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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976
MORE LIBRARY FACILITIES FOR N.T.
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EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE TO PROVIDE MORE LIBRARY FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. ALEX WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THAT THE LACK OF LIBRARY SERVICES
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD BEEN OF GREAT CONCERN TO HIM.
HOWEVER, HE WAS HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOW ON THE MOVE+.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL, MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED, HAD ACCEPTED A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF $6 MILLION FOR FITTING OUT, FURNITURE AND BOOKS, AND EXPENDITURE OF $4.4 MILLION ON VARIOUS RUNNING EXPENSES.
+THIS FINANCIAL YEAR WE ARE MAKING A START WITH TWO LIBRARIES IN THE EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES, AT TAI PO AND SHEUNG SHUI,+ HE SAID. +TSUEN WAN ALREADY HAS A LIBRARY, BUT IT IS NOT NEARLY BIG ENOUGH, AND HERE AND IN THE OTHER NEW TOWNS, SOME EXPANSION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE INTERIM BEFORE THE PLANNED LIBRARIES OF 12,000- 16,000 SQ. FT. ARE COMPLETED IN 1980/81.+
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SMALLER BRANCH LIBRARIES, HE SAID, ALL PERMANENT FACILITIES WOULD INCLUDE STUDY ROOMS AS A COMPOSITÉ FEATURE.
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID EVERY OPPORTUNITY WAS BEING TAKEN TO EARMARK MORE ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDY ROOMS FOR EXAMPLE IN HOUSING ESTATES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES.
IN ADDITION, HE ADDED THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH WAS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN A MORE PRECISE EXAMINATION OF THE NEED FOR STUDY ROOMS,
HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN LOCAL OFFICERS BEING CONSIDERED
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THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING POSSIBLE METHODS OF ASSISTING OFFICERS WHO QUALIFY NEITHER FOR THE ALLOCATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING (THAT IS, ON SALARIES UP TO $2,200 A MONTH) NOR FOR PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE (THAT IS, ON SALARIES OVER $5,620 A MONTH).
THIS WAS STATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG.
MR. CHEUNG ASKED WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION OF A GRADUATED HOUSING ALLOWANCE FOR LOCAL OFFICERS WHO WERE BELOW THE SALARY POINT AT WHICH HOUSING ALLOWANCE WAS AT PRESENT PAYABLE.
+A HOUSING ALLOWANCE OF SOME KIND IS ONE OF THE METHODS EY WHICH ASSISTANCE MIGHT BE PROVIDED, AND IT IS BEING CONSIDERED ACCORDINGLY, + MR. SCOTT ADDED.
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