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MONDAY, MAY 30, 1983
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTS SOMEONE TO ANY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHETHER THE PERSON SPEAKS ENGLISH OR NOT IS NOT OF CONCERN.
+AS A MATTER OF FACT, MANY NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING PERSONS ARE NOW SERVING ON THE LEGISLATIVE AND URBAN COUNCILS, DISTRICT BOARDS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES,+ MR MAK SAID.
IN 1980, THE SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION UNIT, WHICH WAS SET UP TO EASE THIS ARRANGEMENT, PROVIDED SERVICE FOR ABOUT 220 MEETINGS. THIS NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO REACH 700 THIS YEAR. TO COPE WITH DEMAND, THE UNIT IS STEPPING UP ITS RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING WORK.
UMELCO ALSO SET UP A CHINESE LANGUAGE PANEL AT THE END OF 1978 TO MONITOR THE USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE PANEL, CURRENTLY CHAIRED BY MR WONG LAM, HOLDS REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO KEEP THE SITUATION IN REVIEW AND TO BRING UP PROBLEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
MR MAK SAID THAT SINCE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN FEBRUARY 1974, DEMAND FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES BY THE GOVERNMENT HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
+MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY USE EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE IN COMPLETING FORMS WITHOUT BEING PREJUDICED.
+ALL KINDS OF POLICY PAPERS, WHICH INCLUDE THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET SPEECHES, SPEECHES OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, GREEN PAPERS, WHITE PAPERS AND REPORTS OF VARIOUS WORKING PARTIES, MUST BE PUBLISHED IN BOTH LANGUAGES.
*THE TRANSLATION SERVICES SECTION OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS AND IN THE PAST YEAR IT COMPLETED SEVERAL MAJOR COMPLEX ASSIGNMENTS, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION ALSO PLAYED A PART IN THE PROMOTION OF CHINESE CULTURE.
IN APRIL THIS YEAR, IT HELPED FOUR MAJOR LOCAL CHINESE NEWSPAPERS ORGANISE A TERRITORY-WIDE YOUTH CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY AND PAINTING CONTEST TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN CHINESE ART AND LITERATURE AND TO PROVIDE HEALTHY ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG STUDENTS.
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