THE KAM TAP AREA DURING THE CHING MING AND CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVALS.
ON COMPLETION OF THE WORKS, PERMANENT ACCESS TO THE SCOUT HALL, WAR MEMORIAL, CLAN GRAVES AND KAM TAP AREA WILL BE AVAILABLE.
DETAILS OF THE ROAD WORKS IN THE AFFECTED AREA ARE GIVEN IN THE LATEST GAZETTE.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT SHOULD REACH THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT BY APRIL 21.
0 --------
/7........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
7
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS TOMORROW
*****
AT A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD TOMORROW (TUESDAY), MEMBERS WILL RAISE QUESTIONS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES CAUSED BY COOKED FOOD STALLS AND ADVERTISING POSTERS PUT UP ON WALLS OUTSIDE COMMERCIAL PREMISES.
QUESTIONS WILL ALSO ASKED REGARDING VACANT COOKED FOOD STALLS IN LOCKHART ROAD MARKET AND THE SETTING UP OF A BUILDING MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION TEAM IN THE DISTRICT.
THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE EIGHTH FLOOR OF TUNG WAH MANSION AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD AT 4 PM.
THOSE INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON 5-8921239 TO RESERVE A SEAT.
THE PUBLIC IS ALSO WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD : COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE ON MARCH 3 AT 4 PM ! TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ON MARCH 10 AT 4 PM; AND THE CULTURE AND RECREATION COMMITTEE ON MARCH 17 AT 4 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AT 4 PM TOMORROW.
- - 0 -
HAMMOND INSPECTS FOOD PRODUCTION PLANT
*****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, SPENT THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON VISITING A LARGE FOOD PRODUCTION FACTORY --THE GARDEN COMPANY — AT SHAM TSENG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE WAS GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY THE COMPANY’S MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR STEPHEN CHEUNG, AND WAS SHOWN AROUND THE BUN AND BISCUIT PLANTS WHERE PRODUCTION IS FULLY MECHANISED.
DURING THE TOUR, MR HAMMOND LEARNED THAT THE COMPANY EMPLOYED AROUND 1 600 WORKERS AND MAINTAINED GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS THROUGH JOINT CONSULTATION.
/HE WAS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2J, 1987
- 8 -
HE WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE COMPANY HAD SET UP A SAFETY COMMITTEE COMPRISING A SAFETY OFFICER AND SUPERVISORS OF DIFFERENT LINES OF PRODUCTION, TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AMONG WORKERS.
BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS VISIT, MR HAMMOND HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE MANAGEMENT ON A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING LABOUR LAWS, LABOUR RELATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MATTERS.
THE VISIT WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES THIS YEAR TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER TO FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND LABOUR SCENE.
-------0 ---------
SCREENING PLANT
BEING BUILT AT NORTH POINT * * * * *
WORK ON CONSTRUCTING A SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT AT HEALTHY STREET WEST, NORTH POINT, HAS STARTED FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF A #17.35 MILLION CONTRACT BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
DESIGNED TO SERVE 370 000 PEOPLE, THE PLANT WILL PROVIDE SCREENING AND DEGRITTING FACILITIES BEFORE DISCHARGE INTO THE HARBOUR VIA A NEW MULTI-PORT SUBMARINE OUTFALL OFF HEALTHY STREET WEST.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES BUILDING AN INLET PUMPING STATION, SCREENING CHAMBERS, GRIT TRAPS, PLANT HOUSE, A TRANSFORMER HOUSE, AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ANCILLARY STRUCTURES, LANDSCAPING, AND ASSOCIATED PIPEWORKS AND ROADWORKS.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE TWO YEARS. THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE QUALITY OF WATER OFF NORTH POINT AND NEIGHBOURING AREA BEING MUCH IMPROVED.
- 0 -
/9........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
MORE STUDY ROOMS AVAILABLE IN KWUN TONG
*****
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD WILL OPEN FOUR TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS BETWEEN MARCH 1 AND MAY 31 FOR STUDENTS TO PREPARE FOR EXAMINATIONS.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, MR LI WAH-MING, SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROVISION OF STUDY ROOM PLACES IN THE DISTRICT AND MEMBERS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES FOR STUDENTS DURING THE EXAMINATION PERIOD.
THE FOUR STUDY ROOMS ARE THE ZION YOUTH SERVICES CENTRE IN KO CHIU ROAD ESTATE (3-492957), CARITAS SOCIAL CENTRE IN NGAU TAU KOK (3-75O27O7), THE SALVATION ARMY-LOK WAH CHILDREN YOUTH CENTRE (3-7580480) AND THE HONG KONG EVANGELICAL CHURCH-KO CHIU READING CENTRE (3-405489).
FOR DETAILS OF THE OPENING DAYS AND HOURS STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE FOUR STUDY ROOMS.
THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS ALLOCATED $24 400 TO LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR PROVIDING THE TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS FOR STUDENTS. THIS PRACTICE HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY THE BOARD SINCE 1983.
REST GARDEN BEING BUILT FOR SAU MAU PING
*****
A REST GARDEN COVERING AN AREA OF 4 200 SQUARE METRES IS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT HlU KWONG STREET TO MEET THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF RESIDENTS OF SAU MAU PING-
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $1.41 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE TWO PAVILIONS, ARBOURS, PLANTERS, A CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA WITH PLAY EQUIPMENT AND A STORE ROOM. AN AUTOMATIC LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED.
THERE WILL BE FIVE ENTRANCES TO THE REST GARDEN ON THE SIDE OF HlU KWONG STREET. BOLLARDS WILL BE ERECTED AT EACH ENTRANCE.
CONSTRUCTION WILL START EARLY NEXT MONTH AND TAKE EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
o
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1987
FOSTER CARE UNIT OFFICE MOVES
*****
the central foster unit of the social welfare DEPARTMENT has MOVED FROM WAN CHAI TO ITS NEW OFFICE ON SECOND FLOOR, ODEON BUILDING, 28 SHU KUK STREET, NORTH POINT.
THE OFFICE BEGAN OPERATIONS TODAY (MONDAY). THE NEW TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: 5-618651, 5-618946 AND 5-618504.
- - 0 -
WATER STORAGE FIGURE
*****
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 56.6 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 331.606 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 355.830 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 60.7 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - o - -
PERMANENT ROAD CLOSURE IN SHEUNG SHU I
*****
THE SECTION OF ROAD Al BETWEEN CALTEX PETROL STATION AND JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN SHEUNG SHU I WILL BE CLOSED PERMANENTLY FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE NEW ROAD 601 AND ROAD L^ TO REJOIN JOCKEY CLUB ROAD.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DIRECTORATE PAY LEVEL SURVEY................................... 1
CALL FOR DATA PROTECTION CODE OF PRACTICE ..................... 6
TAG SUPPORTS PROPOSED NT TAXI RESTRICTION ..................... 8
NEW DISTRICT OFFICER FOR EASTERN APPOINTED .................... 9
LOOKING AT EASTERN DISTRICT CLEARANCE OPERATION ............... 9
PUPILS GET LESSON IN MaRINE OPERATIONS ....................... 10
SOUTHERN DB TO REPORT ON YEAR'S WORK ......................... 10
YAU MA TEI RECEIVES 58 MILLION FOR YOUDE FUND ................ 11
WORK TO START ON PUBLIC WORKS CENTRA UiJORaTORY .............. 12
CLOSURE ORDERS SOUGHT FOR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ................. 1}
DANCE CONTEST WINNERS TO PERFORM aT CITY HaLL ................ 14
SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED ........... 14
UK OFFERS OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWaRDS .................. 15
VMO THROUGHPUT UP BY 17 PER CENT ............................. 16
technical institutes to stage open days ...................... 17
BUS TERMINUS BEING BUILT aT BUSY JUNCTION .................. 17
KWAI TSING HOLDING COURSES IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT ............ 18
WAN CH.il PREPaRES FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME................. 19
NORTH DB TO CONSIDER POWERLINE PROPOSALS ..................... 19
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY CULTURAL PLaNS ......................... 20
DB TO DISCUSS LaNTAU ACCESS ROAD.............................. 20
KOWLOON CITY PL^NS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMINTS ................ 21
COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP ...........*....... 21
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN TUEN MUN, TSIM SHa TSUI .................. 22
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1917
1
■tRECTORATE PAY LEVEL SURVEY
*****
HAY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS HAVE COMPLETES A PAY LEVEL SURVEY COMPARING THE REMUNERATION, INCLUB I NG BOTH SALARIES ANB FRINGE BENEFITS. OF BIRECTORATE OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WITH THAT OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT LEVEL EMPLOYEES IN SELECTEB PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES IN HONG KONG AS AT AUGUST 31, 1906.
THE FRINGE BENEFITS INCLUBEB IN THE SURVEY ARE RETIREMENT BENEFITS. BEATH ANB BISABILITY BENEFITS. HOUSING BENEFITS, MEBICAL BENEFITS. BENTAL BENEFITS, LEAVE PASSAGES, TRANSPORTATION, LEAVE ANB OTHER MISCELLANEOUS BENEFITS.
A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN INDICATED TOBAY (TUESDAY) THAT THE METHODOLOGY USEB BY HAY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS WAS THE SAME AS THAT USEB FOR THE NON-BI RECTORATE PAY LEVEL SURVEY. IN ADDITION. THE SAME PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES WERE INVITES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BIRECTORATE SURVEY ANB TO PROVIBE BETAILS OF JOBS ANB REMUNERATION OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
BATA BASE
ABOUT 400 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS AT THE BIRECTORATE EQUIVALENT LEVEL ANB 63 BIRECTORATE POSTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WERE SURVEYED. FORTY-EIGHT COMPANIES PROVIBEB INFORMATION ON JOBS ANB REMUNERATION AT LEVELS EQUIVALENT TO THE LOWER ENB OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BlRECTORATE.
INFORMATION FROM BIRECTORATE POINT 3 EQUIVALENT UPWARBS BECAME INCREASINGLY INADEQUATE TO ENABLE RELIABLE COMPARISONS TO BE MABE. AS A RESULT MAY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR ASSESSMENT OF MORE SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR USING BATA FROM THE ♦ KAY 1906 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SURVEY* CARRIED OUT SEPARATELY BY THE CONSULTANTS THEMSELVES IN OCTOBER 1906 FOR THEIR OWN CLIENT GROUPS IN HONG KONG COVERING ABOUT 200 POSITIONS IN 21 COMPANIES.
THE RESULTS
COMPARING LOCAL DIRECTORATE OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WITH LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES OCCUPYING SENIOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS, HAY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS HAVE REPORTEC THAT ACCORDING TO INFORMATION PROVIDED BY COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY -
/(A) directorate point
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2^, 1?8?
2 -
(A)
(B)
DIRECTORATE POINT 1 BASE SALARIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE ON THE UPPER QUARTILE M PRACTICE LINE OF THOSE PRIVATE COMPANIES SURVEYED. THE CIVIL SERVICE Bl TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE (THAT IS TO SAY. SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS TAKEN TOGETHER) IS ABOVE THE UPPER QUARTILE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES SURVEYED. DEI NO HIGHER BY ABOUT 25 PER CENT.
(K THE UPPER QUARTILE (Q3) IS DRAWN SUCH THAT 25 PER GENT OF THE PARTICIPATING COMPANIES* PRACTICES ARE ABOVE THE LINE AND 75 PER CENT ARE BELOW.)
DIRECTORATE POINT 2 BASE SALARIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE UPPER QUARTILE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES SURVEYED. THE CIVIL SERVICE D2 TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE IS ABOVE THE UPPER QUARTILE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES SURVEYED. BEING HIGHER BY ABOUT 29 PER CENT.
AS REQRADS DIRECTORATE POINT 3 UPWARDS AND ACCORDING T® INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PRIVATE COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE HAY 1986 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER SURVEY, THE CONSULTANTS HAVE REPORTED THAT -
(C) DIRECTORATE POINT 3 BASE SALARIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE ON THE AVERAGE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES. THE CIVIL SERVICE D3 TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE IS ABOUT 4 PER CENT BELOW THE AVERAGE PRACTICE LINE FOR LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES.
(THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FEW COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY GIVES THE UPPER QUARTILE FOR BOTH BASE SALARIES ANB THE TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR THIS GROUP OF CIVIL SERVANTS).
(D) DIRECTORATE POINT 4 BASE SALARIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE ON THE AVERAGE PRACTICE LINE OF THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES. THE TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR THI3 GROUP OF LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS IS ABOUT 15 PER CENT BELOW THE AVERAGE OF THESE COMPANIES.
(THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE FEW COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY GIVES UPPER QUARTILE FOR BOTH BASE SALARIES AND THE TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR THIS GROUP OF CIVIL SERVANTS).
/(E) DIRECTORATE POINT .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2A, 1987
- 3 -
(E) DIRECTORATE POINT 5 BASE SALARIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ARE SLIGHTLY BELOW THE AVERAGE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES. DIRECTORATE POINT 6 BASE SALARIES ARE ABOUT 15 PER CENT BELOW THE AVERAGE PRACTICE UNE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES. THERE IS INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON THE TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR LOCAL EMPLOYEES AT THESE LEVELS IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO ENABLE A PROPER COMPARISON TO BE MADE.
(THE PRIVATE COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON LOCAL EMPLOYEES TO ENABLE EVEN A CRUDE COMPARISON TO BE MADE WITH THE CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTORATE D5 AND D6).
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE REPORTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY GROUP OF PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT -
(I) THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCAL DIRECTORATE OFFICERS* TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGES AND THOSE OF SENIOR LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES IS THE SCALE OF HOUSING BENEFITS AND, TO A LESSER EXTENT, OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS GIVEN TO CIVIL SERVANTS.
(II) THERE IS A RANGE OF VALUABLE FRINGE BENEFITS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO SOME LOCAL EMPLOYEES IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN THOSE AVAILABLE TO THE CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTORATE, AND SOME ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL.
TABLES 1 AND 2 BELOW GIVE THE POSITION IN SUMMARY FORM -
TABLE 1
SALARIES
(LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVICES COMPARED WITH LOCAL AND EXPATRIATE STAFF IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES)
CIVIL SERVICE
SALARY POINT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OR EQUIVALENT PAY LEVEL SURVEY OFFICER SURVEY
D6 - QI**
D5 “ AV
BA *Q3 ............... AV
D3 *03 ............... AV
/D2 Q3 ..........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 198?
- 4
82
Q3
Bl
Q3
(*
(MM
SEE PARAGRAPH A ABOVE)
the lower quartile (qi) is drawn such that 75 PER CENT OF THE PARTICIPATING COMPANIES’ PRACTICES ARE ABOVE THE LINE AND 25 PER CENT BELOW.)
TABLE 2
TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE
(LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS COMPARED WITH LOCAL STAFF IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES)
CIVIL SERVICE
SALARY POINT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OR EQUIVALENT PAY LEVEL SURVEY OFFICER SURVEY
D6 -
B5 04 MQ3 ♦ AV -
D3 MQ3 ♦ AV
D2 Q3 +
DI Q3 ♦
(M SEE PARAGRAPH 3 ABOVE)
EXPATRIATE EMPLOYEES
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE ALSO REPORTEB THAT -
(A)
WHEN COMPARED WITH AN EXPATRIATE EMPLOYEE’S TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES. THE LOCAL DIRECTORATE OFFICER’S TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE IS GENERALLY AT OR BELOW THE LOWER QUARTILE PRACTICE LINE OF THE PRIVATE COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN THE TWO SURVEYS (SEE SUMMARY TABLE 3 BELOW).
/(B) AN EXPATRIATE ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
(B)
5
AN EXPATRIATE DIRECTORATE OFFICER’S TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE IS ROUGH-Y BETWEEN THE AVERAGE PRACTICE LINE ANB THE LOWER QUARTILE PRACTICE line of the private companies participating IN THE TWO SURVEYS (SEE SUMMARY TABLE 4 BELOW).
TABLE 3
TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE
(LOCAL CIVIL SERVANTS COMPAREb'wITH EXPATRIATE STAFF IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES)
CIVIL SERVICE SALARY POINT CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OR EQUIVALENT PAY LEVEL SURVEY OFFICER SURVEY
B6 * Ql-
B5 Ql-
04 QI Qi-
D3 QI ....... 01-
D2 Qi
DI Ql «■»
TABLE 4
TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE
(EXPATRIATE CIVIL SERVANTS COMPARES WITH EXPATRIATE STAFF IN THE PRIVATE COMPANIES)
CIVIL SERVICE SALARY POINT OR EQUIVALENT
CHIEF EXECUTIVE PAY LEVEL SURVEY OFFICER SURVEY
B6
QI
>5
AV-
AV-
QI
/DJ AV
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2'f, 1987
- 6 -
B3 AV ................... QI
B2 AV
CONSULTANTS' GENERAL OBSERVATIONS
THE CONSULTANTS HAVE ALSO OBSERVEB IN THEIR REFORT ON THE BIRECTORATE FAY LEVEL SURVEY THAT THE UPFER QUARTILE BASE SALARY PRACTICE FOR BIRECTORATE SALARY POINTS Bl TO DA IN THE PAY LEVEL SURVEY GROUP OF PRIVATE COMPANIES HAY BE REOARBEB AS APPROPRIATE IN ORBER TO ATTRACT ANB RETAIN SENIOR LOCAL
OFFICERS IN COMPETITION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. PARTICULARLY WITH THE FINANCIAL SECTOR WHERE THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE AVERAGE BASE SALARY PRACTICE APPROXIMATES TO THE UPPER QUARTILE PRACTICE FOR THE INDUSTRIAL ANB COMMERCIAL SECTORS.
NEXT STEPS
THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN INBICATEB THAT HAY MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS’ REPORT ON THE DIRECTORATE PAY LEVEL
SURVEY IS BEING SUBMITTED TO THE STANBINQ COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES ANB CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR CONSIDERATION AND ADVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
-------0---------
CALL FOR DATA PROTECTION CODE OF PRACTICE
*****
A SET OF DATA PROTECTION CODE OF PRACTICE SHOULD BE COMPILED AND PUBLISHED FOR OBSERVANCE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEFORE LEGISLATION WAS ENACTED IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, MR JAMES SO, PROPOSED THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
ADDRESSING THE LIONS CLUB DINNER MEETING, MR SO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE CODE OF PRACTICE WOULD HAVE NO SANCTIONARY POWERS, THE PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS COULD HEIGHTEN THEIR AWARENESS CF THE NEED TO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA STORED IN THEIR COMPUTERS THROUGH OBSERVANCE OF THE CODE.
/THEY COULD .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
THEY COULD ALSO TAKE EARLY ACTION TO IMPLEMENT APPROPRIATE MEASURES SO THAT BY THE TIME THE LEGISLATION CAME INTO FORCE, THEY WOULD BE FULLY PREPARED FOR THE REQUIREMENTS EXPECTED OF THEM, HE ADDED.
MR SO NOTED THAT THE WORKING GROUP ON DATA PROTECTION WAS SET UP IN MAY 1983 TO FORMALLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE WAKE OF PROLIFERATION OF COMPUTER APPLICATIONS.
AFTER EXAMINING THE PRINCIPLES ENSHRINED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DATA PROTECTION ACT 1984, THE WORKING GROUP TOOK THE VIEW THAT WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS, THE PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE ADOPTED IN HONG KONG.
THE GROUP ALSO STUDIED THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS OPERATED IN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
+IT SUBSEQUENTLY CONCLUDED THAT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SHOULD EE MADE AWARE OF THE DATA PROTECTION PRINCIPLES AND ACCORDINGLY A CIRCULAR SETTING OUT THE PRINCIPLES WAS ISSUED TO ALL DEPARTMENTS IN SEPTEMBER 1985 FOR OBSERVANCE UNDER APPROPRIATE CIRCUMSTANCES.
+IN ADDITION, SOME ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES WERE ALSO ATTACHED TO THE CIRCULAR TO FACILITATE DEPARTMENTS IN IMPLEMENTING MEASURES TO COMPLY WITH THE PRINCIPLES,* MR SO SAID.
AS REGARDS THE SITUATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, FOUR COMPUTER AND RELATED PERSONNEL WERE INVITED TO HELP WITH THE REVIEW AND A SURVEY INVOLVING 51 PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WAS CONDUCTED IN EARLY 1985.
RESULTS PROPOSED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY TO OVERSEE THE WORKINGS OF THE LEGISLATION AND TO PUBLISH ITS FINDINGS OF CASES OF NON-COMPLIANCE.
MR SO SAID THAT THE WORKING GROUP HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED ITS EXAMINATION AND A REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT LAST SEPTEMBER TO FACILITATE CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER LEGISLATION FOR DATA PROTECTION WAS REQUIRED IN HONG KONG.
+A POLICY DECISION WILL SOON BE MADE HAVING DUE REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT COULD COME UP WITH A SET OF LEGISLATION MOST SUITABLE TO HONG KONG, VARIOUS PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS INVOLVED HAD TO BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED.
THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR DATA PROTECTION LEGISLATIONS HAD TO BE CONSIDERED AS WELL, HE SAID.
-----0------
/8........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1937
8
TAC SUPPORTS PROPOSED NT TAXI RESTRICTION * * * * *
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC) TODAY (TUESDAY) SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL OF NOT PERMITTING NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS TO OPERATE IN MA ON SHAN AND JUNK BAY NEW TOWNS IN 1987 WHEN POPULATION INTAKES BEGIN.
THE DECISION IN RESPECT OF NOT EXTENDING THE SERVICE TO MA ON SHAN IS IN SUPPORT OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
AS FOR JUNK BAY, BUS AND THE RESIDENTS WILL BE
SERVICES WILL COMMENCE IN MARCH THIS YEAR SERVED BY BUSES.
THE DECISION IS IN LINE WITH ENSURING THAT NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE RURAL AREAS WHERE THE NEED IS VERY STRONG.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT ALLOWING NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS FURTHER ACCESS INTO THE URBAN AREAS WOULD RESULT IN THE CONGREGATION OF THESE TAXIS IN THE NEW TOWNS AT THE EXPENSE OF SERVICES TO THE MORE REMOTE PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
TAC MEMBERS ALSO CONSIDERED THE FIVE-YEAR PLANS FOR 1987 TO 1991 SUBMITTED BY THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY LTD (CMB), THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY LTD (HYF) AND THE STAR FERRY COMPANY LTD (SF).
TAC NOTED THAT WHILE THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND CMB WERE ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT ON MOST OF THE ITEMS CONTAINED IN THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (RDP), THERE WERE SOME DISAGREEMENT OVER THE BUS FLEET PROGRAMME PROPOSED BY THE COMPANY.
CMB WAS CONSIDERING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MULTI-STOREY WORKSHOP WITHIN ITS EXISTING CHAI WAN DEPOT TO ENABLE THE RATIONALISATION AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF ITS UNIT OVERHAUL FACILITIES.
THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF HYF HAD INCORPORATED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STUDY OF CROSS-HARBOUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES FOR THE RATIONALISATION OF ITS CROSS-HARBOUR PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES.
MEMBERS OF THE TAC NOTED THAT BOTH HYF AND STAR FERRY HAD PROPOSALS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE PLANS FOR THE OPERATION OF TWO SIMILAR CROSS-HARBOUR PASSENGER FERRY SERVICES.
THE TAC AGREED THAT DETAILED INFORMATION SHOULD BE SOUGHT FROM THE COMPANIES, BEFORE THE COMPETING PROPOSALS COULD BE FURTHER CONSIDERED.
- 0 -
/9
TUESBAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1917
9
NEW Bl STR I CT OFFICER FOR EASTERN APPOINTEB * * * * *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AN® NEW TERRITORIES ABMINISTRATIBN TOBAY (TUESBAY) ANNOUNCE® THAT MR GARY YEUNG YIU-SHING. 35 HAS BEEN APPOINTEl BISTRICT OFFICER FOR THE EASTERN BISTRICT.
MR YEUNG, WHO WILL TAKE UP HIS NEW APPOINTMENT IN APRIL JOINEB THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1976 ANB HAS SERVER IN VARIOUS ’ ?2\E!il2E?LSE?5R^T?JFORE ,EC0M,N« ASSISTANT BISTRICT OFFICER In Rwun t U»iQ IN JuNc
MR YEUNG WILL REPLACE MR BOWEN LEUNG WHO WILL BE TAKINO UP HIS BUTIES AS DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR BISTRICT ABMINISTRATION.
-----o-------
LOOKING AT EASTERN DISTRICT CLEARANCE OPERATION
*****
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, TODAY (TUESDAY) INSPECTED A BACKLANE AT TSAT TZE MUI ROAD WHERE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CLEARANCE WAS UNDERWAY.
A TOTAL OF 63 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, INCLUDING 24 DOMESTIC HUTS, 15 KITCHENS, TWO SHOPS AND ONE WORKSHOP WERE DISMANTLED DURING THE CLEARANCE OPERATION.
BRIEFED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BOWEN LEUNG, MR CHAU WAS TOLD THAT 26 FAMILIES COMPRISING 75 PEOPLE WERE AFFECTED, MOST OF THEM HAD BEEN OFFERED REHOUSING IN EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES OR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS IN URBAN AREAS.
HE ALSO VISITED PAN HOI STREET WHERE 27 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WERE ERECTED ON A PRIVATE LANE WITH GAS MAINS UNDERNEATH. THE SPOT IS THE FIRST OF FIVE TARGET LOCATIONS IN THE DISTRICT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO TAKE CLEARANCE ACTION THIS YEAR.
THE PARTY THEN PROCEEDED TO PO LEE, TAK LEE AND WAI LEE BUILDINGS IN QUARRY BAY WHERE ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO DEMOLISH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AT THE COMMON COURTYARD WAS CARRIED OUT SEVERAL DAYS AGO.
MR CHAU WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT MEMBERS OF THE OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS HAD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN IMPROVING THEIR LIVING ENVIRONMENT AND HAD DISCUSSED MEANS TO DETER NEW SQUATTER I NG.
MR LEUNG FINALLY TOOK MR CHAU TO LEI YUE MUN BARRACKS AND BRIEFED HIM ON REDEVELOPMENT PLANS AFTER THE SITE WAS RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
0 -
/1O
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
10
PUPILS GET LESSON IN MARINE OPERATIONS
*****
A GROUP OF 29 CHILDREN FROM BEACON HILL SCHOOL HAD AN INSIGHT INTO MARINE OPERATIONS DURING A VISIT TO THE GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.
LED BY TWO OF THEIR TEACHERS, THE CHILDREN, AGED EIGHT AND NINE, ARRIVED AT THE DOCKYARD IN CANTON ROAD AT 9.45 AM AND WERE GREETED BY THE DOCKYARD MANAGER, MR JAMES STOPPA, AND MARINE OFFICER (OPERATION), MR TREVOR BERRY.
THE PUPILS WERE THEN SHOWN OVER THE PREMISES AND BRIEFED ON THE HISTORY AND FUNCTIONS OF THE 16-YEAR-OLD GOVERNMENT DOCKYARD WHICH AT PRESENT EMPLOYS ABOUT 750 PEOPLE.
THE CHILDREN ALSO LEARNT THAT THE DOCKYARD, UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDED VARIOUS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES TO THE GOVERNMENT FLEET OF ABOUT 500 BOATS — FROM THE SMALLEST INFLATABLE SPEEDBOATS TO THE LARGEST 1 000 TONNE DREDGER.
A HIGHLIGHT OF THE VISIT CAME WHEN THE CHILDREN BOARDED A MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCH FOR A SHORT TOUR OF THE HARBOUR WHERE THEY SAW VARIOUS TYPES OF VESSELS MOORED AT BUOYS.
--------o----------
SOUTHERN DB TO REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK *****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL REPORT ON ITS SECOND YEAR OF WORK FOR THE 1985-DS TERM AT A SEMINAR FOR THE DISTRICT’S SIX AREA COMMITTEES ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27).
JOINTLY ORGANISED WITH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE TWEE-HOUR SEMfKAR WILL START AT 7.30 PM AT THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL- AP LEI CHAU ESTATE. ABOUT 150 PEOPLE FROM AREA COMMITTEES WILL BE ATTENDING THE MEETING.
CHAIRMEN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS FIVE COMMITTEES WILL EACH REPORT ON THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND THE PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR, AS WELL AS ON PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
THEY INCLUDE MR JASPER LAM, CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD; MISS YEUNG CHUI-CHUN OF THE WORKS PROJECTS COMMITTEE; MISS MAR YUET-HAR OF THE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE; MR MAN HON-MING OF THE TRAFFIC ANB TRANSPORT COMMITTEE; MR PAUL YOUNG OF THE COMMUMIT BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND MR KO TAM-KAN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.
/DISTRICT BOARD .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
11
Bl STR I CT BOARD MEMBERS WILL HOLD GROUP BISCUSS IBNS WITH AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON VARIOUS BlSTR ICT PROBLEMS ANB ISSUES WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE BISTRICT BOARB ANB ITS COMMITTEES.
SOUTHERN BISTRICT OFFICER. MR SIMON LORB, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING ANB REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL ALSO ATTEND TO LISTEN TO RESIDENTS* VIEWS ANB ANSWER QUERIES.
A BISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAIB THE SEMINAR WAS AIMEB AT STRENGTHENING TIES ANB COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE BOARB ANB AREA COMMITTEES.
♦THROUGH OPEN BISCUSSIONS, AREA COMMITTEES WILL NAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THE BOARB. WHILE THE BISTRICT BOARB COULD OBTAIN FIRST-HAND INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK FROM RESIBENT8 ON BISTRICT AND TERRITORY-WIDE ISSUES,♦ HE SAIB.
