SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1979
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EARLIER, THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE GREATER LONDON COUNCIL, MR. JOHN WARD, GAVE A RECEPTION FOR THE ORCHESTRAS AT COUNTY HALL.
HE WELCOMED THE YOUNG HONG KONG MUSICIANS TO LONDON AND SAID LONDONERS WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS THE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS OF HONG KONG.
MR. WARD PRESENTED MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR. GORDON SIU, WITH A SOUVENIR PLAQUE, THEN DOTTED THE EYES OF THE TWO LIONS.
MR. SIU SAID THE ORCHESTRAS WERE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO SHARE SOME OF HONG KONG'S CULTURE WITH PEOPLE IN THE U.K. HE PRESENTED THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN WITH A JADE FLOWER PLANT AS A SOUVENIR OF THE VISIT.
RELAXED CRITERIA IN RELIEF APPLICATION FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR
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FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR APPLYING FOR BENEFITS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR DEPENDANTS UNDER THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEIR INCAPACITY TO EARN A LIVING IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO INJURIES OR HARDSHIP SUFFERED WHILST IN CAPTIVITY.
THIS RELAXED CRITERIA HAS COME INTO EFFECT FOLLOWING THE RECENT ENACTMENT OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE.
THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1947 UNDER THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE AND IS ADMINISTERED BY A COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE MAINTENANCE, EDUCATION, BENEFIT OR ADVANCEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE FORCES AND ORGANISATIONS LISTED IN THE ORDINANCE WHO SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE PACIFIC WAR, AND THEIR DEPENDANTS.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE 101 BENEFICIARIES. THE CURRENT RATES OF ALLOWANCE PER MONTH ARE $870 FOR A SINGLE PERSON, $1,740 FOR A COUPLE, $580 FOR EACH OF THE FIRST TWO DEPENDANT CHILDREN AND $445 FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT CHILD.
THE LIST OF FORCES AND ORGANISATIONS, WHOSE MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS FROM THE FUND, NOW ALSO COVERS THE AUXILIARY NURSING SERVICE, THE ROYAL NAVAL YARD POLICE AND THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE.
OTHER FORCES AND ORGANISATIONS IN THE LIST ARE THE HONG KONG VOLUNTEER FORCE, THE HONG KONG ROYAL NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE, THE HONG KONG VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS AND THE AUXILIARY AND AFFILIATED UNITS THEREOF, THE HONG KONG CORPS OF AIR RAID WARDENS, THE HONG KONG POLICE RESERVE, THE HONG KONG CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS, AS SPECIFIED BELOW AUXILIARY COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE, AUXILIARY CONSERVANCY CORPS, AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE, AUXILIARY LABOUR CORPS, AUXILIARY MEDICAL CORPS, AUXILIARY ORDNANCE CORPS, AUXILIARY QUARTERING CORPS, AUXILIARY SUPPLY CORPS, AUXILIARY TRANSPORT SERVICE, CIVIL PAY AND ACCOUNTS SERVICE, PUBLIC WORKS CORPS AND AUXILIARY RESCUE AND DEMOLITION CORPS - HIS MAJESTY'S REGULAR ARMED FORCES.
/APPLICATIONS FOR.....