MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1985
REVIEWING THE SHORT HISTORY OF LAW TRANSLATION IN HONG KONG, MR TING NOTED THAT THE MAIN PROBLEM IN THE PAST WAS ONE OF RESOURCE MOBILISATION.
THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH HAS, SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1973, BEEN GIVEN THE JOB OF TRANSLATING INTO CHINESE THOSE LAWS CONSIDERED TO BE OF WIDE PUBLIC INTEREST.
FROM 1973 TO 1983, 39 PIECES OF LEGISLATION WERE TRANSLATED INTO CHINESE, LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO SPECIFIC REQUESTS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE, LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE AND INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE WERE AMONG THE LAWS GIVEN PRIORITY AS THEY CONCERN THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
AND THE PACE OF THE TRANSLATION WORK HAS QUICKENED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
SINCE MID-1983, ANOTHER 31 PIECES OF LEGISLATION HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED INTO CHINESE.
+ IT SHOWS THAT WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO HANDLE THE JOB PROMPTLY,+ MR TING SAID.
TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED WORK LOAD, A LAW UNIT WAS FORMED WITHIN THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION LAST JUNE, COMPRISING NINĖ CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS.
THE LAW UNIT KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH UMELCO, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND THE MASS MEDIA TO IDENTIFY PRIORITY ORDINANCES FOR TRANSLATION.
+OUR STAFF WILL THEN DRAFT THE CHINESE VERSIONS IN CONSULTATION WITH THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT, MR TING SAID.
TRANSLATED LAWS WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED FOR VETTING. THE FINAL VERSIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED INDIVIDUALLY.
+DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THE WORK, INEVITABLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISCREPANCIES IN THE CHINESE TRANSLATION, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO TERMS WHOSE NUANCES HAVE NOT BEEN FULLY GRASPED EY THE CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS, MR TING ELAINED.
+ THE TASK IS FORMIDABLE. V: Y OFTEN, WE WORK UNDER ENORMOUS PRLSSURE TO MEET DEADLINES, + MR TING SAID.
FOR THE TRANSLATED CHINESE VERSION TO HAVAL EFFECT, MUST BE PASSED BY THE LATIVE COUNCIL.
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