THE MEETING FOLLOWS A SERIES OF SIX SEMINARS HELD BETWEEN AREA COMMITTEES ANB LOCAL RESIBENTS ORGANISATIONS, SUCH AS MUTUAL AIB COMMITTEES, OWNERS CORPORATIONS ANB RESIBENTS ASSOCIATIONS, LAST YEAR.
♦IT IS HOPES THAT SEMINARS OF THIS NATURE WOULB STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE THREE-TIER CONSULTATIVE SYSTEM OF THE BISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES ANB RESIBENTS ORGANISATIONS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN ADBED.
NOTE TO EBITORSt
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR AT 7.30 PM ON FRIDAY IN THE AP LEI CHAU COMMUNITY HALL, AP LEI CHAU ESTATE.
-------0---------
YAU MA TEI RECEIVES $8 MILLION FOR YOUDE FUND *****
THE
SIR EDWARD
YOUDE FUND HAS
MA TEI DISTRICT OFF
ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE TO
Rno<?TFn DONATIONS RECEIVED SO FAR AT THE YAU
TO ABOUT S8 MILLION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
ICE
THE LATEST ADDITIONS TO THE FUND INCLUDED $3 000 FROM THE FAST AREA COMMITTEE, S3 000 FROM THE DISTRICT’S RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND S48 300 FROM A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THE
DISTRICT.
/EARLIER, THE ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
12
EARLIER, THE YAU MA TEI KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION ALSO LAUNCHED A DONATION DRIVE AND RAISED 517 OOO FOR THE FUND, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE AGAIN CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO THE FUND WHICH WOULD BENEFIT HONG KONG’S EDUCATION.
+DONATIONS CAN BE MADE AT ANY DISTRICT OFFICE,+ HE SAID.
-------0---------
WORK TO START ON PUBLIC WORKS CENTRAL LABORATORY
*****
WORK ON BUILDING THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC WORKS CENTRAL LABORATORY IN KOWLOON BAY WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH.
THIS FOLLOWS THE SIGNING OF A $4.27 MILLION ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONTRACT FOR PILING WORK.
FOUNDATION WORK WILL START ON MARCH 9 AND TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE. IT WILL BE FOLLOWED IN SEPTEMBER BY THE BUILDING OF A FOUR-STOREY SUPERSTRUCTURE TO HOUSE THE NEW LABORATORY WHICH WILL BE STAFFED BY SPECIALISTS FROM THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE (GCO) OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SIX BRANCH AND ONE CENTRAL PUBLIC WORKS LABORATORIES OPERATING UNDER THE MATERIALS DIVISION OF THE GCO. THEY PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE TESTING SERVICE TO ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ON MOST CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS IN HONG KONG, WITH EMPHASIS ON SOIL, CONCRETE, STEEL AND BITUMINOUS MATERIALS.
THE SENIOR GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER, MR J.M. SHEN, SAID: +MANY CF THE GOVERNMENT’S BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS HAVE TO EE CONSTRUCTED ON THE STEEP SLOPES WHICH ARE A COMMON FEATURE CF HONG KONG’S TERRAIN. THE GEOTECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THESE REQUIRE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND ARE OFTEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A MAJOR PART CF THE OVERALL COST.
+THE NEW LABORATORY WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT ECONOMIC ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS ARE ACHIEVED CONSISTENT WITH HIGH STANDARDS CF DESIGN, SAFETY AND CONSTRUCT ION.+
/LAST YEAR, .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
- 13 -
LAST YEAR, THE PUBLIC WORKS LABORATORIES CARRIED OUT A TOTAL CF 230 OOO TESTS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE A MONITORING SERVICE ON REGISTERED COMMERCIAL LABORATORIES TESTING CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
WHEN COMPLETED IN APRIL 1989, THE NEW PUBLIC WORKS CENTRAL LABORATORY WILL BE THE MAIN PURPOSE-BUILT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING LABORATORY IN HONG KONG, PROVIDING THREE TIMES THE FLOOR AREA COMPARED TO ITS EXISTING PREMISES IN NORTH POINT.
-------0----------
CLOSURE ORBERS SOUGHT FOR ILLESAL STRUCTURES ft ft ft ft ft
APPLICATIONS TO CLOSE TWO LOTS OF ILLEOAL STRUCTURES ON HOMO KONO ISLAMS ARE TO BE MABE IN THE BISTRICT COURT IN APRIL.
THE STRUCTURES ARE OVER THE 22ND FLOOR AT NO. 03-05, WO NONE (CHUNG ROAB, ANO ON THE MAIN ROOF OVER THE FOURTH FLOOR AT 323, BES VOEUX ROAB WEST.
THE APPLICATIONS ARE TO BE MAlE ON APRIL 20 ANB 20 ANB NOTICES ABVISINO THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BUILBING AUTHOR ITY*S INTENTION TO BO SO WERE POSTER ON CONSPICUOUS PARTS OF THE STRUCTURES TOBAY (TUESBAY).
OCCUPANTS OF THE STRUCTURES IN BES VOEUX ROAS WEST WERE ORBEREB TO BEMOLISH THE STRUCTURES JUST OVER TWO YEARS ASO. BUT HAS FAILEB TO COMPLY. SO HAVE THE OCCUPANTS OF THE STRUCTURES IN WONgNEICHUNO ROAB, WHO WERE INSTRUCTED TO DEMOLISH THEM IN JULY 1905.
IN BOTH CASES THE BUILBING AUTHORITY WANTS TO OBTAIN CLOSURE ORDERS SO THAT THE STRUCTURES CAN BE DEMOLISHES IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS WITHOUT DANGER TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE OCCUPIERS.
-------0----------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
- 14 -
DANCE CONTEST WINNERS TO PERFORM AT CITY HALL *****
WINNERS OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT DANCE CONTEST WILL PERFORM AT THE CITY HALL ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) EVENING.
THE CONTEST, HELD IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, HAD DISCOVERED MANY YOUNG TALENTS IN THE DISTRICT. FIFTEEN OUTSTANDING TEAMS, SELECTED FROM OVER 40 ENTRIES, WILL PERFORM ORIENTAL, WESTERN AND MODERN DANCES.
THEY WILL ALSO BE AWARDED PRIZES AT A CEREMONY HELD DURING THE INTERMISSION.
OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR VINCENT KO, HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN), MR ROBIN CHAN, THE HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORT ASSOCIATION, MR HO PAK-TO, AND THE CHIEF MANAGER OF LEISURE SERVICES OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR R.F. POLLARD.
THE EVENT IS CO-ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURE AND ARTS (CENTRAL AND WESTERN), THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORT ASSOCIATION, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND URBAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AND WINNERS’ PERFORMANCE BEGINNING AT 8 PM ON THURSDAY AT THE CONCERT HALL OF THE CITY HALL.
------o ------
SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED
*****
THE 19TH ANNUAL INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED.
TOP PRIZE OF S3 000 IN DIVISION A FOR STUDENTS OF POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS WENT TO IO VAI-HONG OF CARITAS BIANCHI COLLEGE OF CAREERS AND THE FIRST PRIZE OF Si 500 IN DIVISION B FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AWARDED TO LAU TIN-WAH OF MARIA COLLEGE.
/THERE ARE .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
I
- 15 -
THERE ARE ALSO TEN CONSOLATION PRIZES OF $600 EACH FOR DIVISION A AND $300 EACH FOR DIVISION B.
THE COMPETITION, SPONSORED BY THE KADER INDUSTRIAL COMPANY LIMITED, WAS AIMED AT DEVELOPING DESIGN TALENTS AND ENHANCING THE SAFETY AWARENESS OF STUDENTS.
THIS YEAR MORE THAN 350 ENTRIES FROM 52 SCHOOLS WERE RECEIVED.
THE WINNING ENTRIES WERE SELECTED BY A PANEL OF JUDGES COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE USED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN ITS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PUBLICITY AND PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES.
ALL PRIZE WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTERS TO ATTEND THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD EARLY NEXT MONTH. *
----o -----
UK OFFERS OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS
*****
A NUMBER OF OVERSEAS RESEARCH STUDENTS AWARDS ARE BEING CFFERED BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO UNIVERSITY GRADUATES AND UNDERGRADUATES IN THEIR FINAL YEAR OF STUDY.
THE SCHEME, RUN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, WILL PROVIDE AWARDS FOR PARTIAL REMISSION OF TUITION FEES TO OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OF OUTSTANDING MERIT AND RESEARCH POTENTIAL.
EACH AWARD WILL COVER THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TUITION FEE FOR A HOME POSTGRADUATE STUDENT AND THE +FULL COST+ FEE CHARGEABLE TO AN OVERSEAS POSTGRADUATE STUDENT.
ABOUT 800 NEW OVERSEAS AWARDS WILL BE OFFERED IN 1987 TO GRADUATES OF A RECOGNISED UNIVERSITY AND STUDENTS EXPECTING TO GRADUATE BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
APPLICANTS MUST HAVE BEEN CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED BY ONE OF THE 91 PARTICIPATING ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN BRITAIN IN 1987-88 AS REGISTERED RESEARCH STUDENTS TO A COURSE OF FULL-TIME STUDY FOR A HIGHER DEGREE, OR MUST BE ALREADY REGISTERED AS FULL-TIME RESEARCH STUDENTS AT ONE OF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.
/APPLICATION FORMS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
- 16 -
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRAR OR SECRETARY OF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTION WHICH HAS ACCEPTED THE STUDENT. THE CLOSING DATE IS MAY 1.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, STUDENTS ARE ADVISED TO CONTACT THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY.
-----0------
VMO THROUGHPUT UP BY 17 PER CENT *****
LOCAL FARMERS PRODUCED 158 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES LAST YEAR, UP BY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH 1985, MEETING 34 PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC DEMAND, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 35TH TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES, HE SAID THAT DURING THE SAME PERIOD, THE AMOUNT OF VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (VMO) INCREASED BY 17 PER CENT TO 170 000 TONNES. OF THIS, 90 000 TONNES OF THE VMO THROUGHPUT CAME FROM VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
+HONG KONG IS A FREE MARKET WHERE COMPETITION FROM IMPORT PRODUCTS PREVAILS. IF EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY COULD BE MAINTAINED, THE LOCAL FARMING INDUSTRY WOULD REMAIN COMPETITIVE,* HE SAID.
+T0 THIS END, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL FARMERS IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT AMONG THEM.
+THESE, COUPLED WITH WHOLESALE MARKETING SERVICES RENDERED BY THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION, HAVE DONE MUCH IN RAISING THE PRODUCTIVITY AND MARKETING EFFICIENCY OF VEGETABLE FARMERS.*
DR LEE PRAISED THE FEDERATION FOR ITS IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS IN PELPING FARMERS WHICH INCLUDED THE CO-OPERATIVE SALE OF PLASTIC VEGETABLE CONTAINERS, HIGH QUALITY PESTICIDES AND ROTARY CULTIVATORS.
IN VIEW OF THE SUCCESS OF THE FARMERS’ STUDY VISIT TO THE ' UNITED STATES LAST YEAR, HE SAID A SIMILAR VISIT TO AUSTRALIA WAS BEING PLANNED IN APRIL THIS YEAR TO ENABLE MORE VEGETABLE FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM SUCH EXPERIENCE.
/17........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1937
- 17 -
TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO STAGE OPEN DAYS *****
SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO VISIT THE SEVEN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL DURING THEIR OPEN DAYS THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK.
ALL LABORATORIES, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL TEACHING ROOMS WOULD EE OPEN FOR VISITORS WHILE GUIDED TOURS WOULD BE ARRANGED FOR STUDENTS COMING IN GROUPS.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THESE OPEN DAYS INCLUDE A MINI-EXHIBITION AT MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ON THE NEW CHAI WAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN THIS SEPTEMBER, A FASHION SHOW AT KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND A SPECIAL FREE-TESTING SERVICE OF PRIVATE CARS BY THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON FEBRUARY 27, FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM AND ON FEBRUARY 28, FROM 9 AM TO NOON.
ALSO STAGING THEIR OPEN DAYS ON FEBRUARY 27 ARE THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM, THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FROM 10.30 AM TO 5.30 PM, THE TUEN MUN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM AND SHA TIN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.
KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE WOULD HOLD ITS OPEN DAY ON MARCH 6, FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM, THE FASHION SHOW WILL BE STAGED BOTH AT 1.45 PM AND 3.30 PM.
THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE’S OPEN DAYS ARE MARCH 6 FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM AND MARCH 7 FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM.
-----o -----
BUS TERMINUS BEING BUILT AT BUSY JUNCTION
******
THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT HAS SIGNED A S3.9 MILLION CONTRACT FOR BUILDING A BUS TERMINUS AT THE JUNCTION OF YEE KING AND LAI TAK TSUEN ROADS, CAUSEWAY BAY, WHICH WILL RESULT IN SAFER AND QUICKER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FLOW.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT BUSES WERE AT PRESENT REQUIRED TO MAKE THREE-POINT TURNS AT THE JUNCTION. UNDER THE CONTRACT, THE EXISTING CONCRETE BRIDGE STRUCTURAL DECK WOULD BE EXTENDED TO JOIN THE CARRIAGEWAY, SO AS TO PROVIDE SMOOTH TURNING FOR BUSES, AND AT THE SAME TIME ELIMINATING A DIFFICULT MANOEUVRE FOR THE BUSES.
/THE CONTRACT .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
- 18 -
THE CONTRACT ALSO INCLUDES THE BUILDING OF RETAINING WALLS, CONCRETE CARRIAGEWAY, ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS AND LANDSCAPING WORK.
CONSTRUCTION WILL START ON MARCH 2 AND TAKE 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
------o-------
KWAI TSING HOLDING COURSES IN BUILDING MANAGEMENT *****
A THREE-SESSION TRAINING COURSE ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT FOR KWAI TSING RESIDENTS WILL START ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE.
MEMBERS OF OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES ARE SPECIALLY WELCOME TO ATTEND AND RAISE QUESTIONS. ADMISSION IS FREE.
SPONSORED BY THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl DISTRICT BOARD, THE COURSE WILL BE HELD FROM 8 PM TO 10.30 PM ON FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 3 AND 5.
IT WILL COVER A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS INCLUDING GENERAL LEGAL ISSUES IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDING MANAGEMENT, EFFECTIVE BUILDING MANAGEMENT KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNIQUES, AND COLLECTION OF MANAGEMENT FEES.
PROFESSIONALS FROM EACH FIELD WILL BE INVITED TO GIVE TALKS. SPEAKERS INCLUDE A LAWYER FROM THE HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY, MR LAU HON-CHUEN; AN ARCHITECT, MR HUI WING-TAO) A REPRESENTATIVE OF A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY, MR YAU SUN-WAI ; AND AN ACCOUNTANT, MR CHAN KWONG-WING.
THE COURSE WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED BY A SEMINAR SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT THE KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM ON MARCH 8.
THE TRAINING COURSE AND SEMINAR ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT ARE ORGANISED BY WORKING GROUPS UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KWAI TSING DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SEVEN SUB-OFFICE IN KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl. FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED ON 0-212855 EXT. 251 AND 0-264632.
--------o----------
/19........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
19
WAN CHAI PREPARES FOR SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME
*****
the wan chai district summer youth programme co-ordinating COMMITTEE IS INVITING THE DISTRICT'S VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, KAI FONG ASSOCIATIONS SCnGO Tmc^cJoi1 RATIONS TO APPLY FOR FUNDS TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES FOR this year’s summer youth programme.
SCHOOLS
the DISTRICT’S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME IS SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL HONG Kong JOCKEY CLUB WITH DONATIONS ALSO COMING FROM
THEME THIS YEAR IS *T0 SHARE THE JOY OF SERVING I Ht COMMUNITT+,
ANY ORGANISATION MAY APPLY FOR FUNDS FOR ORGANISING ACTIVITIES FOR THOSE AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 25.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 5-742281.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION IS MARCH 21. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER. arrLiLANii
-------o----------
NORTH DB TO CONSIDER POWERLINE PROPOSALS
*****
MEMBERS OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD WILL MEET ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED ALIGNMENT OF TWO 400KV OVERHEAD POWERLINES TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE DISTRICT.
THE HIGH VOLTAGE POWERLINES, TO BE BUILT BY CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY LIMITED, WILL TRANSMIT ELECTICITY FROM DAYA BAY TO HONG KONG BY EARLY 199O‘S.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED LOCATION CF TOWERS TO BE BUILT ALONG THE CABLE ROUTE.
OTHER ITEMS TO BE DEALT WITH INCLUDE A REQUEST FOR SETTING UP A COMMUNITY CENTRE IN THE DISTRICT, THE FEASIBILITY OF SETTING UP TELEPHONE EMERGENCY HELPLINE AND A REVIEW OF THE +MEET THE PUBLIC* SCHEME.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BEGIN AT 9.30 AM ON THURSDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, FANLING. SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION SERVICE WILL BE AVA ILABLE.
0----
/20
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
20 -
DB COMMITTEE TO STUDY CULTURAL PLANS
*****
THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD WILL DISCUSS AT A MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURAL PLANS DRAWN UP BY THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR THE DISTRICT IN THE COMING YEAR. COUNCIL
MEMBERS WILL ALSO CONSIDER FUND APPLICATIONS FROM A NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO ORGANISE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE BRIEFINGS ON THE WORK OF THE YAU MA TEI AND MONG KOK DISTRICT YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO
COVER THE MEETING TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICE SECOND FLOOR, 490 NATHAN ROAD. ’
----o------
DB TO DISCUSS LANTAU ACCESS ROAD
*****
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESS ROAD LINKING SHA LO WAN TO THE MAIN ROAD ON LANTAU ISLAND WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE INFORMED OF THE MUI WO CENTRAL LAYOUT PLAN WHICH INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RURAL PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, IDENTIFICATION OF LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND RESERVATION OF SITES FOR GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF A MARICULTURE ZONE AT LO TIK WAN AND THE PROPOSED CENTRALISED PRIMARY SCHOOL SCHEME FOR SOUTH LANTAU.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD MEETING STARTING AT 2 PM ON THURSDAY IN THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM, 14TH FLOOR, HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL.
- 0
/21
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1987
21
KOWLOON CITY PLANS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
* * * X *
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO DISCUSS AN ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $500 000 FOR CARRYING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN 1987-88.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE ASKED TO APPROVE AN APPLICATION OF $115 000 FOR BUILDING A SITTING-OUT AREA WITH RECREATIONAL AND AMENITY FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS AT THE NORTHERN END OF VALLEY ROAD.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE PROPOSALS FOR TREE PLANTING IN WHAMPOA ESTATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE CAUSED BY DOG EXCRETA IN STREETS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING TO BEGIN AT 2.15 PM ON THURSDAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 141 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD. THE MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CHINESE AND NO SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE.
- - o -
COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP * X X X X
AN OPEN MEETING OF THE JOINT URBAN COUNCIL-REGIONAL COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY MR W.M. SULKE WILL BE HELD AT THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE COMMITTEE WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO WIDEN THE MEMBERSHIP TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE MEETING WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 2.30 PM IN CONFERENCE ROOM NO. 2, FOURTH FLOOR, URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, EDINGBURGH PLACE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2U, 1987
22
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN TUEN MUN, TSIM SHA TSUI
*****
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TUEN MUN FROM THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO FEBRUARY 28 BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO ENABLE ROAD RECONSTRUCTION WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.
THE RIGHT-TURN MOVEMENT FROM PUI TO ROAD EASTBOUND TO TIN HAU ROAD WILL BE BANNED. MOTORISTS SHOULD DRIVE VIA KIN TAI STREET, KIN WING STREET AND TSUN WEN ROAD TO TIN HAU ROAD.
ALSO VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT FROM TSUN WEN ROAB TO PUI TO ROAD WESTBOUND. TRAFFIC HEADING FOR PUI TO ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTEB VIA TIN HAU ROAD AND MJNG CHEUNG ROAB •
IN ADDITION, RIGHT-TURN MOVEMENT FROM TIN HAU ROAD TO PUI TO ROAD EAST&OUNB WILL BE PROHIBITED. TRAFFIC WILL BE BIVERTEB VIA TSUN WEN ROAB NORTHBOUNB, KIN WING STREET. KIN TAI STREET, HO TIN STREET AND TSUN WEN RO&D SOUTHBOUND.
IN TSIM SHA TSUI, BRISTOL AVENUE BETWEEN CARNARVON ROAD AND MODY ROAB WILL BE REROUTES FROM ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND TO ONEWAY NORTHBOUND FROM 10 AM ON FEBRUARY 27 TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION MEETS ........................ 1
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FEES INCREASED ..................... 1
DB COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER WELFARE ACTIVITIES ............... 3
MEDICAL STAFF RECEIVE LONG SERVICE AWARDS ................. 3
INDUSTRIAL SITES FOR SALE..................................
YOUNG MUSICIANS LEAVE FOR FESTIV„L IN ITALY ............... 4
BUS DIVERSION Ui YUEN LONG TOWN ........................... 5
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
1
SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION MEETS
*****
THE SINO-BRITISH LAND COMMISSION HELD ITS 11TH MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE TWO SIDES AGREED THAT THE EXTENSION OF NEW TERRITORIES LEASES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF PARAGRAPH 2 OF ANNEX HI TO THE JOINT DECLARATION SHOULD BE EFFECTED BY LEGISLATION, AND SPECIAL PURPOSE LEASES WOULD BE DEALT WITH INDIVIDUALLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES AGREED BY THE LAND COMMISSION.
THE TWO SIDES HAVE ALSO REACHED A COMMON VIEW ON THE CONTENT OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION, DETAILS OF WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED AT A LATER DATE IN THE NORMAL MANNER.
-----o------
immigration department fees increased
IHHHI *
FEES CHARGED FOR A NUMBER of SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WERE INCREASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AN IMMIGRATION SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE REVISION, WHICH TOOK EFFECT AT 2.30 PM UNDER A PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDER, WAS THE OUTCOME OF A NORMAL ADJUSTMENT EXERCISE TO-TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASED OPERATING COSTS.
THE REVISED FEES AREt OLD FEES 4 NEW FEES s
EMERGENCY PASSPORT 40.00 45.00
SEAMAN’S IDENTITY BOOK VALID FOR 50.00 55.00
FIVE YEARS
RENEWAL OF A SEAMAN’S IDENTITY BOOK 35.00 40.00
VALID FOR FIVE YEARS
SEAMAN’S CERTIFICATE OF NATIONALITY 50.00 55.00
AND IDENTITY .. . • • ‘
ORDINARY VISA 100.00 115.00
TRANSIT VISA 55.00 60.00
CHANGE OF CONDITIONS OF STAY OR 100.00 115.00
EXTENSION OF LIMIT OF STAY
/HONG KONG .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 2
HJNG KONG CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY (WHETHER OF FULL OR RESTRICTED VALIDITY) -
(I) 44-PAGE CERTIFICATE 140.00 150.
(II) 92-PAGE CERTIFICATE 200.00 300.
§8 8
VISITOR’S PERMIT FOR RESIDENT OF 20.00 25.
MACAU VALID FOR ONE VISIT
VISITOR’S PERMIT FOR RESIDENT OF 40.00 45.00
MACAU FOR MULTIPLE VISITS AND VALID FOR ONE YEAR
VISITOR’S PERMIT, VALID FOR ONE VISIT, 100.00 115.00
FOR RESIDENT OF MACAU WHO WAS FORMERLY RESIDENT IN CHINA AND SETTLED IN MACAU AFTER JANUARY 14, 1579
ENTRY PERMIT 100.00 115.00
ENDORSEMENT TO A TRAVEL DOCUMENT 35.00 40.00
FOR WHICH NO SPECIFIC FEE IS PROVIDED
SERVICE CHARGE FOR SUPPLYING, ON 40.00 45.00
APPLICATION, A COPY OF ANY DOCUMENT, OR FOR MAKING OR FORWARDING, OR BOTH, A REQUEST OR RECOMMENDATION TO ANY AUTHORITY OF A FOREIGN STATE OR COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY. FOR CONSULAR OR NATIONALITY REGISTRATION OR FOR THE ISSUE OR RENEWAL OF A PASSPORT OR OTHER TRAVEL DOCUMENT OR OF A DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY OR FOR THE GRANT OF A VISA OR ENTRY PERMIT
DOCUMENT OF IDENTITY VALID YEARS -
(I) 44-PAGE DOCUMENT
(ll) 92-PAGE DOCUMENT
FOR SEVEN
100.00
200.00
115.00
230.00
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT’S INFORMATION OFFICE ON 3-7333111.
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/3........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 19S7
- 3 -
Bl COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER WELFARE ACTIVITIES *****
THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD COMMUNITY BUILBI NO COMMITTEE WILL MEET TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO DISCUSS THE INTRODUCTION OF COOPTED MEMBERS TO ITS SOCIAL WELFARE WORKING GROUP ANB THE EXTENSION OF THE GROUP'S FUNCTIONS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS ALLOCATION OF DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLANS FOR 1907-00- IMPROVEMENT OF FACILITIES IN LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL; PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES FACILITIES AND THE PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISTRICT BOARD CIVIC EDUCATION WORKING GROUP.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEETING WHICH WILL START AT 2.15 PM TOMORROW IN THE DISTRICT BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR, 39 TONKIN STREET, KOWLOON.
-------o - - - _
MEDICAL STAFF RECEIVE LONG SERVICE AWARDS
*****
A TOTAL OF 101 STAFF MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT - INCLUDING DOCTORS, NURSES, PARA-MEDICAL STAFF. WORKMEN, DRIVERS, WARD ATTENDANTS, AMAHS AND DARKROOM TECHNICIANS -WERE PRESENTED WITH LONG SERVICE MERIT CERTIFICATES TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
UNDER THE LONG SERVICE MERIT CERTIFICATE SCHEME, LAUNCHED LAST YEAR BY THE BEPARTMENT, ALL STAFF WHO HAVE PERf6rMED THEIR DUTIES SATISFACTORILY WITHIN THE PAST 30 YEARS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD. LAST YEAR 303 STAFF MEMBERS RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATES.
TO MARK THE OCCASION, A PRESENTATION CEREMONY WAS HELD TODAY AT THE KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL ASSEMBLY HALL WHERE CERTIFICATES WERE PRESENTED TO RECIPIENTS BY THE DIRECTOR, DR. K.L. THONG , AND OTHER DIRECTORATE STAFF.
PRAISING RECIPIENTS FOR THEIR DEVOTION AND LOYALTY, DR. THONG SAID THE FIRST MONTH OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR WAS AN AUSPICIOUS TIME TO PAY TRIBUTE TO STAFF WHO HAD WORKED LONG YEARS TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
/+THE INAUGURAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 198?
4
♦THE INAUGURAL PRESENTATION LAST YEAR WAS VERY WELL RECEIVES BY MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE WAS AN INSTANT REQUEST TO WIDEN THE SCOPE OF THE SCHEME TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
♦THE INTEREST SHOWN IN THE SCHEME IS GRATIFYING BECAUSE IT REFLECTS PRIDE AND COMMITMENT IN THE VARIOUS OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS, HE SAID.
♦ IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THAT STAFF EXPECT TO WORK HARD AND TO HAVE GOOD WORK RECOGNISED BY THE DEPARTMENT,+ DR. THONG ADDED.
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INDUSTRIAL SITES FOR SALE
*****
TWO INDUSTRIAL SITES WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE TOMORROW (THURSDAY) BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THE FIRST LOT, AT SIU LEK YUEN ROAD, SHA TIN. MEASURES ABOUT 5 600 SQUARE METRES; THE SECOND LOT, OF 1 0?A SQUARE METRES, IS AT TUI MIN HOI, SAI KUNG.
NOTE TO EBITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE AUCTION WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE AT 2.30 PM.
------o-------
YOUNG MUSICIANS LEAVE FOR FESTIVAL IN ITALY
* N X * »
THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE MUSIC ENSEMBLE LEFT FOR ITALY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD HONG KONG-MANTUA FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL FROM MARCH 1 TO 7.
LED BY THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MRS DORIS HD, AND SENIOR MU8IC OFFICER (CHINESE). MR TONG LEUNG-TAK, THE MUSIC OFFICE ENSEMBLE COMPRISES EIGHT MEMBERS.
/BEFORE THEIR .......
i
I
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 5 -
BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURE, MRS HD SAID OVERSEAS TOURS WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MUSIC OFFICE’S INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME.
BESIDES ENABLING THE YOUNG MUSICIANS TO SHARE IN AN EXCHANGE OF MUSIC, THE TOURS GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM BEFORE FOREIGN AUDIENCES AS WELL TO RECEIVE INTERNATIONAL TUITION NOT OTHERWISE AVAILABLE, SME POINTED OUT.
♦THERE HAVE BEEN NO LESS THAN 35 INTERNATIONAL MUSIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES ORGAN I SEB SINCE 1970,* MRS HO ADDEB.
DURING THEIR STAY IN ITALY, THE MEMBERS OF THE ENSEMBLE WILL PERFORM IN THE FESTIVAL’S OPENING CONCERT ON MARCH 1 AND IN THE FINAL CONCERT ON MARCH 7. OTHER ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A STUDENT CONCERT, WILL ALSO BE ARRANGED TO PROMOTE CHINESE MUSIC IN ITALY.
APART FROM MUSIC PERFORMANCES, THE HONG KONG-MANTUA FRIENDSHIP FESTIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE UGO CONTA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SOCIETY IN HONG KONG, WILL ALSO FEATURE AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS ENTITLES ♦ EAST MEETS WEST+.
THE ENSEMBLE WILL RETURN ON MARCH 11.
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BUS DIVERSION IN YUEN LONG TOWN N * N *
TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUEN MUN-YUEN LONG LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWEB TO TURN RIGHT FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD (YUEN LONG) WESTBOUND TO KIK YEUNG ROAD NORTHBOUND FROM FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27) FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH.
