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tion by local residents, and especially by "that section of the community which is not usually given to public expressions of opinion". In conformity with this statement of the Government's intention an official Working Party was appointed in April. This Party was charged with the task of preparing practicable, alternative, proposals, which might form the basis of a further study, including popular consideration. This Working Party submitted its report to the Governor at the end of November and I believe that consideration is now being given to releasing it to the public.
I am sure that Members will appreciate that it would be premature for the Government to commit itself even to provisional conclusions until views from all sides have been fully and carefully considered.
Before leaving the Ad Hoc Committee's Report—Mr. BERNACCHI expressed surprise that it had not yet been translated into Chinese and made available in Chinese to the citizens of Hong Kong. The position here is simply that a draft translation is in the hands of certain Members of this Council who, being specially qualified for the task, have been asked to study and comment on the accuracy, etc. of the translation, before any steps are taken towards publication.
Many Members spoke on the question of Chinese translations of official communications. Dr. Woo suggested the appointment of a special committee to examine the Government's translation system. It is Government's policy to request departments to give Chinese replies to letters received in Chinese whenever this is feasible, and to ask them to provide translations of standard forms as much as possible.
Some months ago, in pursuance of this policy, a survey of translation work being done in some departments was made to ascertain the extent and quality of replies, etc. being given in Chinese. As a result, consideration is now being given to measures that should improve the standard of Government's translation work and extend the number of letters that can be sent in Chinese. It is too early to give a definite indication of what form the improvements will take, since the matter is still under discussion, but one of the results should be an improvement in the standard of Government translations. I hope that this will curtail the instances of faulty translation related by Dr. Woo.
Dr. BELL raised the question of Chinese translations being sent with all correspondence dealing with licensing. This is done as far as possible, and Members of the Food and Food Premises Select Committee will be aware that the matter is to be further discussed at their next meeting.
Several Members referred to simultaneous translation. The Council has, over the past year, been studying the possibility of introducing a simultaneous translation system into its proceedings. A great deal of information has been collected on this matter, but a decision as to whether such a system is, in fact, feasible still awaits further consideration by the Standing Committee of the Whole Council.
Another matter of general interest, to which I have been asked to make reference by the head of department responsible, concerns immigration at the Macau Ferry Piers. Mr. LOBO criticized the immigration facilities for dealing with the Macau passenger traffic.
But when the existing facilities were planned I doubt if anyone could possibly have had any concept of the degree to which this traffic was destined to expand. For example, in 1962/63 more than 1,300,000 passengers were cleared: this year the total will be nearly 3,000,000.
Congestion on the wharf has created difficulties both for the public and for the staff of the Immigration Department. Government has the matter of existing and future facilities very much in mind, and, whilst long-term measures are being considered, interim measures are now in hand which should improve the existing conditions at the wharf.
Before I leave general matters, may I mention to those Members who spoke on education that they will find the speech of the Financial Secretary in the Legislative Council during the debate on the White Paper on Education Policy of interest. The financial implications of the policies set out in that Paper are dealt with, and I can arrange for Members who are interested to be supplied with the relevant extracts if they wish.
As far as departmental matters are concerned, both Mr. Wilson WANG and Mr. LOBO mentioned the need to reconsider the title of the post of Manager, City Hall. This title will certainly become less appropriate as new library and museum facilities are provided elsewhere in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and during the coming year we shall reconsider whether the time is ripe to recommend a change.
I share Mr. Wilson WANG's satisfaction at the progress that has been made in strengthening the Headquarters staff of the Urban Services department. We shall continue to pay particular attention to this vital topic.
Members, and I mention here particularly Mr. CHEONG-LEEN, will be glad to know that the Deputy Director and staff are now embarking on a series of management studies aimed at raising the efficiency of the department, so that we may hope to offer a truly effective, and courteous, service to the public.
I will take the activities of the Cleansing Division next.
Dr. LEE, the Chairman of the Environmental Hygiene Select Committee, has been an ardent champion of mechanical road sweeping, and
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