| MUKƏDAT,
JULT I,
6
HIGH LEVEL ECONOMIC AND TRADE DELEGATION FROM JAPAN
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HONG KONG WILL PRESS ITS CASE FOR THE REMOVAL OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FIVE CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS FROM HONG KONG IN THE JAPANESE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES WHEN A HIGH LEVEL JAPANESE DELEGATION IS IN HONG KONG FROM JULY 17 TO 20, SAID A TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN. THE FIVE CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS ARE TRAVEL GOODS, ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, GLASS BEADS, IMITATION JEWELLERY AND TOYS.
THE RULING LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JAPAN IS SENDING A HIGH LEVEL DELEGATION TO THE ASEAN COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON ECONOMIC AND TRADE MATTERS.
THE DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY MR MASUMI ESAKI, CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC MEASURES OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HE WILL BE TRAVELLING AS THE SPECIAL ENVOY OF MR ZENKO SUZUKI, THE JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER, IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY. KE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE DIET AND ADVISERS.
DURING HIS STAY IN HONG KONG, MR ESAKI WILL BE MEETING THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. HE IS ALSO SCHEDULED TO MEET THE HONG KONG/JAPAN BUSINESS COOPERATION COMMITTEE, SET UP IN 1979 TO PROMOTE TRADE, INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG AND JAPAN.
NEW PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES COUNTER FOR TSUEN WAN
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A NEW PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES COUNTER HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD OFFICE IN FOU WAH CENTRE.
THIS BRINGS TO 10 THE NUMBER OF PES COUNTERS IN THE DISTRICT
- SIX IN KWAI CHUNG, THREE IN TSUEN WAN AND ONE ON TSING YI.
SINCE THE COUNTER WAS OPENED IN LATE MAY, STAFF HAS HANDLED MORE THAN 500 ENQUIRIES AND DISTRIBUTED 300 FORMS AND PUBLICITY PAMPHLETS.
DESCRIBING THE RESPONSE AS +GOOD+, A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE SERVICE TO INCLUDE TAKING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS AND PROCESSING CASES THAT REQUIRE FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
AT THE OTHER NINE PES COUNTERS, FACILITIES PROVIDED INCLUDE REFERRAL OF RENTAL MATTERS TO THE RENT OFFICERS FROM THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT, PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR FREE LEGAL ADVICE, STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND POLICIES, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FORMS AND PAMPHLETS.
DURING THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, STAFF AT THESE COUNTERS HANDLED MORE THAN 185 000 ENQUIRIES AND DISTRIBUTED 238 000 FORMS AND PAMPHLETS.
THREE OF THE COUNTERS REMAIN OPEN DURING LUNCH TIME WHILE THE WORKING HOURS FOR THE OTHERS ARE FROM 8.45 AM TO 5.15 PM ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.