ON JOURNEY TO YUEN LONG (WEST) BUS TERMINUS. KMB ROUTES $4, 56. 6AK, 76K, 77K WILL BE DIVERTED TO CASTLE PEAK ROAD, MA MIU ROAD, ON NING ROAD AND KIK YEUNG ROAD.
THESE BUS ROUTES WILL OBSERVE THE BUS STOP ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD OUTSIDE YUEN LONG TRADE ASSOCIATION PRIMARY SCHOOL DURING THE PERIOD OF BIVERSION.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN - SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
STABLE FUNDING, STEADY DEVELOPMENT KEY FACTORS ................. 1
1986-87 SURPLUS RISES TO $3 BILLION ............................ 2
EXPECTED SURPLUS PUT AT $2.1 BILLION OR $1.8 BILLION........ 5
EXPENDITURE TO TOTAL $44.4 BILLION ............................. 6
PUBLIC FINANCES NOW STRUNG, SAYS JACOBS......................... 7
CONTROLLED RISE IN SPENDING WHILE LOWERING TAX BURDEN....... 11
HALF PER CENT CUT IN PROFITS TAX SOUGHT ....................... 14
INCREASED TAX ALLOWANCES, RATE CUT PROPOSED.................... 15
LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM TO CONTINUE........................ 16
GOOD QUALITY, SUBSIDISED HOUSING FOR 800 OOO TARGETTED .... 18
NO INTENTION TO ’STIFLE FINANCIAL INNOVATION* ................. 20
STEPS PLANNED TO COUNTER ASSET REFINANCING SCHEMES.......... 22
TWO CONCESSIONS ON ESTATE DUTY PROPOSED........................ 22
TAX CONCESSIONS BENEFITTIFG ALL — +A HIGHER PRIORITY* .... 23
TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $10.7 BILLION PROPOSED.................... 24
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES MEASURES TO JUISE EXTRn $165 MILLION . 25
+SERVICES SHOULD BE PmID BY THOSE WHO USE THEM* ............... 28
REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS SIGNED .............................. 29
FS^S SPEECH ON TV ^ND RADIO.................................... 29
BUDGET BRIEFING
30
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 19S7
STABLE FUNDING, STEADY DEVELOPMENT KEY FACTORS * * * * *
THE EFFICIENT PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES REQUIRES STABLE FUNBING AND STEADY RATHER THAN ERRATIC DEVELOPMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SUMMING UP NIS BUDGET SPEECH, MR JACOBS SAIB THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCES DEPENDED TO A GREAT EXTENT ON THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUING TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO TRENBS ANB ON THE TAKING OF EARLY ACTION WHERE NECESSARY TO AVOID MORE EXTREME MEASURES AT A LATER DATE.
STRESSING THE NEED FOfl CONTINUITY OF POLICIES, HE SAIDi *WE HAVE ENJOYED REMARKABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FROM THIS WE HAVE GAINED THE RESOURCES TO FINANCE THE HANY DEVELOPMENTS AND PUBLIC SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS RIGHTLY COME TO EXPECT.*
♦THE UNDERLYING TRENDS NOW SEEM FAVOURABLE, AND IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I HAVE FELT ABLE TO PROPOSE A BUDGET THAT REPRESENTS BOTH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES AND A LOWERING OF THE BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER.*
♦ BUT WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS,* HE ADDED. *OUR ECONOMY REMAINS SUBJECT TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, INCLUDING THE THREAT OF PROTECTIONISM.*
♦ WE MUST THEREFORE BE CAREFUL NOT TO MOVE QUICKLY IN TERMS OF COMMITTING OURSELVES TO GREATER EXPENDITURE OR FOREGOING REVENUE.*
IN SHAPING HONG KONG'S PUBLIC FINANCES, MR JACOBS SAIB HE WISHED TO PRESERVE AND FOSTER AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH BUSINESS COULD FLOURISH, NOT SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO SEE BUSINESS MORE PROFITABLE,, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY IN A FAVOURABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THAT INVESTMENT WOULD GROW AND WELL PAID JOBS WOULB CONTINUE TO BE CREATED.
♦ THIS IS THE WAY TO MAINTAIN STABILITY,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, MR JACOBS REITERATED THAT A SOUND REPUTATION WAS VITAL TO HONG KONG'S CONTINUING GROWTH IN THIS AREA.
♦PROBLEMS AHE NOT UNIQUE TO ANY PARTICULAR FINANCIAL CENTRE,♦ HE SAID.
♦ ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH FINANCIAL SERVICES, WHETHER IN BUSINESS OR IN REGULATORY OR SUPERVISORY ACTIVITIES, HAVE A COMMON INTEREST.
/+WE MUST
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 2
♦ WE MUST ALL PLAY OUR PART IN MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IF THE ACTIVITIES OF A FEW ARE ALLOWE# TO RAMAGE THAT SYSTEM OR MAR ITS REPUTATION THEN ALL WILL SUFFER.*
♦ LET US NOT IMAGINE THAT IN THIS AREA WE ARE DEALING WITH VICTIMLESS CRIMES.*
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD ENJOYED A REMARKABLE YEAR IN 1986. AND *THE RESULTS OWE MUCH TO THE HARD WORK AND IMAGINATION OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.*
♦ HONG KONG HAS A JUSTlFlABLt REPUTATION FOR GETTING ON WITH THE JOB IN HAND,* HE SAIB.
♦ OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS VIGOROUS IN ITS PURSUIT OF NEW MARKETS AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND OUR LABOUR FORCE IS KNOWN FOR ITS SKILL AND ENERGY.
♦ THESE ARE THE TRADITIONAL QUALITIES OF HONG KONG, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROSPER IF WE HOLD TRUE TO THEM.*
CONCLUDING HIS SPEECH, MR JACOBS SAIDt +HONQ KONG WILL IN THE YEARS AHEAD FACE MANY PROBLEMS; BUT WITH COURAGE, HONESTY AND STRENGTH OF PURPOSE IT WILL OVERCOME THEM.*
------o -------
1986-87 SURPLUS RISES TO <3 BILLION I O » *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS. TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FORECAST A MUCH STRONGER OUTTURN OF JUST OVER 13 BILL I ONI IN SURPLUS ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR 1986-87, COMPARED WITH THE MODEST ESTIMATE OF JO.35 BILLION AT THE START OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR.
THIS GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT SURPLUS, ALONG WITH THE INCREASE IN FUND BALANCES, GAVE AN OVERALL SURPLUS OF |A.9 BILLION FOR THE YEAR, HE SAID.
PRESENTING HlS BUDGET, MR JACOBS SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO RECORD THAT THE RAPID ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN 1986 EXCEEDED HIS EXPECTATIONS AND HAD GENERATED CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THOSE REVENUE AREAS MOST CLOSELY LINKED TO ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE.
HE NOTED THAT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GAINS HAD COME FROM PROFITS TAX, SALARIES TAX AND STAMP DUTY WHICH. TOGETHER, WERE ESTIMATED TO YIELD A TOTAL OF |2.8 BILLION MORE THAN BUDGETTED.
/+PROFITS AND .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 5 -
♦profits and SALARIES tax yields have crown ahead of even the PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF QDF GROWTH FOR 1986, REFLECTING BOTH A MAJOR RESURGENCE IN THU PROFITS OF PROPERTY AND EXPORT ORIENTED BUSINESSES, AND SUBSTANTIAL SALARY INCREASES,♦ HE SAID. ’
AS TO STAMP DUTY. HE NOTED THAT THE TURNOVER ON THE STOCK MARKET HAD BEEN RUNNING WELL AHEAD OF THE LEVEL OF THE PREVIOUS FEW YEARS.
mr jacobs Added that there had been some early repayments of
DEBTS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT AMOUNTING TO A TOTAL OF >0.9 BILLION.
+ABOUT HALF OF THIS IS DUE TO REPAYMENT OF THE REMAINING KCR HEBS1'DH CM WAS REFERRED T0 AS A POSSIBILITY IN LAST YEAR’S BUDGET,+
♦VARIANCE FROM ESTIMATES IN OTHER REVENUE AREAS IS RELATIVELY MINOR, AND THE ITEMS LARGELY OFFSET EACH OTHER. DATIVELY
♦OVERALL, REVENUE IS NOW FORECAST TO BE SOME >4 BILLION HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED REPRESENTING A GAIN OF • PER CENT EXCLUDING ACCOUNT1! SEBSAIDPA™m£’ PER CENT 'F THEY *RE ™EM
MR JACOBS SAID TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT BEFORE TRANSFERS TO FUNDS WAS NOW EXPECTED TO BE >33.9 BILLION, WHICH WAS IN LINE WITH BUDGET. '
♦WE ARE SEEING THE RESULTS OF ANOTHER YEAR OF TIGHT BUDGETARY PERFORMANCE. ALL CONTROLLING OFFICERS HAVE PLAYED THEIR PART AND I AM GRATEFUL TO THEM. OUR SYSTEM OF CASH LIMITS IS CLEARLY EFFECTIVE,♦ HE SAID.
4 hejioted TKATt IM practice, the combined effect of the two pay AWARDS TO STAFF GRANTED DURING 1986 WAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED IN FRAMING THE BUDGET. BUT THIS WAS OFFSET BY SOME UNDER-SPENDING ON NON-STAFF DEPARTMENTAL RUNNING COSTS AND AN ADJUSTMENT TO PAYMENTS UNDER THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
„ the size of the cservice remained the major determinant OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SPENDING, AND THE DECEMBER ON DECEMBER GROWTH RATE OF fe PER CENT WAS WITHIN THE PLANNING TARGET AND REFLECTED BOTH FIRM CONTROL AND FURTHER I iPLEMENTATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMME OF VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES, HE SAID.
NET TRANSFERS TC FUNDS HAD INCREASED BY >1.3 BILLION DUE PARTLY TC THE TRANSFER TC THE MASS TRANSIT FUND OF THE EXCEPTIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT MADE BY THE KCR.
/Mr JACOBS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
MR JACOBS SAID THAT. IN THE LIGHT OF THE IMPROVING OVERALL SITUATION. IT HAD NOT BEEN NECESSARY TO TRANSFER SURPLUS FUNDS BACK TO GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FROM THE NOME OWNERSHIP FUND AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
AS TO CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FINANCED FROM THE FUNDS OUTSIDE THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT, MR JACOBS SAID THERE HAD BEEN A DOWNWARD TREND IN RECENT YEARS.
♦THIS REFLECTS MORE THE PHASING OF MAJOR COMMITMENTS THAN ANY DELIBERATE POLICY. THUS. THERE HAS BEEN LESS OF A DRAWDOWN OF THE FUNDS THOUGH WHICH GOVERNMENT FINANCES CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND LOANS THAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED,♦ HE SAID.
♦ALTHOUGH THE LATEST FORECAST FOR THE CURRENT YEAR INDICATES SOME UNDER-SPENDING. THERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE DECLINE IS BOTTOMING OUT. IN TOTAL. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FROM THE FUNDS WAS BELOW BUDGET BY SOME $0.4 BILLION OR 4 PER CENT.
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT A SIGNIFICANT NEW FACTOR WAS THE INCREASING ABILITY OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO FINANCE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF ITS CAPITAL SPENDING FROM ITS OWN RESOURCES,' RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN THE NEED FOR THE AUTHORITY TO DRAW ON THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND IN 1986-07.
LOAN
THIS TREND TOWARDS LOWER REQUIREMENTS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT
FUND WAS ON PRESENT INDICATIONS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, HE SAID.
IN RESPECT OF REVENUE ACCRUING DIRECTLY TO THE FUNDS, THE HOME OWNERSHIP FUND'S REVENUE WAS BOOSTED DY A MAJOR SALE OF FLATS DELAYED FROM IM5-86.
♦AFTER MAKING THE TRANSFERS TO THEM FROM GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THE BALANCES OF THE FUNDS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE SHOWS A NET INCREASE OF $1.9 BILLION.
♦TAKING THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT SURPLUS TOGETHER WITH THIS INCREASE IN FUND BALANCES GIVES AN OVERALL SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR OF <4.9 BILL ION.♦
IN THE LIGHT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN 1906-07, MR JACOBS NOW EXPECTED GENERAL RESERVES TO STAND AT AROUND >20 BILLION AT THE END OF THIS YEAR PLUS BALANCES OF A FURTHER $12 BILLION CARRIED IN VARIOUS FUNDS.
♦WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND THESE MUST BE ALLOWED FOR. THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE RULE AS TO THE CORRECT LEVEL OF RESERVES. IT SHOULD BE RECOGNISED. HOWEVER, THAT ALTHOUGH OUR RESERVES ARE INCREASING AGAIN, THEY REMAIN IN REAL TERMS SLIGHTLY BELOW THEIR LEVEL AT THE START OF THIS DECADE BEFORE WE FELL INTO DEFICIT.
/+AND THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 5 -
♦AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL SURPLUS OF Si.5 BILLION THAT WE HAVE PROJECTED OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD IS NO MORI THAN SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN THE REAL VALUE OF OUR RESERVES.*
MR JACOBS SAIS THE BULK OF THE GOVERNMENT*! ACCUMULATED FISCAL •coc»VFfi WAS INVESTED BY THE TREASURY WITH THE EXCHANGE FUND AGAINST THE ISSUE BY THE FUND OF INTEREST-BEARING BEST CERTIFICATES.
♦THE EXCHANGE FUNB ORDINANCE CURRENTLY LIMITS THE AMOUNT WHICH SIS 5u5"WSE.,0".?,X4k‘JT«15“?^ APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE,* HE SAIB.
♦filVEI THE PRUDENT BUIL® UP WHICH WE FORECAST FOR OUR FISCAL RESERVES. IT WILL NOW BE NECESSARY TO RAISE THIS LIMIT. AND IT IS NTEnI|ON TO MOVE A RESOLUTION IN THIS COUNCIL FOR THIS PURPOSE.*
MY I
-------0 ---------
EXPECTEB SURPLUS PUT AT |2.1 BILLION OR #1.8 BILLION * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON PIERS JACOBS, EXPECTS A SURPLUS OF |2.1 BILLION ON THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, OR fl.G BILLION IF A PACKAGE OF REVENUE MEASURES IS ACCEPTED.
THIS PACKAGE WOULD REDUCE REVENUE BY A NET <329 MILLION IN 1987-88 AND $690 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR.
TOTAL REVENUE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE B46.9 BILLION. WHICH ♦REFLECTS THE GOOD ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE WE HAVE ENJOYED IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WHICH WILL STILL BE FEEDING THOUGH INTO TAX RECEIPTS IN 1987-88.
♦AS IN 1986-87, PROFITS TAX RECEIPTS ARE AqAIN EXPECTED TO RUN Ahead of economic growth, but i must be cautious in estimating the YIELD IN SOME OTHER AREAS WHERE THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY IN 1986 MIGHT NOT BE FULLY SUSTAINED,* HE SAID IN THIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
-----0------
/6........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 19>7
- 6 -
EXPENDITURE TO TOTAL <44.4 BILLION *****
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR WILL AMOUNT TO >44.4 BILLION.
GIVING THE FIGURE IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY (WEDNESDAY), _ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID MIS ESTIMATES FOR 1907-00 ACCOMMODATED AN OVERALL EXPENDITURE GROWTH RATE OF 4.9 CERT IN REAL TERMS, WHICH WAS JUST UNDER 1 PER CENT MORE THAN 1980-07.
PER
FOR
♦IF WE ARE TO MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY BUDGETARY POSITION, WE MUST CONTAIN EXPENDITURE GROWTH TO WITHIN THE PLANNING ASSUMPTION OF A 9.9 PER CENT AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IN THE ECONOMY,* HE SAID.
♦I AIM TO HOLD PUBLIC EXPENDITURE A LITTLE BELOW THIS FIGURE IN ORDER TO ALLOW ROOM FOR UNFORESEEN EVENTS,* HE ADDED.
IN SETTING THE LIMITS TO PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. MR JACOBS SAID HE MUST HAVE REGARD TO A PENT UP DEMAND FOR SERVICES FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF RESTRAINT.
♦BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EXPENDITURE SHOULD BE ALLOWEB TO RISE AUTOMATICALLY.
+IT REMAINS VITAL THAT ALL NEW EXPENBITURE PROPOSALS BE JUBGED ON THEIR MERITS.*
MR JACOBS CONS I DEREB IT ESSENTIAL THAT ANY GROWTH SHOULD BE RELATED TO CLEAR AND ESTABLISHED POLICY OBJECTIVES RATHER THAN BEING BROUGHT ABOUT BY A GENERAL SLACKENING OF CONTROL.
♦WITH THE NEED FOR CONTROL FIRMLY IN MlNB. I SET GUIDELINES FOR DEPARTMENTS LAST AUTUMN FOLLOWING A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF their existing Activities,* he said.
*1 ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE NEED FOR SERVICING NEW FACILITIES AND FOR A RESPONSE TO NATURAL GROWTH.*
A PROVISION OF >110 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO >270 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR, HAD BEEN ACCOMMODATED IN THE BUDGET TO FINANCE THE RECURRENT COST OF NEW OR IMPROVED SERVICES.
IN TERMS OF STAFFING, MEDICAL SERVICES ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE INCREASE REQUIRED IN 1987-00. ANB SOCIAL WELFARE services Accounted for another 8 per cent of the staff increase.
♦OVERALL, CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO BE JUST OVER 3 PER CENT IN 1987-80,* MR JACOBS SAID.
/+THIS IS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
♦THIS IS HIGHER THAN BOTH THE 2 PER CENT APISIH* ^1986-87 AND THE MEDIUM TERM PLANNING ASSUMPTION OF AROUND £.5 PER CENT BUT IS NECESSITATED BY THE TIMING OF FACILITIES COMliii ON STREAM.♦
WITHIN THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE FIGURE, A SUM OF 6.BILLION HAD BEEN ALLOWED FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS AND CCWTILSEflCIES.
PROVISION WAS ALSO MADE FOR TRANSFERRING A TOTAL OF t«.« BILLION TO VARIOUS FUNDS TO FINANCE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE,
_ _ _ o -----------
PUBLIC FINANCES NOW STRONG, SAYS JACOBS *****
HONG KONG’S PUBLIC FINANCES WERE NOW IN A STRONG POSITION AND WE COULD LOOK FORWARD WITH REASONABLE CONFIDENCE TO BROADLY BALANCED BUDGETS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN PRESENTING HIS FIRST BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR JACOBS SAID HONG KONG WAS IN AN EXCELLENT TRADING POSITION AND ITS CURRENCY WAS STABLE, DESPITE DIFFICULTIES IN THE PAST WHICH HAD BEEN OVERCOME.
IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID HE OWED A CONSIDERABLE DEBT TO HIS PREDECESSOR, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE.
♦THE EARLY NINETEEN EIGHTIES WERE NOT EASY. HONG KONG WENT THROUGH POLITICAL UNCERTAINTIES WITH ALL THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES,♦ MR JACOBS SAID.
♦BY TAKING THE LONG TERM VIEW SIR JOHN WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED, AVOIDING BOTH DRACONIAN REVENUE MEASURES AND ANY MAJOR DISRUPTION TO SERVICES. BUSINESS WENT ON, AND THAT IS WHAT ANY FINANCIAL SECRETARY MUST SEEK TO ENSURE.♦
HOWEVER, MR JACOBS NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH HONG KONG WAS NOW IN A MUCH SOUNDER POSITION, THE LESSONS WHICH HAD BEEN LEARNED REMAINED VALID.
HE CONTINUEDi ♦ HONG KONG IS AS VULNERABLE AS EVER TO EXTERNAL FORCES. IT IS INEVITABLE THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE VOLATILITY IN OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE.
/+WHILE THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
8
♦WHILE THE ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED IN 1906. PERHAPS BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS, THERE ARE, AS USUAL, SOME CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON. PROTECTIONISM STILL REMAINS A WORRYING TtftEAT.
♦I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IN MANAGING OUR PUBLIC FINANCES WE SHOULD NOT TAKE ACTION THAT IS LIKELY TO AGGRAVATE THE VOLATILITY IN OUR ECONOMY. WE MUST AT ALL TIMES PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE UNDERLYING TRENDS. AND ENSURE THAT OUR BUDGETARY MANAGEMENT IS CHARACTERISED BY STABILITY.*
MR JACOBS SAID THAT HE INTENDED TO ADHERE TO THE POLICIES THAT HONG KONG HAD SUCCESSFULLY FOLLOWED IN THE PAST, AND HE SAW NO PLACE FOR DEFICIT FINANCING AS A PERMANENT FEATURE OF FISCAL POLICY. ALTHOUGH HE RECOGNISED THAT ON OCCASIONS IT MIGHT BE INEVITABLE THAT DEFICITS HAD TO BE FACEB.
HE ALSO SAID HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO MAINTAIN A LOW AND PREDICTABLE TAX REGIME.
♦HONG KONG'S REPUTATION AS A PLACE IN WHICH BUSINESS CAN BE CONDUCTED PROFITABLY BEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT UPON OUR KEEPING TAX RATES LOW. I CAN, NEVERTHELESS, SEE MERIT IN AT LEAST CONSIDERING DIFFERENT MIXES OF TAX RESOURCES FROM TIME TO TIME,* HE ADDED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT tF THE OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING LOW TAXATION WAS TO BE ACHIEVED, THE GROWTH IN EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC SERVICES MUST STAY WITHIN, RATHER THAN RUN AHEAD OF, THE EXPANSION OF THE ECONOMY.
♦EVEN IN THE IMPROVED SITUATION THAT WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING, RESOURCES REMAIN LIMITED AND CHOICES MUST BE MADE. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO BECOME A MILLSTONE AROUND THE NECK OF ECONOMY, SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN MANY OTHER PLACES,♦ HE SAID.
IN OUTLINING THE ECONOMY’S RECENT PERFORMANCE, MR JACOBS NOTED THERE WAS A GENERAL REVIVAL IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY IN 19D6. DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD PICKED UP SUBSTANTIALLY SINCE LAST MARCH AND ACHIEVED A GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT 16 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE.
♦WE HAVE BEEN HELPED, PARTICULARLY IN OUR EUROPEAN MARKETS AND IN JAPAN, BY THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONQ DOLLAR IN LINE WITH THE U.S. DOLLAR. THIS STRONG EXPORT PERFORMANCE IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE DECLINE OF 5 PER CENT RECORDED IN 1905.
/+RE-EXTORTS ALSO
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 9 -
♦RE-EXPORTS ALSO PICKED UP IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1916 WITH INCREASED RE-EXPORTS OF GOODS COMING FROM CHINA. THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS FOR 1906 WAS ABOUT 14 PER CENT AND THAT OF RETAINED IMPORTS ABOUT 13 PER CENT. A VIRTUAL BALANCE EMERGED ON THE VISIBLE TRADE ACCOUNT,* HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID THAT PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE F’R T" UP IN THE LATTER PART OF 1986, RESULTING IN A GROWTH RATE OF 7 PER CENT FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT ALSO SHOWED A MARKED IMPROVEMENT, GROWING BY 7 PER CENT 111 1966, AFTER A DECLINE OF 2 PER CENT IN 19^; EXPENDITURE ON PLANT AND MACHINERY RECORDED AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 8 PER CENT.
♦THERE WAS A PARTICULARLY WELCOME INCREASE IN SUCH EXPENDITURE BY MANUFACTURERS, REFLECTING GREATER ACTIVITY IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, AND CONFIDENCE THAT THIS ACTIVITY WOULD CONT I NUE,♦ HE ADDED.
IN NATIONAL ACCOUNTS TERMS, PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE RECORDED A GROWTH OF 1 PER CENT IN 1986, WITH THE DECLINE IN GOVERNMENT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OFFSET BY AN INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE
♦SO. IN 1986, WE ENJOYED BUOYANT PRIVATE SECTOR ACTIVITY LE> BY A STr6ng GROWT& IN EXPORTS. THIS RESULTED IN A HlGH-Y SATISFACTORY OVERALL ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE,♦ HE SAID.
♦THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) IN 1986 WAS SLIGHTLY BELOW 9 PER CENT, MUCH HIGHER THAN THE GROWTH RATE IN 1985 OF AROUND 1 PER CENT, AND JUST BELOW THAT ACHIEVED IN 1984.
♦IT IS CONSIDERABLY BETTER THAN MY OWN MID-YEAR FORECAST WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS THE RESULT OF A PARTICULARLY GOOD SECOND HALF.*
ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE, MR JACOBS NOTED THEY HAD DECLINED TO 2.2 PER CENT AND 1.2 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
HE POINTED OUT THAT EMPLOYMENT ROSE IN PRACTICALLY ALL SECTORS, AND EARNINGS IN MOST SECTORS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN REAL TERMS, AS THE RAPID INCREASE IN NOMINAL EARNINGS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ONLY MODEST INFLATION.
MR JACOBS ALSO SAID THAT AT 2.8 PER CENT. THE AVERAGE RATF OF INCREASE IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) WAS LOWER THAN THE RATE OF 3.2 PER CENT RECORDED IN 1985. THIS WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BY SOFT WORLD COMMODITY PRICES AND, IN PARTICULAR, LOWER IMPORi
PRICES OF GOODS FROM CHINA.
/BUT HE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 198?
10
BUT HE SAID THAT AS A RESULT OF THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR, IMPORT PRICES OF CONSUMER GOODS HAD SHOWN MORE RAPIB INCREASES SINCE THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1916 ANB THIS, COUPLED WITH FIRMER DOMESTIC DEMAND, WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN SOME INCREASED INFLATION.
MR JACOBS SAID HE EXPECTED THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GBP THIS YEAR TO BE LOWER THAN THAT OF LAST YEAR. THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS LIKELY TO SLOW DOWN, WHILE THAT OF DOMESTIC DEMAND WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
♦ECONOMIC GROWTH IN OUR MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS. INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES, IS EXPECTED TO BE SLIGHTLY FASTER THAN LAST YEAR. BUT THE QUOTA RESTRAINT LIMITS PARTICULARLY FOR THE UNITED STATES MARKET WILL PROBABLY CONSTRAIN EXPORT PERFORMANCE.
♦MOREOVER, IF THE RATE OF DEPRECIATION OF THE U.S. DOLLAR MODERATES IN 1907, AS SEEMS LIKELY, THE GAIN IN THE PRICE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR EXPORTS MAY BE LESS THAN IN 1986,+ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO HONG KONG'S TRADE WITH CHINA. MR JACOBS SAID THIS HAD BEEN AFFECTED BY MEASURES ADOPTED TO RESTRICT IMPORTS AND TO CONTROL THE USE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES. WHILE CHINA WOULD NEED TO IMPORT IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT ITS MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES, SOME CONTROL MEASURES SEEMED LIKELY TO CONTINUE.
NOTING THAT PROSPECTS FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY EVENTS OUTSIDE HONG KONG’S CONTROL, MR JACOBS SAID HE EXPECTED THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN 1987 WOULD GROW BY ABOUT 7 PER CENT, AND RE-EXPORTS BY ABOUT 13 PER CENT. THIS WOULD GIVE A FORECAST GROWTH RATE OF SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 10 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, COMPARED WITH A GROWTH RATE FOR 1986 OF ABOUT 15 PER CENT.
ON PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FORECAST IT WOULD GROW BY 7 PER CENT, AND THAT OF GOVERNMENT BY 6 PER CENT.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT WAS EXPECTED TO GROW BY JUST OVER 9 PER CENT, WITH ROUGHLY THE SAME GROWTH RATES FOR BOTH THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC SECTORS. CONSISTENT WITH THESE FORECASTS, THE GROWTH RATE OF IMPORTS FOR 1987 WAS LIKELY TO BE 11 PER CENT’ AND THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT WAS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT |8 BILLION.
♦COMBINING THE FORECAST GROWTH RATES OF THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF EXPENDITURE GIVES A FORECAST GROWTH RATE OF GDP FOR 1987 OF JUST OVER 6 PER CENT,+ HE SAID.
/MR JACOBS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
11
MR JACOBS SAID HE EXPECTED 1987 TO BE A YEAR OF MORE BALANCED GROWTH BETWEEN DOMESTIC AND EXTERNAL DEMAND. THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION WOULD CONTINUE TO BE GOOD, AND DEMAND IN THE ECONOMY WOULD REMAIN STRONG RELATIVE TO SUPPLY.
♦ THIS, PLUS THE LAGGED EFFECT OF INCREASED IMPORT PRICES, MAY GIVE RISE TO SOME ADDITIONAL INFLATIONARY PRESSURES. THE AVERAGE RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES IS FORECAST TO BE ABOUT 6 PER CENT, WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE CORRESPONDING RATE OF 3.7 PER CENT IN 1986. THE FORECAST RATE OF INCREASE IN THE GDP DEFLATOR IS ABOUT 5.9 PER CENT.+ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS FORECAST THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GDP IN MONEY TERMS THIS YEAR TO BE 12 PER CENT, IMPLYING A CURRENT PRICE GDP OF ABOUT 8330 BILLION.
♦ AT CURRENT PRICES, PER CAPITA GDP IN 1987 SHOULD THUS BE ABOUT 158 000, EQUIVALENT TO US|7 400,♦ HE ADDED.
--------o----------
CONTROLLED RISE IN SPENDING WHILE LOWERING TAX BURDEN *****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED A BUDGET WHICH INCLUDES A CONTROLLED INCREASE IN PUBLIC SPENDING TOGETHER WITH A MODEST LOWERING OF THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS.
DELIVERING HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR JACOBS SAID HE HAD A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO TAKE IN MAPPING OUT THE STRATEGY FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, GIVEN THE PRESENT IMPROVED OUTLOOK FOR THE PUBLIC FINANCES.
THESE INCLUDED FURTHER GROWTH IN FACILITIES AND SERVICES 5 A REDUCTION IN THE BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS’ THE ACCUMULATION OF FISCAL RESERVES; OR A PRUDENT MIXTURE OF ALL OF THEM.
