WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1982
15
OFFICIAL USE OF CHINESE EXPANDS
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MUCH PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE ON THE USE OF CHINESE AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE, WITH ALL IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS NOW BEING PRODUCED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES, REPORTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION HAD BEEN EXTENDED FROM LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND URBAN COUNCIL MEETINGS TO DISTRICT BOARDS AS WELL AS TO MAJOR ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, HE SAID.
THIS BILINGUAL SERVICE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDED, HE ADDED.
MR AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAD INCREASED FROM 100 IN 1973 TO 336 TODAY.
+MOREOVER, THE ENTRY QUALIFICATION FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS HAS ALSO BEEN RAISED FROM THE LEVEL OF MATRICULATION TO THAT OF A UNIVERSITY DEGREE, HE SAID.
SHORT-TERM PARKING NEEDS DISCUSSED
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THE SHORTEST PRACTICABLE DURATION FOR PARKING METERS AT ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IS HALF AN HOUR AND IN DESIGNATING SUCH SPACES, THE NEED OF MOTORISTS FOR PUBLIC CONVENIENCES WAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, POINTED OUT AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON K.C. CHAN, WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER INSTALLING SHORT-TERM PARKING METERS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS.
MR SCOTT EXPLAINED THAT WHERE THE DEMAND FOR PARKING WAS HIGH, METERS WERE INSTALLED TO FACILITATE A HIGHER TURNOVER IN THE USE OF SPACES.
AS VEHICLE TRIPS IN HONG KONG WERE OF SHORT DURATION, COMPARED WITH LONG MOTORWAY TRIPS IN MOST COUNTRIES, THERE WAS NOT THE SAME NEED FOR PROVIDING ON-STREET PARKING SPACES HERE, MR SCOTT SAID.
BUT HE ADDED, +PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS IN HONG KONG CAN MAKE USE OF FACILITIES LOCATED NEAR TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES, BUS TERMINI AND TAXI STANDS.+