THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1981
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DUNCAN BLUCK NEW HKTA CHAIRMAN
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MR DUNCAN BLUCK, CHAIRMAN OF THE SWIRE GROUP IN HONG KONG, HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO SUCCEED MR DAVID NEWBIGGING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1.
WHEN HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. MR NEWBIGGING WILL HAVE SERVED FOR FIVE YEARS AS CHAIRMAN OF THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION.
DURING THIS PERIOD, ANNUAL VISITOR ARRIVALS HAVE INCREASED FROM 1.76 MILLION IN 1977 TO AN ESTIMATE OF 2.54 MILLION IN 1981. GROSS RECEIPTS FROM TOURISM HAVE GROWN FROM $4.1 BILLION TO AN ESTIMATE OF $7.5 BILLION OVER THE SAME PERIOD. THUS THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMY HAS GROWN CONSIDERABLY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
MR BLUCK, WHO JOINED THE SWIRE GROUP IN 1948, HAS HAD TWO SPELLS AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT. THE FIRST WAS FROM 1966 TO 1968 AND THE SECOND BEGAN IN JANUARY 1977. FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS HE HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD'S STAFF AND FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE.
LIKE HIS PREDECESSOR, MR BLUCK TRAVELS EXTENSIVELY BECAUSE OF HIS GROUP'S WIDESPREAD INTERESTS AND IS WELL PLACED TO PROMOT HONG KONG TOURISM.
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CHANGES
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A MAJOR SECTION OF THE MURRAY BARRACKS CAR PARK NEAR GARDEN ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED FROM MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY TO MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY (DECEMBER 20) TO PROVIDE SPACE FOR A CHRISTMAS FUN FAIR ORGANISED BY THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN).
MEANWHILE, THE WUHU INTERCHANGE VEHICLE SUBWAY LEADING FROM CHATHAM ROAD NORTHBOUND TO GILLIES AVENUE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 12.30 AM TO 5.30 AM ON SUNDAY (DECEMBER 20) FOR MAINTENANCE WORK ON THE LIGHTING SYSTEM.
DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, TRAFFIC FROM CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH HEADING FOR THE HUNG HOM AREA MAY USE CHEONG WAN ROAD, ON WAN ROAD AND GILLIES AVENUE.