♦ THE LAST OPTION IS, IN MY VIEW, THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD,♦ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE ASSUMPTION IN THE FORECAST AND ACCORDINGLY IN PLANNING.
♦ IN THE LIGHT OF THE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED GROWTH RATE ACHIEVED IN 1986 AND WHAT WE NOW FORESEE FOR 1987, I CONSIDER THAT A LIMITED UPWARD REVISION OF THE GROWTH RATE ASSUMPTION IS NEEDED,♦ HE SAID.
/MR JACOBS........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
12 -
MR JACOBS THEREFORE ADOPTED A MEDIUM RANGE PLANNING ASSUMPTION OF 5.5 PER CENT GROWTH IN GDP.
TURNING TO PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD SOUGHT TO CONTAIN THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR BY LIMITING EXPENDITURE GROWTH TO WITHIN THE TREND GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY.
♦IM RELATION TO GDP THE SHARE OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE IS AN ESTIMATED 16.5 PER CENT FOR BOTH THE YEARS 1M5-B6 AND 1M6-D7.
♦THE SHARE IS FORECAST TO MOVE UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, TO JUST UNDER 17 PER CENT BY 19B8-S9, IN THE LIGHT OF SOME SIGNIFICANT NEW COMMITMENTS, BUT SHOULD BEGIN TO FALL BACK THEREAFTER ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT OUR CONTROL OVER RECURRENT SPENDING REMAINS FIRM.*
FOR THE FUTURE. HE ADDED, THERE WAS ROOM FOR SOME FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN FACILITIES AND SERVICES GIVEN THE HIGHER GROWTH LIMIT IMPLIED BY THE REVISED MEDIUM TERM PROJECTION OF ECONOMIC growth.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, HE PROPOSED THAT THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE GROWTH BE HELD TO AN AVERAGE OF AROUND 5 PER CENT OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD.
♦RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IS ALREADY GROWING AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF JUST OVER 5 PER CENT AND I WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO SEE IT GROW MUCH FASTER HAVING REGARD TO THE IMPLICIT LONG-TERM COMMITMENT,* HE SAID.
♦WHILE, THEREFORE, I HAVE ALLOWED FOR SOME INCREASE IN PROVISION FOR NEW OR IMPROVED SERVICES, MY MAIN EMPHASIS IS ON A RESUSCITATION OF CAPITAL SPENDING AND AN INCREASE IN THE PACE AT WHICH WE ARE TACKLING THE LIST OF OUTSTANDING PROJECTS,♦ HE SAID, ADDING THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE HAD FALLEN BY ABOUT 20 PER CENT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
ON THE REVENUE SIDE, MR JACOBS MENTIONED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES.
HE SAID THERE WAS NO IMMUTABLE OR CLEARLY CORRECT RATIO BETWEEN THE YIELDS FROM DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES, +BUT FOR THE LONGER TERM I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT A HIGHER RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION FROM DIRECT TAXATION IS DESIRABLE FOR HONG KOMg*
/+IF OUR .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 13 -
♦IF OUR REVENUE IS OVERLY DEPENDENT ON NARROWLY BASED DIRECT TAXES, THEN IT IS ALL TOO EASY IN DIFFICULT TIMES TO DE FORCED INTO A POSITION WHERE ONE HAS TO INCREASE THOSE DIRECT TAXES SIGNIFICANTLY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR COMMITTED RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.♦
TURNING TO TAXATION, MR JACOBS SAID AS BOTH THE ECONOMY AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES GREW. THE STABILITY OF PUBLIC FINANCES COULD BEST BE ASSURED BY ENDEAVOURING TO DEVELOP A BROADLY BASED TAX SYSTEM ♦ BECAUSE SUCH A SYSTEM IS MORE RESILIENT*.
♦ I AM NOT SUGGESTING A CASE FOR HIGHER OVERALL TAXATIONi SIMPLY A WAY OF SPREADING THE TAX BURDEN MORE WIDELY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY,* HE NOTED.
♦ WE MUST BE PRACTICAL IN OUR APPROACH. WE DO NOT WANT COMPLEX NEW TAXES. NEITHER DO WE WANT TAXES THAT ARE COSTLY TO ADMINISTER OR DAMAGE INCENTIVE. WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL WITHOUT THEM.*
MR JACOBS SAID ONE WAY OF ACHIEVING A BROADER TAX BASE WAS THROUGH WIDENING THE SCOPE OF INDIRECT TAXES, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY LIMITED TO A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF SPECIFIC ITEMS.
AN EXAMPLE WAS AN EVENTUAL WIDENING OF THE SALARIES TAX NET, HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID IF THE GOVERNMENT WERE TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF A MORE BROADLY BASED INDIRECT TAX, POSSIBLY IN PLACE OF SOME OF EXISTING TAXES, IT WOULD HAVE TO THINK THE PACKAGE THOUGH WITH METICULOUS ATTENTION TO THE CONSEQUENCES THAT MIGHT FOLLOW.
♦ A PACKAGE THAT HAD A MARKEDLY ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE COST OF LIVING AND WAS MOREOVER EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR HONG KONG,* HE NOTED.
♦ FOR THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, I PROPOSE TO LIMIT THE RENEWED UPWARD DRIFT OF DIRECT TAXES AS A PROPORTION OF THE TOTAL TAX REVENUE BY MAKING ADJUSTMENT WITHIN THE EXISTING SYSTEM,* HE
ON INDIRECT TAXATION, MR JACOBS SAID A NUMBER OF THESE TAXES AND CHARGES WERE FIXED IN CASH TERMS, AND THESE REQUIRED REGULAR REVIEW IF THEIR YIELDS IN REAL TERMS WERE TO BE MAINTAINED.
SUMMING UP, MR JACOBS SAID THE FORECAST INDICATED AN AVERAGE ANNUAL SURPLUS OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD OF CONSOLIDATED REVENUE OVER EXPENDITURE OF SOME fl.5 BILLION PER ANNUM.
♦ I REGARD THIS AS NO MORE THAN A REASONABLE CUSHION, WHICH MUST BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF AN AGGREGATE OF CONSOLIDATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE EXCEEDING #100 BILLION IN EACH YEAR.
♦CLEARLY, RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN EITHER REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE COULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE RESIDUAL SURPLUS,* HE ADDED.
-------0 -------- /14...................
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
14
HALF PER CENT CUT IN PROFITS TAX SOUGHT M )U »
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED A CUT IN THE RATE OF TAX ON CORPORATE PROFITS FROM 18.5 TO 18 PER CENT.
THE NEW CORPORATE RATE. HE SAID, WOULD APPLY TO PROVISIONAL AND FINAL ASSESSMENTS FOR 1987-88.
♦ THE COST OF THE REDUCTION PROPOSED IS >135 MILLION IN 1987-88 AND, FOR A FULL YEAR, >310 MILLION.♦
MR JACOBS SAID THAT SOME PEOPLE HAD ARGUED FOR A MORE SUBSTANTIAL CUT IN THE RATE ON THE GROUND THAT THIS WOULD PROVIDE A STIMULUS TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR, BUT +1 DO NOT CONSIDER THAT WE SHOULD MOVE TOO SHARPLY AT THIS STAGE*.
♦ BUT I HOPE THAT THIS CLEAR INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION IN WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE WILL PROVIDE, IF NOT A STIMULUS TO THE CORPORATE SECTOR, THEN AT LEAST SOUND REASON FOR CONFIDENCE THAT WE REMAIN DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN A LOW TAX REGIME IN WHICH BUSINESS CAN FLOURISH.
* GENTLE PROGRESS WILL SERVE US BEST.*
MR JACOBS SAID THE REDUCTION PROPOSED IN THE STANDARD.RATE WOULD AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF PROFITS TAX TO BE PAID BY UNINCORPORATED BUSINESSES, AND REDUCE YIELDS FROM PROPERTY TAX AND INTEREST TAX.
+TAKEN TOGETHER I ESTIMATE THIS WILL COST A FURTHER >35 MILLION IN 1987-88 AND >75 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR,* HE SAID.
THE NEW STANDARD RATE WOULD APPLY TO PROVISIONAL AND FINAL ASSESSMENTS FOR 1987-88 ON UNINCORPORATED BUSINESSES, TO PROVISIONAL AND FINAL ASSESSMENTS FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN RESPECT OF PROPERTY TAX, AND ALSO TO FINAL INTEREST TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR THAT YEAR, HE ADDED.
--------o----------
/15.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1917
15
INCREASED TAX ALLOWANCES, RATE CUT PROPOSED * * * * *
INCREASES IN PERSONAL AND CHILD ALLOWANCES, AND A MODEST F0R FERS0HAL TAXATION WERE PROPOSED ■ BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
FREBERT!N8 £,S FOR 1907-00. MR JACOBS PROPOSED TO COMBINE THE EXISTING BASIC AND ADDITIONAL PERSONAL ALLOWANCES TO FORM THE NEW BASIC ALLOWANCE, AND TO SET THE ADDITIONAL !^n?rJL?LL0''ANCE AT *5 000 F°^ SINGLE PERSONS, AND *10 000 FOR
MARRIED PERSONS
♦TAKEN TOGETHER. THE NEW BASIC ALLOWANCE PLUS THE ADDITIONAL
Le I0TAL 000 F0R S,H®LE PERSONS AND 170 000 f?!.V?JiE?-CSFLE8' ,EL0W THESE ,MC0HE LEVELS THERE WILL BE NO LIABILITY TO TAX,+ HE SAID.
♦THE NEW ALLOWANCES AT THEIR MAXIMUM LEVELS WILL BE NEARLY personalTlowances™*" THE ’>rese,,t combimeb basic AND ADDITIONAL
MR JACOBS PROPOSED THAT THE CHILD ALLOWANCE BE INCREASED, FOR FR0M 19 000 TO 111 000, AND FOR a SECOND CHILD FROM
|6 000 TO |8 000.
„„ NEW ALLOWANCES WOULD BE RESPECTIVELY SOME 22 PER CENT AND 33 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRESENT ALLOWANCES WHICH WERE SET IN 1915.
HE ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE THIRD BAND IN THE SECOND SCHEDULE OF THE ORDINANCE - THE BAND TO WHICH THE 15 PER CENT MARGINAL RATE OF TAX AT PRESENT APPLIES - BE WIDENED FROM |10 000 TO |20 000.
♦THIS WILL DEFER BY |1O OOO OF INCOME THE 20 PER CENT RATE TAKES EFFECT AND, AT THE SAME THE INCOME LEVELS AT WHICH TAXPAYERS ENTER THE MR JACOBS SAID.
MR JACOBS PROPOSED TO REDUCE THE STANDARD TAXATION FROM 17 PER CENT TO 16.5 PER CENT.
POINT AT WHICH THE TIME, WILL INCREASE STANDARD RATE ZONE,+
RATE FOR PERSONAL
HE ADDED! +BECAUSE AN ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE IN ALL ^°’?^9S?aW0ULB BE «TREMELY EXPENSIVE, I FURTHER PROPOSE THAT THE NEW ADDITIONAL PERSONAL ALLOWANCES OF 15 000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND |10 000 FOR A MARRIED COUPLE BE SUBJECT TO A 10 PER CENT CLAWBACK.
♦BY REINTRODUCING THE CLAWBACK, I AM ABLE TO FOCUS THE PROPOSED ALLOWANCES MORE FULLY ON THE LESS AFFLUENT OF THOSE WHO PAY SALARIES TAX OR ELECT FOR PERSONAL ASSESSMENT.
/+THE CLAWBACK
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
16
♦ THE CLAWBACK WILL OPERATE TO REDUCE THE ALLOWANCE BY 10 PER CENT OF THE AMOUNT BY WHICH A TAXPAYER’S INCOME EXCEEBS 13* 000 IN THE CASE OF A SINGLE PERSON AND >70 000 FOR A MARRIES COUPLE.
♦ THUS, WHEN A SINGLE PERSON’S INCOME REACHES <84 000 AND A MARRIED COUPLE’S <170 000, THE ADDITIONAL PERSONAL ALLOWANCE WILL HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED BY THE CLAWBACK.♦
MR JACOBS SAID HE BELIEVED THAT COUNCILLORS, AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, WOULD WELCOME THE CONCESSIONS.
♦THEY WILL ALSO SAVE THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT THE CONSIDERABLE TASK OF PROCESSING A LARGE NUMBER OF TAX RETURNS FOR A RELATIVELY LOW YIELD, AND WILL EXCLUDE FROM THE TAX NET SOME 100 000 PERSONS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BECOME LIABLE TO SALARIES TAX NEXT YEAR,+ HE SAIB.
IN PROPOSING THE CONCESSIONS, MR JACOBS WAS AWARE THAT TICRE WAS SOME LACK OF CONSISTENCY WITH HIS DESIRE TO SEE TAXES MORE BROADLY BASED.
♦ I HAVE, HOWEVER, TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF DIRECT TAXES AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES,♦ HE SAID.
♦ I BELIEVE THAT, IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRESENT TAX STRUCTURE, WHAT I AM PROPOSING IS BOTH EQUITABLE AND COST EFFECTIVE.♦
MR JACOBS PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE THE NEW CONCESSIONS FROM APRIL 1, 1987.
+THE FIRST OCCASION ON WHICH THEY WILL APPLY, THEREFORE, WILL BE TO PROVISIONAL AND FINAL SALARIES TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1987-88, AND ALSO TO 1987-88 PERSONAL ASSESSMENTS.
♦ I ESTIMATE THAT THE COST TO THE REVENUE IN 1987-88 WILL BE ABOUT <470 MILLION, AND FOR A FULL YEAR, <650 MILLION.*
------0 i.-----
LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM TO CONTINUE X ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION OF TAMPERING WITH THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
PRESENTING HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR JACOBS SAID THE SYSTEM WAS A CRUCIAL ELEMENT UNDERLYING THE STABILITY OF THE MONETARY SYSTEM AND THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG ITSELF.
/+THIS AND ......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
♦this and the fact that we believe in and practise free
TRADE PUT US IN A UNIQUE POSITION,♦ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS NOTED THAT THE EXCHANGE RATE HAD CONTINUED TO DEMONSTRATE REMARKABLE STABILITY OVER THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SPASMODIC SPECULATION BASED ON UNFOUNDED RUMOURS OF A POSSIBLE CHANGE IN THE LINK.
ON OTHER MONETARY ISSUES, MR JACOBS SAID THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY LAST YEAR AND LOWER AND DECLINING INTEREST RATES OVER THE YEAR HAD LED TO A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN ASSET PRICES, MOST NOTABLY THOSE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS.
♦THE STOCK MARKET, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS PERFORMED STRONGLY, HELPED BY THE INFLOW OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT FUNDS INTO HONG KONl TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POTENTIAL RETURNS AVAILABLE HERE,^ HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE INFLOW OF FUNDS INTO THE HONG KONG DOLLAR HW RESULTED IN AN ACCELERATION IN THE GROWTH RATE OF THE MONEY SUPPLY DURING 1986.
♦ HK|M3, FOR EXAMPLE, GREW BY 12 PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, COMPARED WITH 4 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF ALTHOUGH THE FIGURE FOR THE SECOND HALF WAS INFLATED BY SUBSCRIPTIONS TO A NEW SHARE ISSUE IN DECEMBER.
♦ THE INFLOW HAS ALSO RESULTED IN A WIDENING OF THE GAP BETWEEN HONG KONG DOLLAR INTEREST RATES AND THOSE FOR THE U.S. DOLLAR, MAKING IT EXPENSIVE TO KEEP IDLE FUNDS IN HONG KONG DOLLARS AND INDUCING THE NECESSARY OFFSETTING OUTFLOW,♦ HE SAID.
IN TIME, HE ADDED, THE ACCELERATION IN THE MONEY SUPPLY SHOULD WORK THROUGH THE ECONOMY RESULTING IN INCREASED IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES, THUS REDUCING OR ELIMINATING THE NET INFLOW OF FUNDS.
WHILE NOTING THAT A HIGHER GROWTH RATE OF THE MONEY SUPPLY WOULD BRING ABOUT UNWELCOME IMPLICATIONS LIKE INFLATION, MR JACOBS EXPRESSED DOUBTS ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THIS PARTICULAR RELATIONSHIP IN HONG KONG’S OPEN ECONOMY.
♦ ALTHOUGH IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1986, THERE HAS BEEN A TENDENCY FOR THE COST OF LIVING OF THOSE IN THE HIGHER INCOME BRACKETS TO INCREASE FASTER, I DO NOT THINK THAT WE NEED AS YET BE UNDULY CONCERNED,♦ HE SAID.
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/18........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 18 -
GOOD QUALITY, SUBSIDISED HOUSING FOR BOO OOO TARGETTED ft ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GOOD QUALITY FLATS IN THE FORM OF SUBSIDISED HOUSING FOR NEARLY 800 000 PEOPLE IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
HE WAS COMMENTING ON SOME OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMMES AND POLICIES FOR 1987-88, IN WHICH THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE WAS FORECAST TO BE >53.4 BILLION.
♦I SMALL REFER SPECIFICALLY TO OUR LAND PRODUCTION, HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES BECAUSE THEY ARE SO IMPORTANT AND, TOGETHER. MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE,* HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID GROSS LAND PRODUCTION IN 1987-88 WAS EXPECTED TO BE 357 HECTARES COMPARED WITH A REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1986-87 OF 356 HECTARES, AND THE TOTAL PRODUCTION FOR THE NEXT TWEE YEARS WAS EXPECTED TO BE 1 572 HECTARES.
• * • > •
ON PUBLIC HOUSING, HE SAID >3.4 BILLION WOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, INCLUDING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF >3.2 BILLION FOR 1986-07.
NOTWITHSTANDING THE HIGH LEVEL OF THIS EXPENDITURE, HE ADDED, THE FIGURES HAD EXCLUDED THE VALUE OF LAND USED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR RENTAL HOUSING AND FOR FLATS BUILT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
MR JACOBS SAID THAT IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT THE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME SHOULD ACHIEVE A LEVEL OF PRODUCTION OF AT LEAST 40 000 FLATS A YEAR FOR RENTAL AND SALE.
THIS TARGET COMPRISED THE HOUSING AUTHORITY'S RENTAL FLATS AMD FLATS FOR SALE UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, FLATS SOLD UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME. AND THE HOUSING SOCIETY'S PRODUCTION THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENTAL HOUSING AND THE URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.
MR JACOBS SAID THE FORECAST OF HOUSING AUTHORITY PRODUCTION IN THE FOUR YEARS 1987-88 TO 1990-91 EXCEEDED PRODUCTION IN THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS BY 14 PER CENT.
THIS INCLUDED A TOTAL OF 7 200 FLATS TO BE PRODUCED UNDER THE EXTENDED REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES — THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE 26 SUB-STANDARD BLOCKS, AND THE ANNUAL PRODUCTION TARGET OF 30 000 FLATS.
/+THE TOTAL .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 19 -
♦THE TOTAL PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS INCLUDING PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME FLATS AND HOUSING SOCIETY FLATS IS ESTIMATED AT 197 OOO WITH AN AVERAGE COMPLETION RATE OF 49 000 A YEAR, COMFORTAILY EXCEEDING OUR TARGET.
♦ THUS, IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS WE WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL GOOD QUALITY, SUBSIDISED HOUSING FOR NEARLY 000 000 PEOPLE,♦ HE ADDED.
AS REGARDS THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, MR JACODS SAID SOME 62 000 FLATS OUT OF 60 000 FLATS IN THE FIRST EIGHT PHASES WOULD HAVE DEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1907-00. AND WORK WAS IN HAND ON THE BALANCE AND ON A FURTHER 20 000 FLATS IN LATER PHASES. ♦MORE WILL FOLLOW,♦ HE SAID.
ON EDUCATION, HE SAID EXPENDITURE IN 1907-00 WILL DI 09.0 BILLION. THIS REPRESENTS 18.3 PER CENT OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE COMPARED WITH 14.3 PER CENT FIVE YEARS BEFORE.
♦ IT IS A WISE INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE* HE SAID. ADDING
THAT THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST TOOK ACCOUNT OF LIKELY CONTINUED GROWTH IN THIS AREA AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS WHERE THEY HAD BEEN ACCEPTED.
ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES. TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1907M0 WOULD DE 15.2 BILLION REPRESENTING 9.6 PER CENT OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE AS COMPARED WITH 7.4 PER CENT FIVE YEARS AGO, MR JACOBS SAID.
♦ IN ADDITION TO THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF >1.2 BILLION FOR THE NEW GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN TUEN MUN, >1 BILLION WILL BE SPENT OVER THE NEXT YEARS ON IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS TO QUEEN MARY, QUEEN ELIZABETH AND TANG SHIM KIN HOSPITALS.
♦ A FURTHER <120 MILLION WILL DE SPENT ON SITE FORMATION WORKS AND CONSULTANTS FEES FOR THE NEW EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AT AN ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF tl.4 BILLION ARE ALSO UNDER WAY AT A NUMBER OF SUBVERTED HOSPITALS,♦ HE SAID.
ON SOCIAL WELFARE. MR JACOBS SAID EXPENDITURE WOULD DE >3.1 BILLION IN 1987-88 OR 5.8 PER CENT OF CONSOLIDATED EXPENDITURE AS COMPARED WITH 4.8 PER CENT FIVE YEARS AGO.
♦ expectations in this area are always rising — understandably SO, BUT AS WITH ANY AREA OF EXPENDITURE RESOURCES ARE NOT UNLIMITED,* HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO OTHER SERVICES, MR JACOBS SAID WORKS ON PHASE IV OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD — BETWEEN FAIRVIEW PARK AND AU TAU — WOULD START IN 1987-88, AND SPENDING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WOULD RECEIVE A BOOST WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CONTROL MEASURES IN CONNECTION WITH AGRICULTURAL WASTE AND AIR QUALITY.
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/20
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1997
20
NO INTENTION TO
’STIFLE FINANCIAL INNOVATION’ *****
IT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S PHILOSOPHY TO LEAVE THE FINANCIAL MARKET TO DEVELOP ON ITS OWN WITH ONLY THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF REGULATION NECESSARY TO UPHOLD ITS INTEGRITY. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
♦ I DO NOT WANT TO STIFLE FINANCIAL INNOVATION.* YET THE SUPERVISOR OF AUTHORISED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS MUST ALSO HAVE REGARD TO THE INTERESTS OF DEPOSITORS, HE SAID.
TURNING TO BANKING AND THE SECURITIES MARKET. MR JACOBS SAID THE LATEST FASHION WAS WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS *SECURITISATION*.
♦ AS WITH SOME OTHER FASHIONS. ONE IS LEFT WITH THE FEELING THAT THE WEARER MAY BE IN DANGER OF BEING OVER-EXPOSED. SHE NEEDS ADEQUATE COVER- OTHERWISE SHE MAY CATCH A COLD.
. I
♦NOW THAT THE BANKING SECTOR HAS BEEN NURSED BACK TO HEALTH, IT TOO MUST TAKE CARE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CAPITAL COVER- OTHERWISE IT TOO MAY CATCH A COLD.*
MR JACOBS SAID SECURITISATION OF DEBTS EXPOSED FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO WHAT WAS FOR THEM A NEW TYPE OF RISK- A RISK CHARACTERISED IN PARTICULAR BY THE REPLACEMENT OP ASSETS WHICH WERE GENERALLY SECURED BY UNSECURED PAPER ASSETS- ANB THE PRICE OF THOSE PAPER ASSETS WAS VERY OFTEN HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES.
♦IN HONG KONG INTEREST RATES DO AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE FREQUENTLY UNDER THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM,♦ HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS SAID THE NEW BANKING ORDINANCE HAD INTRODUCED PROVISIONS WHICH REQUIRED ADEQUATE CAPITAL TO SUPPORT RISK ASSETS ON THE BOOKS OF AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS.
ALTHOUGH THESE PROVISIONS HAD NOT YET COME INTO EFFECT BECAUSE IT WAS FELT THAT A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD OF AROUND TWO YEARS WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ADJUSTMENT, HE SAID HE HOPED THESE INSTITUTIONS WERE TAKING EARLY ACTION TO CAPITALISE THEMSELVES ADEQUATELY.
THE BANKING ORDINANCE HAD GONE SMOOT 4. Y, HAVING ONLY BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SIX MONTHS, HE SAID.
BUT SOME AMENDMENTS TO CLARIFY THE MEANING OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS HAD BEEN FOUND NECESSARY, AND THESE AMENDMENTS WERE UNDERGOING THE USUAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS.
/SUBJECT TO
1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
21
SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL* MR JACOBS SAIB HE HOREB TO INTRODUCE A BILL WITHIN THIS SESSION.
HE ADDED THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF NANKING WAS CONS(BERING THE ISSUE OF GUIDELINES ON PARTICULAR MATTERS SUCH AS THE UNDERTAKING OF SECURITIES AND OTHER BUSINESS BY AUTHORISED INSTITUTIONS AND ON EXPOSURE TO A SINGLE PARTY.
AFTER CONSULTATION. THESE GUIDELINES WOULD SOON BE INTRODUCED BY THE COMMISSIONER UNDER THE APPROPRIATE SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.
ON THE SECURITIES SIDE* MR JACOBS SAID THE TWO CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS - DISCLOSURE OF OWNERSHIP OF SHARES IN PUBLIC LISTED COMPANIES AND INSIDER DEALING - WERE BEING PURSUED.
♦RECENT EVENTS (ft OTHER FINANCIAL CENTRES HAVE ADDED A NEW DIMENSION TO OUR THINKING.♦
AS TO DISCLOSURE. THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM AND THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAD BOTH CONSIDERED AND ENDORSED A DRAFT BILL, WHICH WOULD BE PUDLISHEB FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
ON INSIDER DEALING, MR JACOBS SAID THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW HAD ALREADY BONE MUCH USEFUL WORK AND HE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE RECOMMENDATIONS SHORTLY.
♦IN 1906 WE HAVE SEEN RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS WORLDWIDE. WE HAVE ALSO SEEN SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE FIELD OF REGULATION.♦
HONG KONO MUST BE ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AS THE NEED AROSE, OTHERWISE IT WOULD FIND ITSELF LOSING OUT AS A MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRE.
♦FURTHERMORE, THERE IS THE VITAL QUESTION OF REPUTATION. WE MUST NOT ALLOW THE INTEGRITY OF OUR MARKETS TO BE TARNISHED DY THE IMPRUDENT ACTIVITIES OF THE GREEDY.
♦BUT EQUALLY WE MUST AVOID THE DANGERS OF OVER-REGULATION. THIS IS A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO STRIKE, BUT WE SHALL DO OUR 1EST,+ HE ADDED.
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/22
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARV 25, 1987
22
STEPS PLANNED TO COUNTER ASSET REFINANCING SCHEMES
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, PROPOSED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE SeCUTIVE COUNCIL SPECIFIC ANT I-AVOIDANCE LEGISLATION BE INTRODUCED TO COUNTER ASSET REFINANCING ARRANGEMENTS WHICH CONVERTED AN INCOME FLOW INTO A NON-TAXABLE CAPITAL RECEIPT.
SUCH LEGISLATION SHOULD APPLY TO ARRANGEMENTS ENTERED INTO AFTER TODAY, HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS SAID THE GENERAL ANT I-AVOIDANCE MEASURES INTRODUCED LAST YEAR MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE IN NEGATING THE PROFITS TAX BENEFIT SOUGHT FROM SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, AND THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE WOULD CHALLENGE CASES WHERE HE CONSIDERED THE PURPOSE OF ANY ARRANGEMENT FELL WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE GENERAL ANT I-AVOIDANCE PROVISIONS.
HOWEVER. HE WAS PROPOSING THAT NEW LEGISLATION BE INTRODUCED BECAUSE *THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE CAPABLE OF BEING PUT AT RISK IS SO LARGE AND SINCE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TO IMPLEMENT SPECIFIC LEGISLATION TO COUNTER SPECIFIC TAX-AVOIDANCE SCHEMES.♦
IF LEFT UNCHECKED, THE MATTER COULD RESULT IN A SUBSTANTIAL DRAIN ON PROFITS TAX YIELD, HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS SAID NE WAS AWARE THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS WERE ENTERING INTO ASSET REFINANCING ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WERE VARIATIONS ON +MYER+ SCHEMES BY ASSIGNING THE INCOME FLOW TO ANOTHER PERSON WITHOUT ASSIGNING THE UNDERLYING ASSET.
♦THE ARRANGEMENTS MAY ALSO INVOLVE EFFORTS TO GIVE INCOME AN OFF-SHORE SOURCE,♦ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT +MYER> SCHEMES WERE SO NAMED AFTER AN AUSTRALIAN CASE WHICH HAD BEEN GIVEN WIDE PUBLICITY IN PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES.
_ o - -
TWO CONCESSIONS ON ESTATE DUTY PROPOSED *****
TWO CONCESSIONS RELATING TO ESTATE DUTY WERE PROPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TO REDUCE THE INFLATIONARY ELEMENT INHERENT IN THE RISE IN VALUES IN RECENT YEARS, HE PROPOSED REPLACING THE PRESENT SCHEDULE OF RATES WITH A NEW SCHEDULE SCALED FROM 6 PER CENT ON ESTATES BETWEEN $2 MILLION AND $2.5 MILLION TO 18 PER CENT ON ESTATES OVER $5 MILLION.
/>1H JACOBS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- -
MR JACOBS ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE DUTY FREE LIMIT ON GIFTS 3E INCREASED FROM >50 OOO TO >100 000 TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INFLATION.
♦THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THESE TWO PROPOSALS WILL BE APPROXIMATELY >25 MILLION BOTH IN 1987-88 AND IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS,♦ HE SAID.
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TAX CONCESSIONS BENEFITING ALL -- *A HIGHER PRIORITY*
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE BELIEVED THAT HIS PROPOSED PERSONAL TAX CONCESSIONS, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT ALL RATHER THAN ANY PARTICULAR GROUP OF SALARIES TAXPAYERS, RATED A HIGHER PRIORITY AND WOULD BE MORE WIDELY ACCEPTABLE.
MR JACOBS WAS REFERRING TO THE +DIFFICULT AND SENSITIVE SUBJECT OF SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN* WHEN DELIVERING HIS BUDGET SPEECH.
HE NOTED THAT THE COST OF INTRODUCING SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN WOULD BE SOME >400 MILLION PER ANNUM AT 1986-87 LEVELS OF INCOME. AND THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE SYSTEM COULD AMOUNT TO >17 MILLION.
♦IT SEEMS TO ME THAT EVEN IF THE REVENUE WERE ABLE TO FOREGO A FURTHER SUM OF THIS MAGNITUDE, IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE THAT THE BENEFIT SHOULD BE SPREAD AMONGST PERSONAL TAXPAYERS GENERALLY RATHER THAN BE ENJOYED BY ANY PARTICULAR GROUP.♦
MR JACOBS, HOWEVER, PROPOSED TO AMEND THE LAW ON +TIME APPORTIONMENT+ CASES, WHICH INVOLVED THE ASSESSMENT TO SALARIES TAX OF EMPLOYEES WHO RENDERED SERVICES BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
IN VIEW OF THE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT BY THE AUTHORITIES AND THE TAXPAYERS INVOLVED IN THESE CASES, HE PROPOSED TO AMEND THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTOMATIC GRANTING OF TIME APPORTIONMENT WHERE, IN A YEAR OF ASSESSMENT. AN EMPLOYEE RENDERED SERVICES OUTSIDE HONG KONG FOR A PERIOD OF MORE THAN 60 DAYS IN TOTAL.
/HE hLSO
WEWiBSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
24
HE ALSO PROPOSED THAT WHERE SERVICES WERE RENDERED OUTSIDE HONG KONG FOR 60 DAYS OR LESS, THE WHOLE OF THE INCOME FROM THAT EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE REGARDED AS ARISING FROM SERVICES RENDERED IN HONG KONG AND NO TIME APPORTIONMENT WOULD BE PERMITTED.
MR JACOBS ESTIMATED THAT THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THESE AMENDMENTS WHICH HE PROPOSED TO TAKE EFFECT FROM THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1987-88 TO BE ABOUT |25 MILLION IN THE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION AND >35 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR.
ON DOUBLE TAXATION, HE SAID WHILE IT WAS AGREED THAT DOUBLE TAXATION AT PRESENT OCCURRED TO SOME EXTENT, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO EMPLOYEES WHO MADE FREQUENT TRIPS TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, AND THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF POSSIBLE REMEDIES, HAD PROVEN DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY.
♦THE QUESTION OF DOUBLE TAXATION IS CURRENTLY BEING EXAMINED AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOME PROGRESS CAN BE MADE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE,♦ HE SAID.
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TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF |10.7 BILLION PROPOSED *****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF fi0.7 BILLION FOR THE VARIOUS FUNDS FROM WHICH EXPENDITURE OF A CAPITAL NATURE WAS FINANCED, COMPARED WITH A REVISED ESTIMATE OF $9 BILLION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
HE ATTRIBUTED THE GROWTH IN EXPENDITURE PARTLY TO THE FURTHER EQUITY INJECTION OF >1 BILLION INTO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO MAKE IN 1987-88.
IT ALSO REFLECTED PROVISION FOR HIGHER CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT CAPITAL SPENDING HAD FALLEN SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT YEARS, MR JACOBS SAID THERE WAS NOW SOME SCOPE FOR TACKLING THE LIST OF OUTSTANDING PROJECTS.
♦WHILST I HAVE REGARD TO THE RECURRENT CONSEQUENCES OF PROJECTS ONCE COMPLETED, I PROPOSE TO ALLOCATE $6 BILLION FOR NEW PROJECTS STARTING IN 1987-88, WHICH IS fl.2 BILLION MORE THAN FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.+
/AIJ,OWING FOR.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 25 -
ALLOWING FOR INEVITABLE LEAD TIMES, HE SAID, IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THIS BOOST IN CAPITAL SPENDING TO BE REFLECTED IN CASH FLOWS.
♦ FOR 1987-88 THERE IS ROOM FOR MORE IMMEDIATE EXPENDITURE. WHICH WILL HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT'S LONGER TERM POSITION BOTH FINANCIALLY AND IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY,♦ HE SAIB,
♦ I HAVE IN MIND SOME RATIONALISATION OF GOVERNMENT'S ACCOMMODATION, AND A VARIETY OF MEASURES INVOLVING, FOR EXAMPLE, COMPUTERISATION AND EQUIPMENT RENEWAL.♦
MR JACOBS CONTINUED THAT REVENUE ACCRUING DIRECTLY TO THE FUNDS COMPRISED RECEIPTS FROM A COMBINATION OF LAND SALES, LOAic REPAYMENTS. INTEREST PAYMENTS AND SALES OF FLATS UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
♦ THE ESTIMATED REVENUE FOR 1987-88 IS >4.7 BILLION COMPARER WITH A REVISED ESTIMATE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OF $4.« BILLION.
♦ THE OVERALL SITUATION OF THE FUNDS AFTER MAKING THE TRANSFERS FROM GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT IS AN ESTIMATED SMALL INCREASE IN THEIR BALANCES OF #0.6 BILLION OR ABOUT 5 PER CENT OF THEIR CURRENT LEVELS.
♦THIS WILL MAINTAIN THE REAL VALUE OF THESE BALANCES. WE NEED SUFFICIENT IN THE FUNDS BEARING IN MIND THE BOOST THAT I AM PROPOSING IN CAPITAL SPENDING AND ITS LONGER TERM IMPACT ON CASH FLOW.
♦TAKING THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT SURPLUS AND GROWTH IN FUND BALANCES TOGETHER GIVES AN ESTIMATED OVERALL SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR OF $2.4 BILLION,+ HE SAID.
0
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES MEASURES TO RAISE EXTRA $165 MILLION * * * * *
MEASURES ARE AT HAND TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF $165 MILLION FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES IN 1987-88, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THESE MEASURES — ALL COMING INTO EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON -ARE TO INCREASE THE DUTY RATES ON IMPORTED HYDROCARBON OIL, INTOXICATING LIQUOR AND IMPORTED ALCOHOL, AND IMPORTED TOBACCO
/FiR JACOBS.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 26 -
MR JACOBS SAID THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE, HOWEVER, WOULD BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY TAX CONCESSIONS ESTIMATED AT $690 MILLION IN 1987-88 AND Sl.l BILLION IN A FULL YEAR.
ON IMPORTED HYDROCARBON OIL, HE PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE DUTY RATE ON MOTOR SPIRIT FROM >2.30 TO >2.40 A LITRE AND ON DIESEL OIL FOR ROAD VEHICLES FROM |1.15 TO >1.20 A LITRE.
WHILE RELUCTANT TO ADD TO THE BURDEN OF CONSUMERS DUE TO RECENT INCREASES IN FUEL PRICES, MR JACOBS SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO MAINTAIN THE REAL VALUE OF THE YIELD FROM THIS PARTICULAR TAX SOURCE.
IF THE FULL INCREASE WAS PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS, PETROL PRICES WOULD RISE BY ABOUT 2 PER CENT AND DIESEL PRICES BY ABOUT 1.5 PER CENT.
♦ THE REFUND ON DIESEL OIL TO THE FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES WILL REMAIN AT 65 CENTS A LITRE,* MR JACOBS CONTINUED.
♦ THE COST OF THE DUTY INCREASE TO ALL THESE COMPANIES TAKEN TOGETHER WILL BE >6 MILLION. THE EFFECT, IF ANY, ON BUS FARES SHOULD BE MINIMAL.*
ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE INCREASED DUTY RATES ON IMPORTED HYDROCARBON OIL WAS ESTIMATED AT *60 MILLION IN 1987-88.
MR JACOBS THEN MADE TWO PROPOSALS RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.
THE FIRST PROPOSAL WAS INCREASES VARYING FROM 6 PER CENT TO 13 PER CENT IN SPECIFIC DUTY ELEMENTS TO RESTORE THEIR REAL VALUES SINCE THEY WERE LAST REVISED. SOME HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1984.
♦ THE AD VALOREM RATES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED,* HE ADDED.
♦ SECOND, I PROPOSE A MINOR STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DUTY RATES.♦
DUTY RATES ON CIDER AND PERRY WILL BE INCREASED TO fl.28 PER LITRE — BY RATHER LESS THAN THE RATE OF INFLATION — TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH THE BASIC DUTY RATE ON BEER.
MR JACOBS ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE BASIC RATES FOR IMPORTED ETHYL ALCOHOL AND METHYL ALCOHOL FROM |4 PER LITRE TO $4.30 PER LITRE.
♦ THIS WILL MAINTAIN THE RATES IN REAL TERMS AND KEEP THEM IN LINE WITH THE RATES FOR NON-EUROPEAN TYPE SPIRITS,♦ HE SAID.
/ASSUMING NO .......
W8BWEEBAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 27 -
ASSUMING NO CONSUMER RESISTANCE, THESE CHANGES IN RATES WERE ESTIMATED TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF |9O MILLION.
TURNING TO IMPORTED TOBACCO. MR JACOBS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE DUTY ON IMPORTED UNMANUFACTURED TOBACCO FROM $190 TO $200 A KILOGRAM. AND THAT ON IMPORTED CIGARETTES FROM $210 TO $220 A KILOGRAM, RAISING AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE ESTIMATED AT $47 MILLION IN 1987-88.
♦ ON THE BASIS PROPOSED, THE DUTY DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN IMPORTED UNMANUFACTURED TOBACCO AND IMPORTED CIGARETTES WILL REMAIN AT ABOUT 10 PER CENT,* HE SAID.
DUTY RATE ON CIGARS WAS ALSO PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM $210 TO $220 A KILOGRAM, AND THAT ON MANUFACTURED TOBACCO (OTHER VARIETIES) FROM $190 TO $220 A KILOGRAM, KEEPING THEM IN LINE WITH THOSE ON IMPORTED MANUFACTURED CIGARETTES AND IMPORTED UNMANUFACTURED TOBACCO.
ON CHINESE PREPARED TOBACCO, MR JACOBS PROPOSED TO INCREASE DUTY RATE FROM $40 TO $43 A KILOGRAM, IN LINE WITH INFLATION SINCE 1985 WHEN IT WAS LAST REVISED.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE YIELDED FROM THESE TWO PROPOSALS WOULD BE $8 MILLION.
QUOTING HIS PREDECESSOR, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, AS MENTIONING IN 1985 THE OPTION OF IMPOSING AN AD VALOREM DUTY ON TOBACCO, MR JACOBS SAID THE TRADE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONSULTED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS FAR FROM UNANIMOUS.
HE ADMITTED THAT THE EXISTING DUTY STRUCTURE ON TOBACCO WAS ♦LESS THAN IDEAL*.
♦ IT IS MY PRESENT INTENTION TO MOVE IN DUE COURSE TO A SIMPLER DUTY STRUCTURE IN WHICH DUTIES WOULD BE LEVIED ON NUMHf OF CIGARETTES RATHER THAN ON WEIGHT OF TOBACCO,+ HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THE PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING HIS PROPOSALS REGARD!^ DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, MR JACOBS SAID ♦DUTY RATES SHOULD BE MAINTAINED IN REAL TERMS*.
♦ MY OBJECTIVE IS TO SECURE REGULAR SMALL CHANGES BROADLY IN LINE WITH INFLATION RATHER THAN LESS FREQUENT, BUT INEVITABLY LARGER, INCREASES.
♦THERE ARE SOME MINOR EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PRINCIPLE BUT, BY AND LARGE, I HAVE FOLLOWED IT CLOSELY,♦ HE SAID.
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/?8.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25f ly^
28
♦SERVICES SHOULD BE *
PAID BY THOSE WHO USE THEM* * M * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED TO INCREASE BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES, VEHICLE AND DRIVIK LICENCE FEES, AND CERTAIN VISA AND TRAVEL DOCUMENT FEES.
MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY WAS THAT SERVICES SHOULD GENERALLY BE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO USE THEM.
♦ IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE IN OUR LOW TAX ECONOMY THAT WE PO ALL WE CAN TO OBSERVE THE PRINCIPLE THAT SERVICES SHOULD NOT IN GENERAL BE SUBSIDISED.
♦IN THIS REGARD, CONTROLLING OFFICERS ARE CONSTANTLY ENCOURAGED TO TAKE Tfe INITIATIVE IN PROPOSING NEW FEES AND CHARGES TO ENSURE THAT THOSE SERVICES THAT ARE NOT A FAIR CHARGE ON THE GENERAL TAXPAYER ARE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO BENEFIT FROM THEM.+
MR JACOBS NOTED THAT THESE SPECIFIC INCREASES WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THOSE DEPARTMENTAL FEES AND CHARGES COMING UP FOR THEIR NORMAL REGULAR REVIEW IN 1987.
♦THE INCREASES WILL YIELD $200 MILLION IN 1987-88 AND $240 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR.+ HE ADDED.
THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEE WAS 10 PER CENT, i.E. THE ANNUAL CHARGE OF $500 WOULD GO UP TO $55Of STARTING FROM APRIL THIS YEAR.
♦THE FEE WILL APPLY TO ALL REGISTERED BUSINESSES, BUT SMAIL BUSINESSES WHOSE MONTHLY TURNOVER DOES NOT EXCEED CERTAIN PRE8CRUHB LIMITS WILL CONTINUE TO BE GRANTED EXEMPTION.
♦THE ADDITIONAL YIELD WILL BE $20 MILLION IN 1987-88, AND THE LEVY FOR THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND, CURREL AT A RATE OF $100, IS SEPARATE AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS PROPO
AS TO VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE FEES, MR JACOBS PROPOSED M INCREASE OF AROUND 5 PER CENT. WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE ACCRUING FROM THESE INCREASES WOULD BE $45 MILLION.
CERTAIN VISA AND TRAVEL DOCUMENT FEES WOULD ALSO GO UP B AVERAGE OF 12 PER CENT, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
HE NOTED THAT MOST OF THESE FEES WERE LAST INCREASED IN ANB THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD BE AROUND $20 MILLION.
A NUMBER OF OTHER FEES AND CHARGES, INCLUDING THOSE IN REI ’ TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, THE MARIF DEPARTMENT AND THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT, WERE SCHEDULE FOR THEIR NORMAL REGULAR REVIEWS THIS YEAR.
MR JACOBS SAID HE EXPECTED FROM THESE SOURCES ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF ABOUT $115 MILLION IN 1987-88, GIVING RISE TO $155 Mi If IN A FULL YEAR.
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/29........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 19S?
29 -
REVENUE PROTECTION M * M *
ORDERS SIGNED *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET PROPOSALS CONCERNING DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, VISA AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCE FEES WERE THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDERS SIGNED BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.
THE INCREASE IN THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEE WILL, SUBJECs THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TAKE EFFECT ON APRIL 1.
♦OTHER INCREASES IN FEES AND CHARGES WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD DURING THE YEAR AS THE RELEVANT REVIEWS ARE COMPLETED,♦ THE HON PIERS JACOBS SAID IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH.
BILLS TO GIVE EFFECT TO PROPOSALS ON ESTATE DUTY AND TAX CONCESSIONS WOULD BE INTRODUCED DURING THE COUNCIL’S CURRENT SESSION, HE ADDED.
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FS’S SPEECH ON TV AND RADIO * * * * *
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY DELIVERED BY Fife FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING!
♦THIS AFTERNOON I PRESENTED MY FIRST BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATIVE council, after a difficult period of adjustment, the government’s FINANCES HAVE NOW MOVED INTO A STRONGER POSITION.
♦ WE ANTICIPATE A GENERAL REVENUE SURPLUS OF SOME S3 BILLIGM FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR. THIS IS BETTER THAN WE HAD EXPECTED.
♦ WE ENJOYED A REMARKABLE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN 1986. A GROWTH RATE OF ALMOST NINE PER CENT OUR ORIGINAL FORECAST WAS COMFORTABLY EXCEEDED. OUR EXTERNAL TRADE, ON WHICH WE DEPEND SO MUCH, WAS BUOYANT. AND INFLATION REMAINED LOW.
♦ FURTHERMORE, THE PROSPECTS FOR 1987 ARE GOOD. UNEMPLOYMENT IS NOW AT THE LOWEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED. ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALTHOUGH FORECAST TO BE LOWER THAN IN 1986, IS STILL EXPECTED TO BE AROUND SIX PER CENT.
♦AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND WE NOW HAVE A GREATER RANGE OF CHOICES FOR THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF OUR PUBLIC FINANCES. BUT WE MUST BE CAUTIOUS.
/♦NEVERTHELESS, THE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
- 30 -
♦NEVERTHELESS, THE BUDGET I HAVE PRESENTED TODAY RECOGNISES THE MANY ASPIRATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC SERVICES. IT ALLOWS FOR SOME ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE IN THE YEAR AHEAD.
♦MORE WILL BE SPENT ON HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL SERVICES, ON EDUCATION AND ON SOCIAL WELFARE. AND THE HOUSING PROGRAMME WILL PRODUCE MORE THAN 40 000 NEW FLATS.
♦AT THE SAME TIME IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROPOSE REDUCTIONS IN THE TAX BURDEN. MY BUDGET INCLUDES TAX CONCESSIONS COSTING THE REVENUE SOME #1.1 BILLION IN A FULL YEAR.
♦FOR SALARIES TAX I HAVE PROPOSED INCREASES IN PERSONAL ALLOWANCES AND A REDUCTION IN THE STANDARD RATE BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT. THIS IS THE FIRST EVER REDUCTION IN THE STANDARD RATE OF SALARIES TAX. OVER 235 000 PEOPLE WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE TAX NET ALTOGETHER.
♦I HAVE ALSO PROPOSED A SIMILAR REDUCTION OF HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT FOR PROFITS TAX, PROPERTY TAX AND INTEREST TAX.
♦THESE CONCESSIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A CLEAR INDICATION OF OUR DETERMINATION THAT HONG KONG WILL REMAIN A LOW TAX AREA. I HOPE I SHALL BE ABLE TO MOVE FURTHER IN THIS DIRECTION IF OUR FINANCES IN FUTURE SO ALLOW. IN THIS RESPECT, FIRM CONTROL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WILL REMAIN A CRITICAL FACTOR.
♦OFFSETTING IN PART THESE TAX CONCESSIONS WILL BE SMALL INCREASES IN VARIOUS INDIRECT TAXES AND CHARGES. THESE INCREASES ARE DESIGNED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE MODEST INFLATION THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED.
♦LOOKING AHEAD, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR TRADE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD AND THUS REMAIN VULNERABLE TO EXTERNAL EVENTS. NEVERTHELESS, OUR PUBLIC FINANCES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE CAN FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE.+
0 -------
BUDGET BRIEFING * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. MR PIERS JACOBS, WILL GIVE A PRESS BRIEFING ON THE BUDGET AT 3.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE GlS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
i
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE BRIEFING.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
C0RT1NTS PAGE NO.
WIDESPREAD BENEFITS FROM ’VERY GOOD BUDGET’ ................ 1
ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO OFFER COMPUTER STUDIES............. 1
MERGER OF COUNCILS NOT CONSIDERED........................... 3
THREE TIERS OF GOVERl^IENT WILL CONTINUE.................... 4
FORD EXPLAINS TIMESCALE FOR REVIEW.......................... 5
YEAR’S FIRST LAND AUCTIONS FETCH $44*5 MILLION.............. 5
PROVISIONAL TtUkDE FIGURES FUR JANUARY RELEASED............. 6
IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING THROUGH EDUCATION STRESSED........... 9
MEET THE MEDIA............................................. 10
NT LANDFILL AND PFA LAGOON SITES VISITED................... 11
MORE FIRE STATIONS COMING CN STREAM........................ 12
SEMINAR CN YOUTH POLICY FUR SOCIAL WORKERS................. 13
MORE STUDENTS GOING TO JAPAN FOR STUDY .................... 14
TENANCIES SOUGHT FOR THREE SITES........................... 15
PROCESSING OF TAXI TENDERS COMPLETED....................... 15
MORE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO COME DOWN....................... 16
TRAINEE TEACHERS VISIT SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD............. 16
OPEN DAY AT TECHNICS INSTITUTE............................. 17
SAI KUNG CHILDREN’S CHOIR GIVING CONCERT................... 17
TEMPORARY LIFE GUARDS SOUGHT .............................. 18
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FOR VOLUNTEERS ............... 18
SHAM SHUT PC CHILDREN’S CHOIR TO STAGS CONCEPT............. 19
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN WAN CHAI................................ 19
«EBRuAR» 26, 1987
WIDESPREAD BENEFITS FROM ’VERY GOOD BUDGET’
I » » KI
THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES. TODAY (THURSDAY) DESCRIBED THE BUDGET FOR 1987-88 AS +A VERY GOOD BUDGET*, WITH SOME OF THE BENEFITS BEING SPREAD WIDELY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE IN HUNG HOM. SIR DAVID SAID IT WAS VERY GRATIFYING TO KNOW THAT THE NEW BUDGET WOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO GET AHEAD WITH SOME OF ITS MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS.
♦ONE OF THE ONES WHICH I THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT TO SO MANY PEOPLE IS THE EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL. AND IT’S VERY PLEASING THAT WE ARE ABLE, WITH THE FUNDS WE HAVE AVAILABLE, TO GET ON WITH THAT,* HE SAID.
SIR DAVID DISAGREED WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS BEING OVER-CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE BUDGET. HE SAID MR PIERS JACOBS EXPLAINED HIS STRATEGIES EXTREMELY CLEARLY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
♦THIS ISN’T A TIME FOR WILD INITIATIVES, BUT FOR CAUTION AND SENSIBLE PROGRESS.♦
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE $3 BILLION SURPLUS IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAIDi +WE HAD A VERY VERY GOOD YEAR. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY GO ON A SPENDING SPREE. WE SHOULD POINT OUR ECONOMY IN A CAUTIOUS WAY.*
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ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO OFFER COMPUTER STUDIES ft ft ft ft
ALL PUBLIC SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER COMPUTER STUDIES IN FORMS FOUR AND FIVE FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE COMPUTER EDUCATION CENTRE, IN HUNG HOM, SIR DAVID SAID 83 PER CENT OF PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS HAD JOINED THE COMPUTER STUDIES SCHEME SINCE 1982, WITH COMPUTER EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AT A TOTAL COST OF 130 MILLION.
AS COMPUTER EQUIPMENT WOULD ALSO BE PROVIDED TO THE REMAINING SCHOOLS, THE SCALE OF OPERATION HAD ENABLED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO EMBARK ON PLANS TO INTRODUCE IN STAGES A NEW SUBJECT, COMPUTER LITERACY, TO ALL JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS, HE SAID.
/+THE NEW
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 198?
2
♦THE NEW SCHEME WILL ENABLE ALL STUDENTS TO ACQUIRE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTERS, THEIR APPLICATIONS AND THEIR SOCIAL IMPACT, WHILE UNDERGOING THEIR NINE YEARS OF BASIC EDUCATION,♦ HE ADDED.
APART FROM THESE TWO SCHEMES, THE DEPARTMENT WAS EXPLORING THE INCLUSION OF MICROELECTRONICS ELEMENTS INTO SUBJECTS ACROSS THE WHOLE SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM AND THE EXTENSION OF COMPUTER EDUCATION TO THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM, SIR DAVID SAID.
ALL THESE WOULD REQUIRE THE READY AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED TEACHERS, AND IN THIS IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT THE CENTRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PROJECT CHOSEN BY SIR EDWARD YOUDE TO BENEFIT FROM THE MACLE HOSE FUND.
BESIDES PROVIDING SPECIALISED IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OF COMPUTER STUDIES, THE CENTRE WOULD ALSO ENABLE BASIC TRAINING TO BE GIVEN TO SCHOOL TEACHERS OF ALL DISCIPLINES ANB AT ALL LEVELS, HE ADDED.
BEFORE SIR DAVID UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO COMMEMORATE THE OPENING OF THE CENTRE, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, REFERRED TO THE DONATION OF $4.5 MILLION FROM THE MACLEHOSE FUND, AUTHORISED BY SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WHICH HAD MADE THE PROJECT POSSIBLE.
♦THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS MOST APPRECIATIVE OF THE EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES WHICH THIS DONATION HAS MADE POSSIBLE*, SAID MR LI, ADDING THAT ALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTRE WERE DEEPLY GRATEFUL TO THE LATE GOVERNOR.
THE COMPUTER CENTRE HAS SIX FUNCTIONAL UNITS INCLUDING TWO COMPUTER TRAINING UNITS, CONTROL TECHNOLOGY UNIT, SOFTWARE REVIEW UNIT, REFERENCE LIBRARY AND AUDIO-VISUAL UNIT.
♦IT IS EQUIPPED TO HIGH STANDARDS AND IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES AND ADVISORY SERVICES FOR BOTH SPECIALIST AND NON-SPECIALIST TEACHERS,♦ MR LI SAID.
♦THE CENTRE’S FACILITIES ARE CAPABLE OF EXPANSION AND WE H)PE THAT AT AN APPROPRIATE STAGE OF THE CENTRE’S DEVELOPMENT THE ACQUISITION OF A MINI-COMPUTER WILL ENABLE THE CENTRE TO ESTABLISH A LINK AND THUS SHARE ITS COMPUTER SERVICES WITH THOSE OF A TERTIARY EDUCATION INSTITUTION.♦
REFERING TO TRAINING, MR LI SAID THE CENTRE WOULD ORGANISE A BALANCED MIX OF COURSES COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF COMPUTER EDUCATIONS, AND AT THE SAME TIME PREPARING THE GROUND FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT BY ENSURING THE AVAILABILITY OF WELL-PREPARED TEACHERS.
♦THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE GAINED BY TEACHERS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE CENTRE'S ACTIVITIES AND USE OF ITS FACILITIES WILL FORM THE BASIS OF THEIR CLASSROOM TEACHING, WITH THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF THE CENTRE’S STAFF AND THE BACK-UP SERVICES OF THE COMPUTER EDUCATION SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT,♦ MR LI ADDED.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
3
ft * * ft ft
MERGER OF COUNCILS NOT CONSIDERED
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD. SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) that it was not the current government Thinking that the regional COUNCIL AND URBAN COUNCIL SHOULD BE MERGED.
.. 3PEAI<,NG to ^porters after attending a regional council MEETING. MR F0RD 3A,D THE TW0 COUNCILS were set up with a view TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE TWO AREAS CONCERNED.
+1 THINK IT’S BEEN PROVED IN THE OPERATION OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL THAT THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOB EXTREM^Y WELL,* HE SAID.
mp SEE VERY L,TTLE NEED T0 CHANCE THAT SITUATION,*
ASKED WHETHER THERE WAS THE NEED IN FUTURE FOR ONE COUNCIL' ™ REFERENCE FR0M THE 0THER COUNCIL IN DECIDING ITS POLICY, MR FORD SAID, *WELL, I THINK OBVIOUSLY IT’S THE VARIOUS NEED OVER THE TERRITORY AS A WHOLE TO HAVE CONTINUITY AND A DEGREE OF CONTINUITY AND DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE COUNCILS.*
w.m . M0TED THAT ThE CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG. met REGULARLY WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL TO LIAISE AND TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
....... ♦•THINK THAT’S THE BEST WAY OF DOING THINGS.
SURE THAT SERVICES AND SO ON ARE KEPT MORE OR LESS THROUGHOUT THE----------------
THAT MAKES LESS IN LINE
TERRITORY,* MR FORD SAID.
+BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY NEED TO BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DISTRICT NEEDS THAT THESE COUNCILS LOOK AFTER. I THINK THAT’S A VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR.* HE ADDED
REFERRING TO SUGGESTIONS THAT THE TWO COUNCILS SHOULD BE SCRAPPED, MR FORD SAID HE WOULD PERSONALLY BE QUITE SURPRISED IF THERE WAS A STRONG REACTION TO THAT EFFECT.
♦THERE CERTAINLY DOESN’T SEEM TO BE ANY INDICATION SO FAR THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC FEELING IN THAT DIRECTION,* HE SAID.
ASKED ABOUT THE LATEST SITUATION REGARDING PROPOSALS FOR A NEW AIRPORT. THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID ONE OF THE TWO THINGS BEING CONSIDERED WAS THE LIFE OF KAI TAK AND HOW LONG IT WOULD BE ABLE TO COPE WITH AIR TRAFFIC AND WHETHER THERE COULD BE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS TO IT WHICH *WILL ENABLE US TO MAKE GOOD ECONOMIC USE OF IT FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.*
♦THAT STUDY IS CONTINUING. MEANWHILE, WE HAVE THE INTERESTING PROPOSAL FROM MR GORDON WU’S CONSORTIUM. WE ARE INVESTIGATING THAT IN SOME DETAIL.♦
MR FORD SAID HE WAS DUE TO MEET, WITH HIS COMMITTEE, WITH MR WU TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO DISCUSS FURTHER DETAILS OF THAT PROPOSAL.
♦SO THESE TWO STUDIES ARE GOING ALONG IN PARALLEL AND I HOPE THAT WILL ENABLE US TO REACH A LONG-TERM DECISION ABOUT WHETHER WE NEED A NEW AIRPORT IN HONG KONG, AND IF SO, WHEN A
'•DECISION SHOULD BE MADE ABOUT IT.+ ’ ’
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/4........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 19&7
three tiers of government will continue
* * * M ft
THE CHIEF SECRETARY MR DAVID FORD TOLD MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL AND THAT IT DOES NOT INTEND TO DO AWAY WITH ANY OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID THAT IT IS A VERY FUNDAMENTAL PART AND A VERY IMPORTANT POINT FOR EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TrflEE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE.
♦ IT IS NOT PART OF OUR THINKING THAT ANY OF THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MERGED WITH ANY OTHER OR DELETED FROM OUR FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS,* SAID MR FORD.
MR FORD SAID THAT THE GREEN PAPER WHICH IS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED THIS YEAR INDEED WILL REVIEW THE THREE-TIER SYSTEM OF THE GOVERNMENT. HE ADDED THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TO SEE WHAT PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE AND WHETHER ANY IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE.
♦ THERE ARE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES AT DISTRICT LEVELS, AND AT THE LEVELS OF THE REGIONAL AND URBAN COUNCILS, AND INDEED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,* HE SAID.
♦ I BELIEVE THAT WE MUST EXAMINE THOSE ROLES TO MAKE SURE THAT DELINEATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES IS VERY CLEARLY DEFINED BETWEEN THE THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE EXERCISE OF THE GREEN PAPER,* HE ADDED.
MR FORD POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE GREEN PAPER OR FROM THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION WHICH WILL STEM FROM IT.
♦ THE PUBLIC REACTION SO FAR ON THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL HAS INDEED BEEN VERY FAVOURABLE,* HE SAID.
♦ YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND YOUR WORK, I BELIEVE, ON THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES, IS BEARING FRUIT AND IS A VERY PROFITABLE AND USEFUL WAY OF PROCEEDING,* MR FORD NOTED.
TODAY’S VISIT TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WAS THE FIRST ONE MADE BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
5
* * * *
FORD EXPLAINS TIMESCALE FOR REVIEW
*
„ IHE TIMESCALE FOR CONSULTATION LEADING UP TO THE WRITE PAPER THE 1987 REVIEW IS GEARED TO ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE FOR THE 1988 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY. MR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
+WE MUST AIM FOR SOMETHING LIKE A FIVE OR SIX MONTH REVIEW PERIOD IF WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LEGISLATION IN TIME AND IN PLACE FOR ANY CHANGES THAT MIGHT TAKE PLACE FOR THE 1988 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,* MR FORD SAID.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AFTER A TIME CAPSULE WAS ENSHRINED THERE, MR FORD SAID HE DID NOT THINK THE CONSULTATION PERIOD COULD BE EXTENDED *T0 A POINT WHEREBY WE WOULD MISS ANY NECESSARY DATES*.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TIME TO PUT THE CHANGES IN PLACE IF NECESSARY.
ASKED IF ANY DEADLINE WAS SET, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAIDi ♦I DON’T THINK THERE IS A DEADLINE IN THOSE TERMS, BUT AS I’VE SAID AND AS THE ACTING GOVERNOR HAS SAID, THE KEY POINT IS IF THERE ARE TO BE CHANGES IN THE 1988 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THEN OBVIOUSLY THERE MUST BE TIME FOR THOSE TO BE BROUGHT IN, IN THE COURSE OF NEXT YEAR. ’
*THAT MEANS THE WHITE PAPER MUST BE PUBLISHED AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR. SO THE CONSULTATION PERIOD UP UNTIL THAT TIME IS FLEXIBLE BUT WE MUST HAVE TIME TO CONSIDER OBVIOUSLY THE VIEWS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE AND TO DRAFT THE WHITE PAPER.
♦THAT IS WHY THE WHITE PAPER IS LIKELY TO BE PUBLISHED AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR, OR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT.*
- - o - -
YEAR’S FIRST LAND AUCTIONS FETCH >44.5 MILLION
X M X * X
A Tn-rlWOn1 N2^?TR 4L L0TS ,N T HE, NEW TERRITORIES WERE SOLD FOR LISTrtL °F ^,5 MILLION TODAY (THURSDAY) IN THE FIRST LAND AUCTION HELD BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR.
ucToce Silf ol 2,Un!;E!LrUEN' 8HA T,Mt MEASURING ABOUT 5 600 SQUARE METRES, WAS SOLD FOR >41 MILLION TO EASTERN ORTUNE LIMITED.
BIDDING BEGAN AT >20 MILLION. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE SALE. 800 SW‘RE HETRES 0F aROsS
/the other
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 198?
6
THE OTHER SITE OF 1 094 SQUARE METRES. AT TUI MIN rti COMPANY6! HONG KONsl^L n*HTFB* $ M,LL,0N BY JOSEPH WONG AND ’ i/UFirART V WNG RUNG) LIMITED*
THE OPENING BID FOR THE SITE WAS il«2 MILLION* THE PURCHASER A®e" BEFORE J*RCHH3bTlMo.LE‘ST ‘ °’t 3Q,,‘RE METRES °F ,R0SS FL00R
BALANCEEO^THE9pREMfuMLBYWSURRENDERINrLANDLEXCHANGETENTITLEMENTS.
LEASE CONDITIONS FOR BOTH SITES STIPULATE THAT THEY CAN BF USED AS GODOWNS, BUT NOT FOR OFFENSIVE TRADES.
GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT (ACQUISITION AND VALUATION) MR MlaFi BURLEY, WHO CONDUCTED AUCTION HELD AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE fxpfctat?on?E RESP0NSE AS VERY ENCOURAGING, AND EXCEEDING INITIAL tArCUIAl I UNO •
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PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY RELEASED *****
EXTERNAL TRADE CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGLY IN JANUARY 1987. THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1987. AT #14 053 MILLION. GREW BY 33.5 PER CENT OR 83 523 MILLION COMPARED WITH JANUARY 19sL WHILE THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 40.2 PER CENT OR <3 441 MILLION TO 812 004 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS. AT 826 057 MILLION, WAS 36.5 PER CENT OR 86 964 MILLION HIGHER THAN IN JANUARY 1986.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS GREW BY 25.0 PER CENT OR 8* 710 MILLION OVER JANUARY 1986 TO 823 516 MILLION.
AS THE GROWTH IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS FASTER THAN THAT OF IMPORTS, A VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS EQUIVALENT TO 10.8 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS RECORDED IN JANUARY 1987, COMPARED WITH A VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS OF 1.5 PER CENT RECORDED IN JANUARY 1986.
THE VISIBLE TRADE SURPLUS IN JANUARY 1987, AT 82 5*1 MILLION, WAS THE HIGHEST MONTH.Y SURPLUS EVER RECORDED.
/however, trade
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
HOWEVER. TRADE FIGURES FOR THE BEGINNING MONTHS OF THE YEAR ARE NORMALLY INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS, WHICH WERE IN LATE JANUARY THIS YEAR AND MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A GROWTH RATE OF EXPORTS HIGHER THAN WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE OCCURRED.
PUTTING THE MONTH’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1987 WAS >283 494 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF >157 506 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS OF >125 988 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE 12 MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1986, THE VALUES OF TOTAL EXPORTS, DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS GREW BY 21.1 PER CENT, 21.9 p(r CENT AND 20.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. OVER THIS PERIOD, THE VALUE OF IMPORTS GREW BY 21.4 PER CENT TO >280 664 MILLION.
THE VISIBLE TRADE ACCOUNT RECORDED A SURPLUS OF >2 830 MILLION (EQUIVALENT TO 1.0 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS), WHICH WAS SMALLER THAN THE SURPLUS OF >3 014 MILLION (EQUIVALENT TO 1.3 PER CENT OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS) RECORDED IN THE PREVIOUS 12-MONTH
PERIOD.
COMMENTING ON THESE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SECRETATI AT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THIS STRONG GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS PARTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO A HIGH LEVEL OF DEMAND GENERALLY FOR IMPORTS IN MANY OF HONG KONG’S MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS.
ANOTHER CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR WAS THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR, IN LINE WITH THAT OF THE U.S. DOLLAR UNDER THE LINKED EXCHANGE RATE SYSTEM, AGAINST MOST MAJOR CURRENCIES, WHICH HAS ENHANCED THE EXTERNAL COMPETITIVENESS OF HONG KONG’S
PRODUCTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS ALSO INCREASED SHARPLY IN JANUARY. THIS REFLECTED, IN PART, CHINA’S EFFORTS IN PROMOTING ITS EXPORTS, RESULTING IN MORE CHINESE GOODS BEING CHANELLED THROUGH HONG KONG TO OVERSEAS MARKETS. RE-EXPORTS INTO CHINA HAS PROBABLY PICKED UP AS WELL.
IN ADDITION, THE YEAR-ON-YEAR growth RATE OF EXTERNAL TRADE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR WAS AFFECTED TO SOME EXTENT BY THE LOW BASE OF COMPARISON IN JANUARY 1986.
/THE FOLLOWING
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 198?
8
the following table presents the provisional merchandise trade
FIGURES FOR JANUARY 19871
MERCHANDISE! DOMESTIC EXPORTS 1 *14 053 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS 1 *12 □04 MILLION
TOTAL EXPORTS 1 *26 057 MILLION
IMPORTS 1 *23 516 MILLION
TRADE BALANCE 1 *2 541 MILLION (IN SURPLUS)
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
NOV 86 TO NOV 85 TO INCREASE
JAN 87 JAN 86
LATEST 3 MONTHS HK$ MN. HK$ MN. HKS MN. J
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 44 290 34 305 9 985 29.1
RE-EXPORTS 36 907 26 752 10 155 38.0
TOTAL EXPORTS 81 197 61 057 20 140 33.0
IMPORTS 77 030 61 303 15 727 25.7
TRADE BALANCE 4 167 -246 4 413
JAN JAN INCREASE
1987 1986
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR HK| MN. HKS MN. HK* MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 14 053 10 530 3 523 33.5
($ OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (53.95g) (55.2$)
RE-EXPORTS 12 004 8 563 3 441 40.2
TOTAL EXPORTS 26 057 19 093 6 964 36.5
IMPORTS 23 516 18 806 4 710 25.0
TRADE BALANCE 2 541 287 2 254
/last month
THURSDAY, ITEBRUARY 26, 1987
9 -
LAST MONTH JAN 1987 MN. DEC 1986 HK| MN. INCREASE
HK$ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 14 053 15 368 -1 315 —8«6
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (53.9%) (54.9%)
RE-EXPORTS 12 004 12 627 -623 -4.9
TOTAL EXPORTS 26 057 27 995 -1 938 -6.9
IMPORTS 23 516 27 467 -3 951 -14.4
TRADE BALANCE 2 541 528 2 013
FEB 86 FEB 85 INCREASE
TO TO
JAN 87 JAN 86
LAST IB MONTHS HKS MN. HK$ MN. HKS MN. %
DEMESTIC EXPORTS 157 506 129 246 28 260 21.9
RE-EXPORTS 125 988 104 875 21 113 20.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 283 494 234 121 49 373 21.1
IMPORTS 280 664 231 107 49 557 21.4
TRADE BALANCE 2 830 3 014 -184
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IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING THROUGH EDUCATION STRESSED *****
EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT IN TRAINING AND SHAPING THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO MEET FUTURE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN, SAID TODAY (THJRSDAY).
♦THE ORIGINAL OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP, THROUGH LIBERAL EDUCATION, THE INDIVIDUAL AS A +WHOLE MAN> I.E. WELL-BALANCED INDIVIDUALS, PHYSICALLY SOUND AND INTELLECTUALLY ALERT.
/♦TERTIARY .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1997
- 10 -
♦TERTIARY EDUCATION ENCOURAGES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY. CREATIVE AND CRITICAL THINKING AND SHOULD PRODUCE FUTURE LEADERS VITAL FOR THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.+
MR CHAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF BURSARY CERTIFICATES OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES CHILDREN’S EDUCATION TRUST AT THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND WAS SET UP IN 1983 TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND EQUIVALENT GRADES.
IT WAS INITIALLY FUNDED BY A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION, MR WILLIAM MONG.
AN INVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED WITH SIR OSWALD CHEUNG, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AS CHAIRMAN, AND MR PETER VI NE AND MR AUBREY LI AS MEMBERS, TO ADVISE THE TRUST COMMITTEE ON INVESTMENTS OF THE FUND. THE INCOME EARNED IS USED AS BURSARIES.
AT TODAY’S CEREMONY, THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR CHAN WA-SHEK, EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE TO THE INVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD FOR PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND + IN ENSURING THAT THE BURSARIES ARE ALLOCATED IN A FAIR AND EFFECTIVE WAY.+
MR CHAN SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED CRITERIA FOR THE GRANT OF BURSARIES, ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND EQUIVALENT GRADES WHO HAD RETIRED SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS TRUST FUND WERE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY.
ELEVEN STAFF MEMBERS WHOSE CHILDREN ARE STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITIES, POLYTECHNICS AND POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, OR ARE HANDICAPPED, RECEIVED THE BURSARY CERTIFICATES AND CHEQUES FROM MRS WILLIAM MONG IN THE PRESENTATION.
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MEET THE MEDIA * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR GERRY HIGGINSON, WILL MEET THE MEDIA ON MONDAY (MARCH 2) AT 3 PM IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, FIFTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
11
NT LANDFILL AND PFA LAGOON SITES VISITED * * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE SITE PROPOSED FOR THE WEST NEW TERRITORIES LANDFILL AS PART OF A TRIP TO FAMILIARISE HIMSELF WITH THE LONGTERM PLANNING FOR THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE FROM THE URBAN AREAS AND THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES.
HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, AND SENIOR STAFF OF HIS DEPARTMENT.
THE LANDFILL WOULD BE ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE WORLD AND, WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, WOULD COVER AN AREA OF ABOUT 110 HECTARES AND HAVE A CAPACITY OF 54 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE LANDFILL WOULD BE
ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE AND, IN THE LONGER TERM, COULD BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE A USEFUL RECREATIONAL RESOURCE TO SERVE THE
AREA.
MR CHAMBERS WAS TOLD THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY, IT HAD BEEN AGREED THAT THE LANDFILL SHOULD BE FULLY SEALED AND THAT ALL LEACHATES PRODUCED WOULD BE COLLECTED AND TREATED BEFORE DISPOSAL TO ENSURE THERE WERE NO EFFECTS ON DEEP BAY, AND THAT ALL VILLAGERS LIVING NEAR TO THE LANDFILL WHO MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THE DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE RELOCATED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF DISPOSAL OPERATIONS.
THE STUDY, WHICH WOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS YEAR, WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE INTRODUCTION TO HONG KONG OF HIGHER STANDARDS OF OPERATION AND RESTORATION OF LANDFILL SITES.
THE LANDFILL WOULD CATER FOR WASTE GENERATED IN THE NORTHWEST NEW TERRITORIES AND PARTS OF THE URBAN AREA FOR THE NEXT 30 TO 35 YEARS AND THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING COSTS OVER THIS TIME WOULD BE ABOUT fl 100 MILLION.
EARLIER, MR CHAMBERS ALSO VISITED THE PULVER I SHED FUEL ASH (PFA) LAGOON SITE ON THE SOUTHERN SHORE OF DEEP BAY, PROJECT INITIATED BY CASTLE PEAK POWER COMPANY LIMITED IN 1977 AND EVENTUALLY APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE SITE OCCUPIES ABOUT 63 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED NEAR THE VILLAGE OF TSANG TSUI IN NIM WAN, SOUTH OF DEEP BAY.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT OF THE PROJECT BY CARRIED OUT CAPCO, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A STUDY MANAGEMENT GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, HAD BEEN COMPLETED.
/THE NEED ......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
12
THE NEED TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF LOCAL RESIDENTS FROM THE POSSIBLE EFFECT OF AERIAL EMISSIONS OF PFA DUST AND LIQUID EMISSIONS, TOGETHER WITH THE SAFEGUARDING OF LOCAL MARICULTURE AND WILD LIFE HAD BEEN OF PARTICULAR CONCERN.
IN JANUARY, MR CHAMBERS HAD INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT AERIAL EMISSIONS OF PFA DUST WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE DELIVERY OF PFA IN SLURRY FORMj MINIMISING THE AREA OF PFA EXPOSED TO THE WIND? THE PROVISION OF PERMANENT FIXED WATER SPRAYING EQUIPMENT WITH A MOBILE BACKUP SYSTEM j THE CONTINUOUS SKIMMING OF THE LAGOON AND THE COVERING OF DRY PFA BY INERT MATERIAL AND SUBSEQUENT HYDROSEEDING.
HE ALSO TOLD MEMBERS THAT AIR QUALITY IN THE VICINITY WOULD BE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED BY THREE SEPARATE MONITORING STATIONS.
REGARDING LIQUID EMISSIONS, PFA WOULD BE FORMED INTO SLURRY WITH SEA WATER AND WOULD BE PUMPED ALONG ONE OF A TWIN PIPELINES INTO THE LAGOON SITE.
INSTEAD OF DISCHARGING THE DECANTRATE - AN UPPER AQUEOUS LAYER FORMED WHEN ASH PARTICLES SETTLE RAPIDLY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LAGOONS - DIRECTLY INTO DEEP BAY, WHICH MIGHT LEAD TO CONTAMINATION OF OYSTER BEDS, IT WOULD BE PUMPED BACK THROUGH ANOTHER PIPELINE TO THE POWER STATION AT TAP SHEK KOK, BEFORE RELEASING IT INTO THE FAST FLOWING CURRENTS OF URMSTON ROAD THROUGH AN OUTFALL.
AS A CHECK ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS MEASURE, SEVEN MONITORING STATIONS ARE ALREADY OPERATING AND WOULD CONTINUE IN OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE LAGOONS.
AT FULL OPERATING CAPACITY, THE PFA PRODUCED FROM THE POWER STATIONS COULD REACH 4 000 TONNES A DAY, AND THE LAGOONS HAVE A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 7.5 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF PFA.
-------0----------
MORE FIRE STATIONS COMING ON STREAM
*****
A NUMBER OF FIRE STATIONS, TWO AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND A BLOCK OF OFFICER’S QUARTERS WILL BE COMMISSIONED IN A YEAR’S TIME, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR ROBERT HOLMES, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, MR HOLMES SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD PROGRESSED AND EXPANDED EXTENSIVELY IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP PACE WITH THE GROWTH OF NEW TOWNS AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
/+IN THE LAST .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 198?
+ IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS WE HAVE COMMISSIONED KONG WAN FIRE STATION IN WAN CHAI, SHUN LEE FIRE STATION IN NORTH KOWLOON, TAI PO AMBULANCE DEPOT, CASTLE PEAK BAY FIRE STATION AND TSIM TUNG FIRE STATION.
♦ AND WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS THERE WILL BE MUI WO, LAMMA ISLAND, TAI WAI, POK FU LAM AND SHEK KONG FIRE STATIONS, TAI WAI AND POK FU LAM AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND A BLOCK OF SOME 50 QUARTERS FOR THE OFFICER GRADE.+
THE 170 MILLION BUILDING THAT MR HOLMES OPENED TODAY IS THE FIRST PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
IN THE PAST, THE HEADQUARTERS MOVED FROM THE OLD CENTRAL FIRE STATION IN DES VOEUX ROAD TO LI PO CHUN CHAMBERS IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, TO THE OLD HOWE BLOCK IN THE NAVAL DOCKYARD IN QUEENSWAY, AND PENULT IMATELY TO AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING AT NORTH POINT, REMAINING THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.
LOCATED AT 1 HONG CHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, THE BUILDING CAN ACCOMMODATE A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 3 000 STAFF, KEEPING MOST MAJOR FIRE FORMATIONS UNDER ONE ROOF.
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SEMINAR ON YOUTH POLICY FOR SOCIAL WORKERS X X * M *
A SEMINAR ON +YOUTH POLICY* FOR SOCIAL WORKERS WILL BE HELD AT THE YWCA WONG TAI SIN SOCIAL CENTRE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING.
ABOUT 80 SOCIAL WORKERS ENGAGED IN GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK SERVICE IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT WILL TAKE PART IN THE SEMINAR WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT GROUP AND COMMUNITY SERVICE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.
GUEST SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, MRS ROSANNA TAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE HONG ------------ ... --- -------_ ------SOCIAL WORK
L/UHri I I I Cu vl’i I UU l rij i In J n vvniiivn i m » < u » v
KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE, MR NG SHUi-LAI, AND CHIEF OF WONG TAI SIH—SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE
OF SOCIAL
OFFICER WELFARE
DEPARTMENT, MR CHENG KWAN-KUEN
NOTE TO EDITORS i
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR AT THE SIN SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE AT WONG TAI SIN CENTRE, WONG TAI SIN LOWER ESTATE, BETWEEN 10 AM AND NOON
YWCA WONG TAI FIRST FLOOR, TOMORROW.
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THURSDAY^ FEBRUARY 26, 1987
- 14
MORE STUDENTS GOING TO JAPAN -OR STUDY > ¥■ ¥■ ¥■ *
INCREASING NUMBERS OF LOCAL STUDENTS HAVE BEEN GOING TO JAPAN TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES IN UNIVERSITIES AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI SA In TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A +LECTURE ON EDUCATION+ ORGANISED BY THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN AND THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF HONG KONG, WHICH IS CELEBRATING ITS 2BTH ANNIVERSARY, MR LI SAID SUCH A DEVELOPMENT WAS A HEALTHY SIGN.
THIS WAS BECAUSE HONG KONG, BEING AN INTERNATIONAL CENTRE NEEDED TO HAVE A WORKFORCE FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNOLOG I CAL ADVANCEMENTS MADE IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, ESPECIALLY ONE SO ADVANCED AS JAPAN.
MR LI SAID THAT SUCH STUDENT MOBILITY, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN A GREATER INPUT OF DIFFERENT INNOVATIVE IDEAS, WOULD NOT ONLY HELP STRENGTHEN HONG KONG |N ITS INTERNATIONAL POSITION, BUT WOULD ALSO PROMOTE GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND CULTIVATE FRIENDSHIP AND GOODWILL.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ASSISTING THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN IN ADMINISTERING THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT M0N3USH0 SCHOLARSHIPS.
+ THE ARRANGEMENTS HAVE WORKED SMOOTHLY AND AS A RFSIJLT MANY LOCAL STUDENTS HAVE BFNFF|TTED FROM AN EDUCATION IN JAPAN + MR LI SAID. ’
MR LI SAID HF WAS SURF HONG KONG STUDENTS WOULD FIND THCIR EDUCATION IM JAPAN most REWARDING BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY'S TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND ALSO BECAUSE ITE EDUCATION SYSTEM '■•'AS SIMILAR TO HONG KONG’S.
HE ADDED THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT TJF SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME AND EXPRESS'70 THE HOPE THAT MANY MORE LOCAL STUDENTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM |T.
-------0 - -
15
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
TENANCIES SOUGHT FOR THREE SITES ft ft ft ft ft
THREE SITES - TWO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE OTHER IN KOWLOON - ARE TO BE LET ON SHORT-TERM TENANCY BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SITES IS AT SHA TIN NEAR CITY ONE AND IS FOR THE REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND PAINT SPRAYING OF VEHICLES, PLUS STORAGE OF RELATED GOODS AND EQUIPMENT.
HOWEVER, REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND PAINT SPRAYING OF TRAILERS AND HEAVY VEHICLES ARE NOT PERMITTED.
TENANCY FOR THE 1 1O5-SQUARE-METRE SITE IS 30 MONTHS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE OTHER NEW TERRITORIES SITE IS AT YEUNG UK ROAD IN TSUEN WAN AND MEASURES 1 380 SQUARE METRES.
IT IS FOR STORING NON-DANGEROUS GOODS, BUT EXCLUDING STORAGE OF VEHICLES AND CONTAINERS.
TENANCY IS TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE KOWLOON SITE OF 5 200 SQUARE METRES IS LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION OF CARPENTER AND SA PO ROADS AND IS FOR A FEE-PAYING CAR PARK.
THE TENANCY TERMS STATE THAT IT CANNOT BE USED BY CONTAINER VEHICLES WITH TRAILERS-CHASSIS.
TENANCY IS TWEE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
TENDERS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY NOON ON MARCH 13.
- - 0 - -
PROCESSING OF TAXI TENDERS COMPLETED ft ft ft ft
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED PROCESSING TENDERS FOR 100 URBAN TAXI LICENCES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT A TOTAL OF 375 TENDERS HAD BEEN RECEIVED WHEN THE OFFER CLOSED ON JANUARY 16.
♦THE HIGHEST TENDER ACCEPTED WAS $451 000 AND THE LOWEST $447 800,+ HE SAID.
THE AVERAGE PREMIUM OF $449 530 MARKED AN INCREASE OF 20.8 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE TENDER EXERCISE IN JUNE LAST YEAR.
DETAILS OF SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS AND THE AMOUNTS OFFERED WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
— O -
/16
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
16
MORE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO COME DOWN * * * * *
MORE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN KOWLOON FACE THE PROSPECT OF BEING DEMOLISHED.
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) POSTED NOTICES ON CONSPICUOUS PARTS OF STRUCTURES ON THE FLAT ROOFS ADJOINING UNITS 13 AND 14 ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND FLAT B ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF 45-51, CHEUNG WAH STREET, INFORMING OCCUPANTS THAT AN APPLICATION WOULD BE MADE IN HONG KONG DISTRICT COURT ON APRIL 23 TO HAVE THEM CLOSED.
THE AUTHORITY POSTED SIMILAR NOTICES TODAY (THURSDAY) ON THE MAIN ROOF OVER FLATS A, C AMD D, 21ST FLOOR, 90, 9SA-D, ARGYLE STREET AND PEACE AVENUE, SAYING Ahl APPLICATION FOR A CLOSURE ORDER WOULD BE MADE IN THE SAME COURT ON APRIL 30.
IN BOTH CASES, DEMOLITION WILL TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CLOSURE ORDERS HAVE BEEN MADE.
AN ORDER UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE FOR DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES IN CHEUNG WAH STREET WAS ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER 1985. BUT HAS NEVER BEEN COMPLIED WITH. IN THE OTHER CASE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY ISSUED DEMOLITION ORDERS IN DECEMBER 1984 AND MARCH 1986 BUT THESE WERE ALSO IGNORED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDING AUTHORITY SAID CLOSURE OF THE STRUCTURES WAS NECESSARY SO THAT DEMOLITION COULD TAKE PLACE WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE OCCUPANTS OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
-------o----------
TRAINEE TEACHERS VISIT SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD
_ - ..£0£TY-F,VE TRAINING TEACHERS UNDERTAKING REFRESHER COURSE AT THE NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION VISITED THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD TODAY (THURSDAY) TO LEARN ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE BOARD.
AS PART OF THE COLLEGE’S REFRESHER TRAINING COURSE PROGRAMME ON CIVIC EDUCATION, THE EMPHASIS OF THE VISIT WAS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE BOARD AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG
DURING THEIR MEETING, TEACHERS EXCHANGED VIEWS WITH DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR JASPER LAM, AND MEMBERS ON A WIDERANGE OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ISSUES.
THEIR DISCUSSIONS COVERED THE BOARD’S FUNCTIONS, MAJOR DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED, ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS AND THE WAYS BY WHICH THE NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY, COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF INCOME GROUPS, ARE BEING CATERED TO.
Thursday, February 26, 1987 17 - - ~ •
OPEN DAY AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE *XX-X X X
KWAI TSI NG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BRIAN COAK, AND MEMBERS OF THE KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl DISTRICT BOARD WILL TAKE PART IN THE ANNUAL OPEN DAY OF THE KWAI CHUNG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT THE HING SHING ROAD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) MORNING.
NOTE TO EDITORSj
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE KWAI TSINQ DISTRICT OFFICE, 1OTH FLOOR, KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING (NEXT TO KWAI HING MTR STATION) TOMORROW BY 9.30 AM.
SAI KUNG CHILDREN'S CHOIR GIVING CONCERT * X X * *
THE SAI KUNG CHILDREN’S CHOIR WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL CONCERT IN THE SAI KUNG TOWN HALL ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
THE CHOIR WILL PERFORM A NUMBER OF CHINESE AND WESTERN SONGS WITH THEMES BASED ON THE SCENERY OF SAI KUNG AND THE COMMUNITY'S RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL LIFE.
WINNERS OF THE DISTRICT’S SINGING CONTEST HELD LAST OCTOBER WILL ALSO PERFORM.
THE CONCERT, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 7.30 PM, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE ASSOCIATION OF SAI KUNG CHILDREN’S CHOIR. DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN HO, WILL BE AMONG THE GUESTS.
TICKETS PRICED AT >5 ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MAN Yl PUBLIC SCHOOL, MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG TOWN.
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/18........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 19B7
18
TEMPORARY LIFE GUARDS SOUGHT IK**
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS RECRUITING TEMPORARY LIFE GUARDS FOR THE URBAN SERVICES AND REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS TO MAN GAZETTED BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS IN THE COMING SWIMMING SEASON.
APPLICANTS, PREFERABLY AGED 35 OR UNDER. SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PRIMARY 6 EDUCATION AND HOLD A BRONZE MEDALLION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY.
THE JOB IS OPEN TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. IT OFFERS A MONTHLY SALARY OF >3 360 OR A DAILY WAGE OF >135.
THOSE INTERESTED IN THE POST MAY APPROACH ANY LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON 5-270622, 3-666615, 3-695525, 3-265123 AND 0-492015*.
-----o-----
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION FOR VOLUNTEERS * * » I »
TWENTY-SEVEN VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED AT LEAST SIX MONTHS ASSIGNMENT UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS WILL BE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION THIS SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
THE CEREMONY, TO BE OFFICIATED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR LEE JARK-PUI, WILL BE HELD AT THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL.
THE SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED IN 1978 AS A COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION OF THE PUBLIC IN HELPING AND REFORMING OFFENDERS.
VOLUNTEERS ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND ORIENTATED BEFORE THEY START TO PROVIDE SERVICE. THEIR SERVICES INCLUDE BEFRIENDING PROBATIONERS, ACTING AS TUTORS FOR PROBATIONERS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH SCHOOL WORK, GIVING THEM GUIDANCE IN PROPER USE OF LEISURE TIME, HELPING THEM DEVELOP WHOLESOME HOBBIES AND SHARING WITH THEM PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY AT 2.30 PM ON SATURDAY AT THE MING ROOM, AMBASSADOR HOTEL, KOWLOON.
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/19 .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1987
- 19 -
SHAM SHUI PO CHILDREN’S CHOIR TO STAGE CONCERT h X » * K
THE SHAM SHUI PO CHILDREN’S CHOIR WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL CONCERT ON MARCH 7 AT 3 PM AT THE CONCERT HALL OF CITY HALL.
ESTABLISHED UNDER THE SHAM SHUI PO ART ASSOCIATION SINCE 1982, THE CHOIR HAS BEEN INVITED TO PERFORM IN THE +YOUTH SPECTACULAR* DURING THE QUEEN’S VISIT LAST YEAR, THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE LAST SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT FESTIVAL, THE MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL NIGHT AND MANY OTHER DISTRICT EVENTS.
PROGRAMMES OF THE CONCERT INCLUDE CHORUS, MELODY DANCE, AND PERFORMANCES BY GUEST PERFORMERS INCLUDING THE SHAM SHUI PO YOUTH CHOIR, BUDDHIST TAI HUNG COLLEGE, AND KEI 01 PRIMARY SCHOOL.
THE CONCERT IS SPONSORED BY THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD. TICKETS AT $10 ARE ON SALE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, 39 TONKIN STREET, KOWLOON.
NOTE TO EDITORS 1
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER
THE CONCERT ON MARCH 7.
-------0----------
TRAFFIC CHANGES IN WAN CHAI x o n *
TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN WAN CHAI WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM MIDNIGHT ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY IN CONNECTION WITH FOOTBRIDGE DEMOLITION WORK.
TKP rOAO SECTIONS ARE « THE NORTHBOUND SECTION OF FEMWICK STREET BETWEEN JAFFE ROAD AND INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD, *JJB THE WESTBOUND SECTION OF INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD BETWEEN FENWICK STREET AND ARCENAL STREET.
niiD'Nr THE CLOSURE VEHICLES ON INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD HEADING for cam" cm fSwicr strut southsoors, locrhrrt
ROAD, ARSENAL STREET AND HARCOURT ROAD.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
'SOMETHING SPECIFIC' ON ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHORTLY ...... 1
NEW HARBOUR CROSSING PROJECT 'A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE' .... 2
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY UNDER CLOSE STUDY ................. 3
POLITICAL REVIEW MAJOR TOPIC FOR DB ....................
U.S. PROTECTIONIST BILL CRITICISED ..................... 5
COMPENSATION LAW TO INCLUDE ANOTHER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE .. 7
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY ..................... 8
ORDER ON NUCLEaR CARRIAGE PUBLISHED .................... 10
ORDER APPROVED FOR WORK AT NIGHT, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS....... 11
LICENCE REVOKED ........................................ 12
CALL TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO ,_LTER RaTEaBLE VaLUE........ 12
PRE-WaR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ................... 13
LOOKING aT DEVELOPMENT IN KWUN TONG DISTRICT ........... 13
ACCESS ROaD PROPOSED FOR N IM WAN ......................
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS ........................... 15
REMINDER TO aPPLY EaRLY FOR TAXI VOUCHER ............... 15
FOUR LOTS OFFERED FOR SaLE ............................. 16
SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON TERRITORY'S SYSTEMS ................ 17
PUBLICITY DRIVE FOR BUILDING M.JL.GEMENT IMPROVS'iENT .. 18
DISTRICT CHILDREN'S CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT .............. 19
painting hNd CaLLIGRjphy exhibition tomorrow ........... 20
FIRING PRACTICE ........................................ 20
CASTLE PEAK ROaD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC ..................... 21
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
•SOMETHING SPECIFIC’ ON ASSESSMENT OFFICE SHORTLY
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC TO SAY IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS’ TIME ABOUT WHETHER AN ASSESSMENT OFFICE WOULD BE SET UP TO CANVASS PUBLIC OPINIONS ON THE 1987 POLITICAL REVIEW, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SIR DAVID WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A VISIT TO THE BRITISH COUNCIL WHERE HE ALSO RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $100 000 AS A COUNCIL DONATION TO THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE FUND.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE FUND, DONATIONS TO WHICH NOW TOTAL MORE THAN $70 MILLION, SIR DAVID SAIDs +THE FUND WILL HAVE TO BE INVESTED, AND THEN WE WILL USE THE INTEREST WE GET FROM THE FUND.
♦IT WILL BE USED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, FOR PEOPLE DOING RESEARCH HERE IN HONG KONG, AND IT WILL BE USED, I HOPE, TO SEND SOME QUALIFIED STUDENTS OVERSEAS TO STUDY.+
THE AMBIT OF THE FUND WAS VERY BROAD AND IT WOULD BE FOR THE TRUSTEES TO DECIDE ON HOW IT WOULD BE EMPLOYED, HE SAID.
♦BUT ONE NICE THING I HOPE IS THAT LADY YOUDE WILL BE ONE OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE FUND AND WILL COME OUT HERE AND TAKE PART IN THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES,♦ SIR DAVID ADDED.
♦I DO HOPE THAT THE PUBLIC WILL CONTINUE TO RESPOND BECAUSE IT’S GOING INTO A VERY GOOD CAUSE, THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,♦ HE SAID.
ON THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, HE SAIDi +WE SHOULD GET IT ALL SET UP AND GOING BY ABOUT MAY.*
ASKED ABOUT THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, HE STRESSED THAT ONE MUST WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC DEBATE WAS PROPERLY OVER.
♦WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND AND WE’VE GOT TO LOOK AT ALL THE POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES TO IT, AND A DECENTRALISED PROVIDENT FUND — THAT IS, THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO HAVE THEIR OWN FUNDS AND SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE WITH THAT.+
IT WOULD BE +A FEW MONTHS+ BEFORE THE SUBJECT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE EXEUCTIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID ADDED.
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/2........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
2
NEW HARBOUR CROSSING PROJECT 'A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE* * ft * ft ft
THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING (EHC) PROJECT REPRESENTS A SUBSTANTIAL VOTE OF CONFIDENCE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY FOR THE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROJECT, HE SAID THE CONSTRUCTION COST OF THE EHC — ESTIMATED AT HKJ3.4 BILLION — WOULD BE PROVIDED PRINCIPALLY BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
♦ THE FINANCING WILL BE THROUGH EQUITY INVESTMENT OF fl.l BILLION, THE DOCUMENTS FOR WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN SIGNED, AND THROUGH A DEBT FINANCING PACKAGE OF UP TO «3-3 BILLION, THE DOCUMENTS FOR WHICH ARE BEING SIGNED TODAY,♦ MR JACOBS SAID.
♦ A TOTAL OF 50 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FROM A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING THE CREDIT FACILITIES, AND THE REPAYMENT PROVISIONS EXTEND TO THE YEAR 2007.♦
NO FINANCIAL GUARANTEES HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AND THERE WAS NO FINANCIAL COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.
ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT PROVIDED ANY FINANCIAL BACKING FOR THE PROJECT, MR JACOBS SAID IT HAD BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND HAD GRANTED THE LAND AND OPERATING FRANCHISES AT NIL PREMIUM.
♦ THIS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW HARBOUR CROSSING AT NO COST TO THE TAXPAYER, IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH FREE ENTERPRISE AND INITIATIVE,♦ HE SAID.
CONSISTING OF AN IMMERSED TUBE OF ALMOST TWO KILOMETRES IN LENGTH CONTAINING BOTH ROAD AND RAIL TUNNELS, THE EHC WILL BE LINKED TO THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND TO INTERCHANGES IN KOWLOON CONNECTING IT WITH MAJOR ROUTES LEADING TO JUNK BAY AND LATER ON TO SHA TIN.
THE RAIL ELEMENT WOULD LINK THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATIONS AT KWUN TONG AND QUARRY BAY, INVOLVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STATION AT LAM TIN, MR JACOBS SAID.
♦UPON ITS COMPLETION THE PROJECT WILL BRING IMMEDIATE BENEFIT BY RELIEVING CONGESTION AT THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL AND ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY’ IN THE LONGER TERM, IT WILL PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNK BAY, NORTHEAST KOWLOON AND THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND,* HE ADDED.
/COhSTRUCTED BY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 198?
CONSTRUCTED BY THE NEW HONG KONG TUNNEL COMPANY LIMITED THE EHC WILL TAKE TWEE TO FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE. ’
MR JACOBS ALSO SAID THE PROJECT WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF A TERRITORY-WIDE PLAN DESIGNED TO REDUCE CURRENT LEVELS OF CONGESTION AND PROVIDE EFFICIENT TRANSPORT LINKS TO ALL PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.
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JUVENILE DELINQUENCY UNDER CLOSE STUDY * * ft * ft
THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (FCC) IS GEARING UP ITS WORK AGAINST JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND CRIME, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DAVID FORD, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER HOSTED BY DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE (DFCC) CHAIRMEN, HE SAID THERE WERE CLEAR AND WORRYING TRENDS THAT MORE JUVENILES WERE BECOMING INVOLVED IN CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR — AND AT A YOUNGER AGE.
♦SUCH A TREND HAS BEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY COUNTRIES. IN HONG KONG, WE MUST TRY AND REVERSE IT,* MR FORD SAID.
HE ADDED THAT COMMITTEES UNDER THE FCC WERE EXAMINING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE JUVENILE PROBLEM.
THESE INCLUDED SUCH MATTERS AS COULD TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS BE BETTER TRAINED IN HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUNG DELINQUENTS AND HOW THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT COULD BE IMPROVED TO PROVIDE WHOLESOME DIVERSIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
ALSO, COULD THE EDUCATION SYSTEM BE ADJUSTED TO FORESTALL THE LESS BRIGHT STUDENTS FROM BECOMING ACADEMICALLY FRUSTRATED AND TURNING TO DELINQUENCY, AND WHAT COULD BE DONE TO TACKLE TRIADS AND GANGS IN SCHOOLS.
MR FORD CALLED ON THE 19 DFCC’S TO CONSIDER THE JUVENILE ISSUE AND REFLECT THEIR VIEWS TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
NOTING THAT THE JUVENILE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIVORCED FROM TRIADS, HE SAIDi *1 AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS WITH THE MEASURES THE PUBLIC SUPPORTED IN OUR DISCUSSION DOCUMENT 'OPTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE LAW AND IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAW TO COUNTER THE TRIAD PROBLEM’.*
/tin FORD
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
4
MR FORD ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE OVERALL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES IN 1986 DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, BY 6.8 PER CENT, FROM 1985 — THE FIRST DECREASE FOR SOME YEARS.
THANKING THE DFCC CHAIRMEN FOR THEIR GOOD WORK, HE SAIDi +WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE MOMENTUM IS MAINTAINED.+
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POLITICAL REVIEW MAJOR TOPIC FOR DB M M M M M
THE POLITICAL REVIEW WOULD BE A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD IN THE COMING YEAR, THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR JASPER LAM, TOLD A SEMINAR TONIGHT (FRIDAY).
♦ TO COINCIDE WITH THE REVIEW. THE BOARD HAS SET UP A DISCUSSION GROUP ON HONG KONG’S POLITICAL SYSTEM TO COLLECT, STUDY AND REFLECT RESIDENTS’ VIEWS ON THIS SUBJECT** HE ADDED.
THE GROUP HAD ALREADY PASSED ON ITS VIEWS ON DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME TO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR LAM SAID.
OUTLINING WORK IN THE COMING YEAR AT A SEMINAR INVOLVING THE DISTRICT’S SIX AREA COMMITTEES, MR LAM SAID THE BOARD WOULD CONTINUE TO CO-ORDINATE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT, IMPROVE RESIDENTS’ LIVELIHOOD, REFLECT THEIR VIEWS AND MONITOR DISTRICT AS WELL AS TERRITORY-WIDE ISSUES.
ON WORK IN THE PAST YEAR, MR LAM SAID THE $1.43 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE BOARD HAD BEEN SPENT EFFECTIVELY ON A.NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS MONITORED BY ITS COMMUNITY BUILDING, SOCIAL SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEES.
THE BOARD HAD MET NINE TIMES LAST YEAR AND A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS HAD BEEN TACKLED, HE ADDED.
THEY INCLUDED TERRITORY-WIDE ISSUES SUCH AS HAWKER AND MARKET POLICIES, CONTROL OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY ANIMAL WASTE, DELIVERY OF MEDICAL SERVICES, OPTIONS TO COUNTER TRIAD PROBLEM, THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AND AIR CONTROL ZONES AND AIR QUALITY OBJECTIVES.
THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT ON REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, RENT POLICY AND HOUSING SUBSIDY TO PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S NO. 2 REPORT AND THE STATUS OF DISTRICT BOARDS WERE ALSO DISCUSSED.
/local issues
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 19«7
5
LOCAL ISSUES WHICH HAD AROUSED THE BOARD’S CONCERN INCLUDED AIR QUALITY, WATER QUALITY, BUS SERVICES, LIBRARY SERVICES, THE IMPACT ON TRAFFIC OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN REPULSE BAY AND POK FU LAM, POLLUTION OF TAI TAM RESERVOIR BY A NEARBY CONSTRUCTION SITE, ROCK BLASTING NEAR CHI FU FA YUEN AND THE URBAN COUNCIL’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
ON COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS, MR LAM SAID THE BOARD HAD IMPROVED THE MEET THE PUBLIC SCHEME.
♦ IN FACT, ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF CASES RECEIVED THROUGH THE l€ET THE PUBLIC AND THE BOARD’S POSTGRAMME SCHEMES HAVE BEEN SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED DURING THE YEAR,* HE ADDED.
THE SEMINAR WAS ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD TO PROMOTE BETTER RELATIONSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING WITH LOCAL BODIES. IT WAS ATTENDED BY ABOUT 150 PEOPLE FROM AREA COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SIMON LORD, SAID THE DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEES HAD FORMED A VITAL PARTNERSHIP IN THE OVERALL STRUCTURE OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS MOST GRATEFUL FOR THEIR WISE AND RATIONAL ADVICE.
♦ THIS PARTNERSHIP WORKS PARTICULARLY WELL IN SOUTHERN NOT ONLY AS A RESULT OF THE DEDICATION OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, WHO ARE ALSO AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BUT ALSO THE CLOSE LINKS AMONG THE SIX AREA COMMITTEES,* MR LORD ADDED.
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U.S. PROTECTIONIST BILL CRITICISED *****
HONG KONG HAS MADE AN ATTACK AT A MAJOR FORUM IN GENEVA ON THE ♦BLATANTLY PROTECTIONIST* TEXTILES AND APPAREL TRADE ACT 1987 RECENTLY INTRODUCED INTO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THE TERRITORY’S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT), MR MICHAEL CARTLAND, MADE THE ATTACK WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE SURVEILLANCE BODY OF THE GATT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).
THE BILL, HE SAID, WOULD HAVE a DISASTROUS EFFECT ON GATT AND ON THE WORLD TRADING SYSTEM IN GENERAL.
/HR CARTLAND
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
6 -
MR CARTLAND TOLD DELEGATES THAT IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO WAIT UNTIL A MEASURE HAD BEEN TAKEN - THE DAMAGE WILL HAVE BEEN DONE BY THEN. ♦THIS FORUM MUST BE AN ACTIVE BODY THAT CAN RECEIVE WARNINGS OF IMPENDING ACTIONS WHILST THERE IS STILL TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEM.+
ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THE BILL WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID: +THIS BILL PURPORTS TO DETERMINE THAT IMPORTS OF ALL TEXTILES AND TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND OF NON-RUBBER FOOTWEAR, AS A WHOLE, ARE CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO THE U.S. DOMESTIC PRODUCERS.
♦ ON THE BASIS OF THAT BLANKET ASSESSMENT THE BILL PROVIDES FOR QUOTAS ON IMPORTS FROM ALL SOURCES - UNDER EACH AND EVERY CATEGORY. THE TEXTILES QUOTAS WOULD GROW AT ONE PER CENT PER ANNUM BUT THE FOOTWEAR QUOTAS WOULD REMAIN AT 1986 TRADE LEVELS.
♦THE DURATION OF THESE MEASURES WOULD BE INDEFINITE BUT THERE WOULD BE A REVIEW AFTER 10 YEARS. COMPENSATION TO AFFECTED FOREIGN SUPPLIERS IS ENVISAGED ONLY IN THE FORM OF TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR TARIFF REDUCTIONS LIMITED TO 10 PER CENT AND PHASED OVER FIVE EQUAL ANNUAL STAGES. THE PRESIDENT WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM NEGOTIATING TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR TARIFF REDUCTIONS UNDER ANY OTHER U.S. LEGAL PROVISION.+
MR CARTLAND TOLD DELEGATES THAT +THIS BLATANTLY PROTECTIONIST BILL IS CLAIMED BY ITS SPONSORS TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 19 OF THE GATT AND IT IS ALREADY GAINING SUPPORT IN CONGRESS UNDER THE CLAIM THAT IT IS A MORE REASONABLE AND MODERATE MEASURE THAN THE JENKINS BILL ON WHICH THE PRESIDENTIAL VETO WAS SO NARROWLY SUSTAINED LAST YEAR.
♦ IN FACT, THERE IS ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT THE BILL WHICH COULD BE REGARDED AS IN ANY WAY CONSISTENT WITH EITHER THE GATT OR THE MULT I-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT.+
CITING JUST ONE EXAMPLE MR CARTLAND SAID THAT ARTICLE 19 OF GATT PROVIDED FOR EMERGENCY ACTION ON IMPORTS OF PARTICULAR PRODUCTS BUT +NOT ONLY IS THERE NO EMERGENCY, THE U.S. INDUSTRY IS IN A RELATIVELY HEALTHY AND STABLE CONDITION.♦
THE BILL PLACED THE URUGUAY ROUND OF TALKS ON GATT IN JEOPARDY, HE SAID. IT WOULD, IF ENACTED, CLEARLY VIOLATE THE STANDSTILL COMMITMENT. THE ONE PER CENT GROWTH PROVISION COULD NOT BE HONOURED IN ANY OF THE EXISTING MFA BILATERAL AGREEMENTS.
♦ IT IS A MEASURE WHICH GOES BEYOND THAT WHICH IS NECESSARY TO REMEDY SPECIFIC SITUATIONS (EVEN IF IT WOULD BY SOME REMOTE STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION BE REGARDED AS THE LEGITIMATE EXERCISE OF GATT RIGHTS).♦
/+1T WOULD........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
♦ IT WOULD EFFECTIVELY REMOVE FROM THE SCOPE OF MULTI-LATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS U.S. TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR TARIFFS, WHICH CONTAIN SOME OF THE HIGHEST REMAINING TARIFF PEAKS.
♦ IT WOULD FORESTALL ANY ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE LIBERALISATION OF WORLD TRADE IN TEXTILES AND RETURN OF THE SECTOR TO THE GATT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MINISTERIAL MANDATE, BY LEGISLATING FOR INCREASED PROTECTION ON AN INDEFINITE BASIS AND IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE GATT AND MFA.+
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF OTHER DELEGATIONS FROM BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES JOINED IN THE CRITICISM OF THE BILL.
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COMPENSATION LAW TO INCLUDE ANOTHER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE
*****
THE NUMBER OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES PRESCRIBED IN THE SECOND SCHEDULE TO THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE TUMOUR OF THE URINARY TRACT.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, THE USE OF SUBSTANCES WHICH MAY GIVE RISE TO TUMOUR OF THE URINARY TRACT HAD EITHER BEEN PUT UNDER CONTROL OR PROHIBITED.
♦NOTWITHSTANDING THE ADOPTION OF THESE PREVENTIVE MEASURES, SOME OF THE SUBSTANCES MAY STILL BE PRESENT IN VERY LOW CONCENTRATIONS, IN CHEMICALS OR DYESTUFFS WHICH ARE IN USE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦TO ENSURE, THEREFORE, THAT COMPENSATION CAN BE PAID TO VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS WHO UNFORTUNATELY SUFFER INCAPACITY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF CONTRACTING THE DISEASE AT WORK, IT IS NECESSARY TO INCLUDE TUMOUR OF THE URINARY TRACT TO THE LIST OF THE PRESCRIBED OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES ALTHOUGH THE OCCURRENCE OF THE DISEASE IN HONG KONG IS RARE.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LEVEL OF COMPENSATION FOR TUMOUR OF THE URINARY TRACT IS THE SAME AS THOSE PRESCRIBED UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY IS $341 OOO AND THAT FOR DEATH IS $299 000.
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8
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY *****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1987. THE NEW CPI (A) AND NEW CPI (B) (OCTOBER 84/SEPTEMBER 85 - 100) FOR JANUARY 1987 WERE 105.8 AND 106.2 RESPECTIVELY, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 4.5 PER CENT OVER JANUARY 1986 FOR BOTH INDEXES.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1986 AND BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS COMPARISON MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONAL FACTORS, THE NEW CPI (A) INCREASED BY 0.7 PER CENT AND THE NEW CPI (B), BY 0.5 PER CENT. THE AVERAGE NEW CPI (A) AND AVERAGE NEW CPI (B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1987 WERE 104.0 AND 104.4 RESPECTIVELY.
THE 1979-80-BASED CPI (A) AND CPI (B) FOR JANUARY 1987 WERE 167.9 AND 169.5 RESPECTIVELY. COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1986, CPI (A) INCREASED BY 0.6 PER CENT AND CPI (B), BY 0.5 PER CENT. THE AVERAGE CPI (A) AND AVERAGE CPI (B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1987, AT 164.9 AND 166.3 RESPECTIVELY, WERE 3.0 PER CENT AND 3.6 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGE FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 1986.
PRICE MOVEMENTS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE BASED ON THE NEW CPI SERIES.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JANUARY 1987, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED NEW CPI (A) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.6 PER CENT PER MONTH, AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED NEW CPI (B), AT 0.5 PER CENT PER MONTH.
DURING JANUARY, RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY, FRESH FRUIT, SHRIMPS AND CRABS INCREASED. CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES AND FOR HAIRDRESSING ALSO WENT UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, RETAIL PRICES OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED.
THE NEW CPI (A) AND THE NEW 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 1984-85 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE NEW CPI (A) REFERS TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN |2 000 AND 16 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME AND THE NEW CPI (B) BETWEEN «6 500 AND $9 999 A MONTH.
CHANGES IN THE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1987 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, AS COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1986 AND JANUARY 1986, ARE GIVEN BELOW.
(OCTOBER 1984 TO SEPTEMBER 1985 AVERAGE - 100)
NEW CPI (A) NEW CPI ( B)
SECTION INDEX FOR JAN. 87 % change OVER DEC. 86 % CHANGE OVER JAN. 86 INDEX FOR JAN. 87 % change OVER DEC. 86 £ change OVER JAN. 86
FOODSTUFFS 102.5 ♦ 1.4 ♦3.5 103.2 ♦1.5 ♦ 3.6
HOUSING 108.4 *0.1 ♦5.3 106.4 *0.2 ♦ 4.1
/FUEL AND
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
- 9 -
FUEL AND LIGHT 89.7 ♦ 1.4 -10.7 90.5 +1.8 -10.0
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 110.3 -0.0 * ♦4.7 110.2 -0.1 +4.7
COLTHI NG AND FOOTWEAR 108.6 -2.5 +6.2 109.6 -3.1 ♦7.2
DURABLE GOODS 108.3 +0.1 +7.4 107.5 +0.1 +6.7
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 111.3 +0.4 +10.1 110.7 +0.3 ♦9.0
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 107.4 ♦0.1 +3.6 106.7 ♦0.1 +3.2
SERVICES 114.6 ♦0.8 +7.6 113.8 +0.8 ♦7.5
ALL ITEMS 105.8 +0.7 +4.5 106.2 +0.5 ♦4.5
M LESS THAN 0.05 PER CENT
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1986, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN NEW CPI (A) AND BY 1.5 PER CENT IN. NEW CPI (B). THIS WAS MAINLY DUE TO THE INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY, FRESH FRUIT, SHRIMPS AND CRABS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, AND IN THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND OTHER EATING PLACES.
THE EFFECT OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT IN NEW CPI (A) AND BY 1.8 PER CENT IN NEW CPI (B) DUE TO HIGHER CHARGE FOR TOWNGAS.
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY 2.5 PER CENT IN NEW CPI (A) AND BY 3.1 PER CENT NEW CPI (B) BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES OF OUTER CLOTHING.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY 0.8 PER CENT IN BOTH NEW CPI (A) AND NEW CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AND PACKAGE TOURS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
/PRICE MOVEMfl'iTS...........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
10 -
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE NEW CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
(FIGURES HEREIN REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. ALL PERCENTAGE CHANGES ARE DERIVED FROM CPI FIGURES TAKEN TO MORE THAN 1 DECIMAL PLACE.)
MORE DETAILS ARE GIVEN IN THE ^CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT* FOR JANUARY 1987, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT $3.5 PER COPY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG 5 OR FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, ROOM 1904, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 317 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG! OR FROM THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, DUDDELL STREET, HONG KONG, FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MAILINGS.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES MAY BE MADE TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON 5-8235089.
THE HANG SENG CPI WAS 108.4 IN JANUARY 1987, UP BY 0.2 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1986 AND BY 5.7 PER CENT OVER JANUARY 1986. THE HANG SENG CPI IS BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF THE 10 PER CENT OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG THAT SPENT $10 000-$24 999 A MONTH DURING THE 1984-85 HOUSEHOLDS EXPENDITURE SURVEY.
FURTHER DETAILS REGARDING THIS INDEX ARE INCLUDED IN THE HANG SENG CPI REPORT ISSUED BY THE ECONOMIC RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF HANG SENG BANK LTD.
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ORDER ON NUCLEAR CARRIAGE PUBLISHED M M M X K
TWO ORDERS SETTING OUT THE DUTY OF OWNERS OF NUCLEAR MATTER REGARDING ITS TRANSPORT AND THE RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR BREACH OF THAT DUTY WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1983 AMENDED CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS ACT 1965, AS EXTENDED TO HONG KONG, SO AS TO BRING THEM INTO LINE WITH SIMILAR AMENDMENTS MADE TO THE ACT AS IT APPLIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THIS ORDER ALSO EXTENDED TO HONG KONQ, WITH ADAPTATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS, SECTION THREE OF THE CONGENITAL DISABILITIES (CIVIL LIABILITY) ACT 1976 WHICH SPELT OUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF DISABLED BIRTH DUE TO RADIATION AS APPLIED TO this act.
/THE OTHER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
, T!^,°IH?R 0RDER GAZETTED TODAY - THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) (AMENDMENT) ORDER 1986 - PROVIDES FOR THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS TO CERTIFY THE HONG KONG DOLLAR EQUIVALENT OF AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1983.
EXPLAINING the BACKGROUND TO THESE TWO ORDERS, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN 1972 CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS ACT 1965, AS AMENDED, WERE EXTENDED TO HONG KONG BY THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1972.
♦THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1972 ORDER RELATE SPECIFICALLY TO THE DUTY IN RESPECT OF THE CARRIAGE OF NUCLEAR MATTER) TO THE RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR BREACH OF THAT DUTY AND TO THE BRINGING AND SATISFACTION OF CLAIMS AND CERTAIN ANCILLARY PROVISIONS,♦ HE ADDED.
FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS TO THE 1965 UK ACT, BY PART TWO OF THE UK ENERGY ACT 1983, THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1972 WAS AMENDED ACCORDINGLY BY THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1983.
♦THE 1983 ORDER NOT ONLY UPDATES IN MONETARY TERMS THE COMPENSATION THAT MAY BE PAID OUT ALSO EXPANDS THE SCOPE OF THE LEGISLATION BY EXTENDING TO HONG KONG, WITH ADAPTATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS, SECTION THREE OF THE CONGENITAL DISABILITIES (CIVIL LIABILITY) ACT 1976,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦HOWEVER, AS THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) ORDER 1983 DID NOT PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR CONVERTING SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS INTO HONG KONG DOLLARS, A FURTHER ORDER, THE NUCLEAR INSTALLATIONS (HONG KONG) (AMENDMENT) ORDER 1986 WAS THEREFORE MADE ON NOVEMBER 25, 1986 TO PROVIDE FOR SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS TO CERTIFY HONG KONG DOLLAR EQUIVALENT OF AMOUNTS EXPRESSED IN SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE 1983 ORDER.♦
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ORDER APPROVED FOR WORK AT NIGHT, PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
X X X X X
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN EXEMPTION ORDER UNDER SECTION 13(4) OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE TO ENABLE WORK RELATED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH TUBES OF THE JUNK BAY TUNNEL BE CARRIED OUT AT NIGHT AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
THE ORDER, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, REPLACES A PREVIOUS ORDER WHICH EXEMPTED WORK ON THE SOUTH TUBE ONLY.
SOME DISTURBANCE TO RESIDENTS OF THE MA YAU TONG SQUATTER AREA AND TO TENANTS MOVING INTO BLOCK 1 OF JUNK BAY AREA FIVE HOUSING ESTATE AFTER DECEMBER 1987 IS EXPECTED.
/HOWEVER, IF
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
I-
12
HOWEVER, IF THE NORTH TUBE WERE TO BE BUILT SEPARATELY AT A LATER STAGE, LOCAL RESIDENTS WOULD BE AFFECTED TWICE.
THE SAI KUNG AND KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE BEEN BRIEFED ON THE EXEMPTION. RESIDENTS AFFECTED AND THE TWO DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE BRIEFED AGAIN ON THE WORK.
WHEN OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN 1990, THE TUNNEL WILL PROVIDE DIRECT VEHICULAR LINK BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND THE DEVELOPING JUNK BAY NEW TOWN.
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LICENCE REVOKED K * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE LICENCE OF ORION ROYAL PACIFIC LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 32(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE 1986.
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CALL TO SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO ALTER RATEABLE VALUE X X X * X
THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT IF THEY WISH TO MAKE A PROPOSAL TO ALTER THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING APRIL 1, 1987 THEY MAY DO SO DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH, IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
FORMS FOR THIS PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICES AT HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, AND ALSO FROM DISTRICT OFFICES.
PROPOSALS MUST BE LODGED WITH THE DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT RETEABLE VALUES FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE SAME AS FOR THIS YEAR. WHERE AN ALTERATION WAS MADE TO THE RATEABLE VALUE AS A RESULT OF A PROPOSAL LODGED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE REVISED FIGURE WILL APPLY NEXT YEAR AND SO NO FURTHER PROPOSAL NEED BE MADE.
HE EMPHASISED THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR APPEAL, RATES MUST STILL BE PAID BY THE DUE DATE.
-------o --------
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
PRE-WAR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS * * * * *
TWO PRE-WAR BUILDINGS AT 26 AND 30 SHAN PIN TERRACE, SHAU KEI WAN, WERE DECLARED TO BE DANGEROUS BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE BUILDINGS AT 21 - 25 (INCLUDING 24A), 27 - 29 AND 32 SHAN PIN TERRACE WERE ALSO DECLARED LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS BY THE AUTHORITY.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN THE DISTRICT COURT ON MARCH 27 WERE POSTED ON THE BUILDINGS TODAY.
THE APPLICATION FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IS, HOWEVER, NOT APPLICABLE TO NO. 23 WHICH HAS REVERTED TO THE GOVERNMENT BUT WILL ALSO BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED UNDER THE CROWN LANDS ORDINANCE.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID ALL THE buildings affected were two-storey pre-war structures with timber FIRST FLOOR AMD ROOF ON LOAD BEARING STONE RUBBLE WALLS.
AFTER the CLOSURE OF the BUILDING AT 31 FOLLOWING A ROOF. COLLAPSE IN 1979, THE OTHER BUILDINGS IN THE TERRACE HAVE BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION.
AS A RESULT,. EXTERNAL AND PARTY WALLS OF THESE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE FRACTURED WITH SIGNS OF ADVANCED DETERIORATION IN THE ROOFS.
SOME OF THE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AND ALL ARE CONSIDERED BEYOND REASONABLE REPAIR.
THE SERIOUS ROTTING AND SAGGING OF ROOF JOISTS AND THE FRACTURED PARTY WALLS OF NO. 26 AND 30 HAVE RENDERED THE BUILDINGS DANGEROUS.
DEMOLITION IS THEREFORE NECESSARY WITH THE BUILDING AT 31.
THE OTHER BUILDINGS ON THE TERRACE WHICH ARE IN SIMILAR CONDITION ARE CONSIDERED TO BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS, AND i MUST BE CLOSED AND DEMOLISHED.
------o-------
LOOKING AT DEVELOPMENT IN KWUN TONG DISTRICT K M M M M
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR T.H. CHAU, TODAY (FRIDAY) TOURED KWUN TONG TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT IN THE DISTRICT.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR EDDY CHAN, MR CHAU ARRIVED AT THE KWUN TONG HIGH LEVEL RESERVOIR FOR A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE DISTRICT.
/HE THEN ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
- 14 -
HE THEN WENT TO LOK WAH HOUSING ESTATE IN NQAU TAU KOK, ONE OF the largest and latest public housing estates IN EAST KOWLOON.
he was told that the estate, occupying an area of 12.1 HECTARES, IS A SMALL SELF-CONTAIAeD TOWNSHIP WITH A WIDE RANGE OF COMMERCIAL, WELFARE, EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THE ESTATE CONSISTS OF 14 RENTAL DOMESTIC BLOCKS AND SIX HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME BLCOKS, ACCOMMODATING ABOUT 50 000 PEOPLE.
MR CHAU THEN WENT TO THE ROOFTOP OF YIP ON FLATTED FACTORY BUILDING AND WAS BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENT IN KOWLOON BAY.
THE PARTY WENT TO THE EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING SITE TO SEE PROGRESS OF WORK ON THE PROJECT.
WORK ON THE S3 000 MILLION PROJECT HAS STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN JANUARY 1990. IT WILL LINK CHA KWO LING IN KOWLOON WITH QUARRY BAY ON THE ISLAND.
-----o------
ACCESS ROAD PROPOSED FOR NIM WAN X X X X X
A TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY OF FIVE-KILOMETRES IN LENGTH IS TO BE BUILT FROM TAP SHEK KOK TO TSANG KOK TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PROPOSED NIM WAN CONTROLLED TIP.
THE 7.3-METRE-WIDE CARRIAGEWAY IS CONSIDERED NECESSARY AS THERE IS AT PRESENT NO ACCESS TO THE FUTURE CONTROLLED TIP WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO SERVE THE DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE GENERATED FROM THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES WHEN THE PRESENT CONTROLLED TIP AT PILLAR POINT VALLEY IS EXHAUSTED IN EARLY 19B9.
A FOOTPATH WILL BE BUILT ALONG THE CARRIAGEWAY TO IMPROVE PEDESTRAIN SAFETY IN LUNG KWU TAN AND LUNG KWU SHEUNG TAN.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT WILL BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE BOX-CULVERTS IN THE LUNG KWU TAN, TSANG TSUI AND TSANG KOK AND TWO MAINTENANCE CULVERTS OVER THE EXISTING PULVERISED FUEL ASH PIPELINES AT LUNG KWU TAN.
IN ADDITION, RETAINING WALLS AT TAP SHEK KOK AND AT BURIAL GROUNDS BETWEEN CuNG KWU TAN AND LUNG KWU SHEUNG TAN, ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING WORKS WILL BE PROVIDED.
/SOME EXISTING
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
- 15 -
SOME EXISTING ROADS AND VEHICULAR ACCESSES IN THE AREA WILL NEED TO BE CLOSED TO FACILITATE THE WORKS.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD REACH THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT BY APRIL 28.
-----o-----
BLANKETS FOR STREET SLEEPERS ft ft ft ft
FIELD STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL MOUNT AN OPERATION TONIGHT (FRIDAY) TO DISTRIBUTE BLANKETS TO STREET SLEEPERS AND OTHERS IN NEED DUE TO THE COLD SPELL.
THE DISTRIBUTION WILL START AT ABOUT 8 PM IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES INTERESTED IN FILMING THE OCCASION MAY ASSEMBLE AT THE HENRY G. LEONG YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 60 PUBLIC SQUARE STREET, YAU MA TEI, AT 7.15 PM.
------o-------
REMINDER TO APPLY EARLY FOR TAXI VOUCHER ft ft ft ft ft
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS FOR TAXI VOUCHERS, DESIGNED TO SUBSIDISE THE TRAVELLING EXPENSES OF WHEELCHAIR-BOUND DISABLED, ARE REMINDED THAT APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON MARCH 14.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT IT WOULD TAKE TIME TO PROCESS, APPLICANTS SHOULD RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS TO THE DEPARTMENT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THEY BENEFIT FROM THE SCHEME FROM APRIL 1. LATE APPLICATIONS WOULD NOT BE PROCESSED.
UNDER THE SCHEME, AN ELIGIBLE PERSON WILL BE ISSUED WITH TAXI VOUNCHERS AMOUNTING TO B55 PER MONTH TO PAY FOR TAXI FARES. APPLICANTS SHOULD BE 15 OR ABOVE WITH A MONTHLY HOUSEHOLD INCOME BELOW |5 400 AND WITHOUT ENJOYING TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR THEIR VEHICLES.
/♦APPLICANTS ARE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
- 16
OF THEhTmONTHLY HOUSE HOLD^NCOME^N^If5!^^^ .DECLARAT l0N STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE Irf !v!^.tP?- SAT,0N F0RM3-AND AT THE OFFICES 0? THE TRANS??RT DEpiJfti^?UT§llL0FF,CES '
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON THE SECOND FLOOR, LOW BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFF ICES, 66, QUEENSWAY. HONG KONG, VARIOUS 61 STR I CT OFFICES? OR THIOUGH THE POST ON APPLICATION, EITHER IN WRITING OR BY TELEPHONE 5-8623253.
nv A»c2?PtnTTD^APPk1CATI0N FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED BY POST OR GOVERWEHT HSSrKoJJ."00"11 FL<X>R’ L°" “■0CI(' »««’»*»
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS CAN ALSO BE SUBMITTED IN PERSON OR BY AGENT TOi
ft TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT 28TH FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK, QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 66 QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG?
ft TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE AT 2 MURRAY ROAD, HONG KONG;
ft TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S SHA TIN LICENSING OFFICE AT KCR HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR, SHA TIN STATION, NEW TERRITORIES ;
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE AT 56 DUNDAS STREET, NINTH FLOOR, KOWLOON;
AND
* TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S KWUN TONG LICENSING OFFICE AT KOWLOON EAST GOVERNMENT OFFICES, FIFTH FLOOR, 12 LEI YUE MUN ROAD.
FOR ENQUIRIES CALL 5-8623253.
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FOUR LOTS OFFERED FOR SALE ft ft ft ft ft
TWO INDUSTRIAL LOTS, A RESIDENTIAL SITE AND A NON-1NDUSTRI AL ONE ARE TO BE AUCTIONED BY THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
ONE OF THE INDUSTRIAL LOTS IS AT SHEUNG ON STREET IN CHAI WAN AND MEASURES ABOUT 3 000 SQUARE METRES.
/THE BUYER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
17 -
THE BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AT LEAST 21 500 SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA ON THE SITE BEFORE MARCH 31, 1991.
THE OTHER INDUSTRIAL SITE, COVERING AN AREA OF ABOUT 5 487 SQUARE METRES, IS AT KAI HING ROAD, KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION.
UNDER THE BUILDING COVENANT, THE PURCHASER HAS TO DEVELOP NOT LESS THAN 36 000 SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA ALSO BY MARCH 31, 1991.
IT IS STATED IN LEASE CONDITIONS FOR BOTH SITES THAT THEY CAN BE USED AS GODOWNS BUT NOT FOR OFFENSIVE TRADES.
THE RESIDENTIAL SITE OFFERED FOR SALE IS LOCATED ON RAZOR HILL IN SAI KUNG.
THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF NOT LESS THAN 1 710 SQUARE METRES ON THE 3 800-SQUARE-METRE SITE BY THE SAME DATE.
MEASURING ABOUT 444 SQUARE METRES IN AREA, THE NON-INDUSTRI AL LOT IS SITUATED AT WANCHAI ROAD, HONG KONG.
ACCORDING TO THE BUILDING COVENANT, THE BUYER HAS TO COMPLETE AT LEAST 2 125 SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA.
A SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE WITH ANCILLARY ACCOMMODATION WILL BE INCLUDED ON THE SITE, BUT GODOWN DEVELOPMENT WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
THE AUCTION, THE LAST THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE ON MARCH 23.
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SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON TERRITORY’S SYSTEMS * * * * *
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL FOLD A SEMINAR ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1) TO EXPLAIN HONG KONG AFFAIRS TO RESIDENTS SO AS TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT THAT IS TAKING PLACE THIS YEAR.
THE SEMINAR, *KNOW HONG KONG, KNOW WONG TAI SIN*, WILL COVER POLITICAL. ECONOMIC AND LEGAL SYSTEMS AND OTHER ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT.
/IT IS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
IT IS PART OF A SERIES OF CIVIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED | BY THE BOARD’S WORKING GROUP ON PROMOTION OF CIVIC EDUCATION.
SCHOLARS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL PARTICIPATE.
PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR K.Y. TANG. AND A LAW LECTURER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MR CHEN HJNG-YEE, WILL SPEAK ON THE TERRITORY’S ECONOMIC AND LEGAL SYSTEMS.
PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. MR PETER TAM, AND ASSISTANT WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NG HDN-WAH, WILL COVER POLITICAL ASPECTS AND THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.
THE SEMINAR WILL START AT 2.30 PM IN THE FUNG MING HALL, WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE.
WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT’S CIVIC EDUCATION TEAMS WILL ATTEND.
THE PUBLIC ARE ALSO WELCOME TO ATTEND. ADMISSION IS FREE.
NOTE TO ED I TORS«
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM SUNDAY IN THE FUNG MING HALL OF WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE.
PUBLICITY DRIVE FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT *****
A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO PROMOTE A BETTER AND CLEANER LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT WILL BE LAUNCHED TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE AT THE JUNCTION OF O'BRIEN ROAD AND HENNESSY ROAD.
THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD.
AFTER THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY, DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL TOUR THE DISTRICT AND VISIT BUILDINGS TO DISTRIBUTE PLASTIC REFUSE BAGS, POSTERS AND STICKERS, CARRYING THE MESSAGE OF HOUSEHOLD CLEANLINESS.
/OFFICIATING AT .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, V'?7
officiating at the ceremony will be wan chai assistant DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS CARMAN CHIU, DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTE' MR LESTER KWOK, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR HO FOOK-CHU.
NOTE TO EDITORSt
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE PUBLICITY DRIVE TO BE HELD AT 2 PM TOMORROW.
- - 0 - -
DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR TO GIVE CONCERT ft ft ft ft ft
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT CHILDREN’S CHOIR WILL GIVE ITS ANNUAL CONCERT AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE NEXT SUNDAY (MARCH 8).
FREE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AT KAU PUI LUNG ROAD AND ITS TWO SUB-OFFICES AT BULKELEY STREET AND HO MAN TIN ESTATE.
THE CHOIR HAS 70 MEMBERS, AGED BETWEEN NINE AND 16. THEY WILL PERFORM 25 PIECES OF MUSIC INCLUDING THE SPECIALLY-COMPOSED ♦KOWLOON CITY SONG+, FOLK SONGS, HYMNS AND CLASSICAL MUSIC.
THE CHOIR, SET UP IN 1982 WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, IS TO PROMOTE CHILDREN’S INTERESTS IN MUSIC AND TO RAISE THEIR STANDARD OF MUSIC THROUGH PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCES.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CONCERT AT 3 PM NEXT SUNDAY
- 0------
/20
20
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY * * * *
EXHIBITION TOMORROW *
A THREE-DAY EXHIBITION ON CHINESE PAINTING, CALLIGRAPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE STAGED AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL STARTING TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE EXHIBITION !S JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT ARts ADVANCEMENT ASSOC I AT 10 AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO ENHANCE LOCAL APPRECIATION OF CHINESE
ART.
ON DISPLAY WILL BE WORKS BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND MEMBERS FROM THE ASSOCIATION’S CHINESE PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY TRAINING CLASS. A DEMONSTRATION ON CHINESE PAINTING WILL ALSO BE HELD.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICER, MR MATTHEW CHEUNG. DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR RAYMOND PANG, AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNv,-
THE EXHIBITION IS OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM DAILY AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY TOMORROW AT 11 AM AT THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL, LUNG SUM AVENUE, SHEUNG SHJ
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FIRING PRACTICE
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 23 DAYS NEXT MONTH.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF PRACTICE.
THE PRACTISING TIMES ARE:
DATE
MARCH 2 (MONDAY)
MARCH 4 (WEDNESDAY)
MARCH 5 (THURSDAY)
MARCH 6 (FRIDAY)
TIME
0.30 AM -- 2 PM
8.30 AM — 11.59 PM
0.01 AM — 11.59 PM
0.01 AM — 11.59 PM
I
/MARCH 7 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1987
- 21 -
MARCH 7 (SATURDAY) 0.01 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 9 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 10 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 11 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 12 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 13 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 16 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM -- 5 PM
MARCH 17 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 18 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM — 11.30 PM
MARCH 19 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 20 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 23 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 24 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 25 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 26 (THURSDAY) 8.30 AM —- 5 PM
MARCH 27 (FRIDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 28 (SATURDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 30 (MONDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
MARCH 31 (TUESDAY) 8.30 AM — 5 PM
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CASTLE PEAK ROAD CLOSED TO TRAFFIC
*****
TO FACILITATE FOOTBRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, TWO SECTIONS OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES BETWEEN 1 AM AND 6 AM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1) AND MARCH 15 RESPECTIVELY.
THE TUEN MUN BOUND SECTION NEAR LAM TEI WILL BE CLOSED ON MARCH 1, AND THE YUEN LONG BOUND SECTION ON MARCH 15.
- - o-----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT MAKES IMPACT ON WELFARE........... 1
FREE REFUSE MGS FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS ................. 2
FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL FOR ISLANDS' RESIDENTS ............ 3
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MANPO'.IER SURVEY PLANNED .......... 3
SEMINAR ON CHICKEN SEXING ORGANISED .................... 4
ANTI-SMOKING EXHIBITION TO BE STAGED IN EASTERN ........ 4
SINGING CONTEST FINAL NEXT SATURDAY .................... 5
STREET ST.1imFms GET BLANKETS .......................... 6
OPEN SPACES TO BE BUILT AT TAI 0 ....................... 6
REFUSE COLLECTION POINT TO B^ REDEVELOPED .............. 6
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CHANGES IN ABERDEEN .................. 7
TUEN MUN WATER CUT ..................................... 7
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN LAM TIN
7
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987
1
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT MAKES IMPACT ON WELFARE N * M M N
SOCIAL WELFARE MUST ULTIMATELY BEEN SEEN AS MATTER IN WHICH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS INVOLVED, AND THE GREATER THEIR INVOLVEMENT THE GREATER OVERALL PROVISION OF SERVICES WILL BE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR LEE JARK-PUI, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS, « SA IDI ♦ULTIMATELY THE INVOLVEMENT OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE PROVISION (F SERVICES WILL NOT ONLY ASSIST THEM TO ACCEPT THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT WILL ALSO ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT TO WIN GENERAL SUPPORT AS IT IMPLEMENTS ITS POLICIES.*
MR LEE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S WELFARE POLICY HAD CHANGED FROM THE MINIMAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE 1950’S TO A MUCH GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN THE MID-196O»S. NOW THE GOVERNMENT HAD ASSUMED ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION OF SATISFACTORY SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND VOLUNTEERISM.
TRACING THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOLUNTEERISM, HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE 1950’S AND EARLY 196O’S VOLUNTEERING WAS PERFORMED BY THE ■♦HAVE’S* FOR THE +HAVE-NOT’S+.
HOWEVER, STARTING FROM THE MID-196O’S THE COMMUNITY BEGAN TO REALISE THAT IT COULD SUBSTANTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT CF GENERAL WELL-BEING BY INVOLVING PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS THROUGH DIRECT PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SERVICES, HE SAID.
♦PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, RANGING FROM HOUSEWIVES TO PROFESSIONALS, FROM WORKERS TO STUDENTS, OFFERED THEMSELVES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO A WIDE VARIETY OF COMMUNITY AND WELFARE SERVICES.
♦THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO THE CIVIC SPIRIT OF INVOLVEMENT PROMPTLY AND JUDICIOUSLY, RESULTING IN THE CREATION OF A NEW PARTNERSHIP.
♦THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS IN THE PROBATION WORK IS BUT ONE EXAMPLE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,^ MR LEE SAID.
HE ANTICIPATED THAT VOLUNTEERISM WOULD GROW UNDER THE PRESENT CLIMATE AND WELFARE POLICY.
♦THE FORM OF VOLUNTEERING MAY CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO SOCIAL CHANGES, BUT THE SPIRIT or VOLUNTEERISM WILL REMAIN.
/+IT IS .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 198?
2
♦IT IS THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS AND IT TRANSCENDS ALL BOUNDARIES IT SEES NEITHER LIMIT NOR DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND - IN RACE, IN NEED, AND IN WEALTH,♦ HE SAID.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION WERE PRESENTED TO A TOTAL OF Z7 VOLUNTEERS.
UNDER THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS, SELECTED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE PROBATIONERS WITH PERSONAL AND MORAL SUPPORT, AND HELP THEM DEVELOP MEANINGFUL HOBBIES AND HABITS, CULTIVATE IEALTHY PURSUITS, FIND JOBS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE TUITION FOR THEM.
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FREE REFUSE BAGS FOR WAN CHAI RESIDENTS ft ft ft ft ft
A TOTAL OF 90 000 PLASTIC REFUSE BAGS CARRYING HOUSEHOLD CLEANLINESS MESSAGE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO BUILDINGS IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT IN THE COMING MONTH.
SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF
SPEAKING AT THE LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT’S BUILDING MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PUBLICITY DRIVE TODAY (SATURDAY) CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD. MR LESTER KWOK, SAID *30 000 HAD BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE PROVISION OF REFUSE BAGS AND THE PRINTING OF POSTERS AND STICKERS TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE OF IMPROVING THE
LIVING ENVIRONMENT
SIMILAR PROJECTS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT IN THE PAST AND WERE FOUND TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL. THE CAMPAIGN THIS TIME IS A CONTINUOUS EFFORT OF THE DISTRICT BOARD TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS TO USE BAGS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF REFUSE SO AS TO IMPROVE THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT, MR KWOK SAID.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS AT TODAY’S CEREMONY INCLUDED THE WAN CHAI ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS CARMAN CHIU-DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS PEGGY LAM. AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR HO FOOK-CHU.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, DISTRICT BOARD AND AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS VISITED FIVE BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT TO DISTRIBUTE REFUSE BAGS, POSTERS AND STICKERS TO RESIDENTS.
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o
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987
3
FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL FOR ISLANDS’ RESIDENTS H K » M H
ISLANDS DISTRICT RESIDENTS CARE MUCH ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME EDUCATING THEM IN CRIME FIGHTING.
SPEAKING AT A FIGHT CRIME CARNIVAL TODAY (SATURDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR YU YUEN-HEI, SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD ORGANISED IN THE PAST YEAR VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS SUCH AS ESSAY COMPETITIONS, QUIZZES AND GAME STALLS.
MR YU SAID THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THESE ACTIVITIES YOUNG PEOPLE COULD IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF CRIME PREVENTION AND WOULD BECOME MORE ACTIVE DEALING WITH PROBLEMS.
HE APPEALED TO RESIDENTS TO HELP POLICE BY REPORTING CRIME.
THE CARNIVAL WAS HELD IN THE N.T. HEUNG YEE KUK SOUTHERN DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL, MUI WO, AND INCLUDED PERFORMANCES I
BY MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND POLICE DOGS. THERE WERE ALSO GAMES STALLS.
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ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MANPOWER SURVEY PLANNED * * * *
THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A SURVEY FOR UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE MANPOWER SITUATION IN HONG KONG’S ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY.
THE SURVEY, ASSISTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, WILL BE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN MARCH 6 AND MARCH 27.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAD BEEN SENT TO ESTABLISHMENTS COVERED IN THE SURVEY. OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO HELP EMPLOYERS COMPLETE THE QUESTIONNAIRES.
EMPLOYERS ARE URGED TO COOPERATE AND SUBMIT DETAILED INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE USED AS REFERENCE FOR FORMULATING MANPOWER TRAINING PLANS TO MEET NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRY.
INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STR ICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 198? - 4 -
SEMINAR ON CHICKEN SEXING ORGANISED *****
CHICKEN SEXING, A NEW TECHNIQUE WIDELY USED IN MANY ADVANCED COUNTRIES, WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED TO THE LOCAL POULTRY INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AT REDUCED COSTS AND HUSBANDRY EFFICIENCY.
FROM NEXT MONTH, A SERIES OF TRAINING COURSES AND SEMINARS WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT JOINTLY WITH THE NEW TERRITORIES CHICKEN BREEDERS ASSOCIATION. THE FIRST COURSE FOR 40 POULTRY FARMERS WILL BE HELD NEXT TUESDAY (MARCH 3) AT THE CASTLE PEAK POULTRY BREEDING CENTRE AT 3.30 PM.
CONDUCTING THE TRAINING COURSE WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT’S POULTRY HUSBANDRY OFFICER, MISS MABLE LAM, WHO HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A COMPREHENSIVE SIX-MONTH COURSE ON CHICKEN SEXING IN THE UNITED STATES.
PROGRAMME OF THE TRAINING COURSE INCLUDES TALKS, A VIDEO PRESENTATION, PRACTICAL TRAINING AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
A PRESS BRIEFING WILL BE GIVEN BY MISS LAM AND THE AGRICULTURAL OFFICER (DEVELOPMENT). MR TONY TAO, AT THE CASTLE PEAK POULTRY BREEDING CENTRE ON TUESDAY AT 2.30 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE BRIEFING. TRANSPORT FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL LEAVE FROM THE AFD HEADQUARTERS, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 393, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON, BY 1.45 PM.
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ANTI-SMOKING EXHIBITION TO BE STAGED IN EASTERN *****
to from H0NDAy <m‘rch 2)
THE MED,CAL SERVICE WORKING GROUP OF THE
»!?iT,oh ,s a,hed at promot,ng
2SUS52!U'?S=A^?^S6ST "*VS T0 GIVE UP SMOKIHg’aHD CULTIVATE A NON-SMOKING SOCIETY.
/the chairman .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987
5
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL ON SMOKING AND HEALTH, DR RONALD LEUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE ANTI-SMOKING EXHIBITION OPENING CEREMONY ON MONDAY.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS INCLUDE THE CHAIRMAN OF EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, MR ERIC LEE, THE CHAIRMAN OF EASTERN DISTRICT CIVIC EDUCATION PROMOTION WORKING GROUP, MR PAUL YIN, SENIOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH OFFICER. DR M.C. CHAN AND ASSISTANT EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JOHNNY CHAN.
NOTE TO EDITORS*
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION ON MONDAY AT 6 PM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, CITYPLAZA, TAIKOO SHING.
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SINGING CONTEST FINAL NEXT SATURDAY * * * * *
CONTEST ORGANISED BY THE AND ARTS ASSOCIATION AND
OF A SINGING
EIGHTEEN FINALISTS YAU MA TEI AND TSIM SHA
TSUI CULTURE ________ ____
THE MUSIC OFFICE WILL BE COMPETING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT
SATURDAY (MARCH 7) AT THE HENRY G. LEONG YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY
CENTRE.
FOURTEEN OF THEM WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE POPULAR SONG SECTION WHILE THE OTHERS WILL BE IN THE CLASSICAL SONG SECTION. THE FINAL WILL BEGIN AT 8 PM.
THE FINALISTS WERE CHOSEN FROM 110 PARTICIPANTS IN A PRELIMINARY ROUND ON FEBRUARY 21.
CASH COUPONS OF 1800, $500 AND $300 WILL BE AWARDED RESPECTIVELY TO THE FIRST THREE WINNERS OF EACH SECTION.
THE CHIEF ADJUDICATOR OF THE CONTEST IS MR DOMING LAM.
CONTEST FINAL MA TEI DISTRICT YAU MA TEI
RESIDENTS WISHING TO ATTEND THE SINGING CAN OBTAIN FREE ADMISSION TICKETS AT THE YAU CFFICE AT 490, NATHAN ROAD OR HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 60, PUBLIC SQUARE STREET.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987
6
STREET SLEEPERS GET BLANKETS ft ft ft * ft
MORE THAN 100 FIELD STAFF OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT MOUNTED AN OPERATION LAST (FRIDAY) NIGHT TO DISTRIBUTE BLANKETS TO STREET SLEEPERS AND OTHERS IN NEED DUE TO THE COLD SPELL.
A TOTAL OF 550 BLANKETS WERE DISTRIBUTED COMPRISING 331 IN WEST KOWLOON, 35 IN EAST KOWLOON, 142 ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND 42 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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OPEN SPACES TO BE BUILT AT TAI 0 ft ft ft ft
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A fl.2 MILLION CONTRACT TO BUILD THREE LOCAL OPEN SPACES ALONG 1A I 0 ROAD.
COVERING A TOTAL AREA OF 1 658 SQUARE METRES, THE OPEN SPACES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH A ROLLER SKATING RINK, A PAVILION, A STORE ROOM, FLOWER BEDS, BENCHES, ARBOURS AND PLANTERS.
WORK STARTED THIS MONTH AND WILL TAKE 11 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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REFUSE COLLECTION POINT TO BE REDEVELOPED ft ft ft ft
AN EXISTING REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT CHEUNG LEE STREET IN CHAI WAN IS TO BE REDEVELOPED AND UPGRADED.
OCCUPYING A 160 SQUARE METRE STRUCTURE WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH A TO ELIMINATE UNPLEASANT ODOURS.
SITE, THE NEW SINGLE-STOREY CARBON FILTERED EXTRACT SYSTEM
OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE HANDCART WASHING BAYS, A STOREROOM, AN OFFICE AND TOILETS.
THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE WORK WHICH WILL START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END
CF THIS YEAR.
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/?
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1987
7
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CHANGES IN ABERDEEN
*****
TO FACILITATE THE LAYING OF WATER MAINS, THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN ABERDEEN FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 2) FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKSi
* NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD EASTBOUND ON TO TIN WAN HILL ROAD.
* VEHICLES ON TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED DIRECT TO TIN WAN HILL ROAD, WHILE THOSE EXCEEDING 11 METRES IN LENGTH WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE NORTHBOUND LANE OF TIN WAN HILL ROAD BETWEEN SHEK PAI WAN ROAD AND ABERDEEN PRAYA ROAD.
AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SHEK PAI WAN ROAD WESTBOUND, WAH FU ROAD AND SHEK PAI WAN ROAD EASTBOUND.
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TUEN MUN WATER CUT * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TUEN MUN WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 3) FOR MAINS WORK
AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY SHUI TONG ROAD, WO PING SUN TSUEN, CHUNG UK TSUEN AND TAN KWAI TSUEN.
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PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN LAM TIN *****
A NUMBER OF ROADS IN LAM TIN WILL BE MADE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONES FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 2).
THEY ARE ROAD LT1, ROAD LT3 AND LAM TIN NORTHERN LINK ROAD. NO PLB WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THEM.
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