SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 1986
+WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE JP'S DO NOT VISIT THE SAME ESTABLISHMENT TWICE WITHIN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, + SAID MR WOODHEAD, THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY (CONSTITUTIONAL AND ELECTORAL AFFAIRS) Tiv THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY. +BEING A FRESH VISITOR ADDS TO THE INDEPENDENCE OF A PERSON'S VIEWPOINT. +
MR WOODHEAD SAID THE PROGRAMME OF INSPECTION VISITS PLAYS ITS PART IN HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE VARIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS ARE RUN PROPERLY, AND IF INMATES OR PATIENTS DO HAVE COMPLAINTS THEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEM TO UNBIASED COMMUNITY LEADER.
AROUND 700 VISITS ARE MADE YEARLY AND THIS DOES MAKE AN IMPOSITION ON JP'S WHO ARE ON THE VISITS ROSTER.
NOT ALL JP'S ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH SERVICE, AND, BECAUSE OF THE IR ALREADY LARGE WORKLOAD ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE, REGIONAL AND URBAN COUNCILS ARE EXEMPTED.
+THE WORK OF THE JP'S IN MAKING THESE VISITS IS APPRECIATED. THEY ARE USUALLY PROMINENT AND BUSY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THESE CIVIC DUTIES DO TAKE TIME,+ MR WOODHEAD SAID.
HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE SCHEDULING OF VISITS WAS ROUTINE, LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS COULD ARISE, WITH SOMEONE PERHAPS BEING DELAYED, OR BAD WEATHER INTERFERING WITH ARRANGEMENTS.
CARS ARE USED FOR MOST VISITS, BUT HELICOPTERS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE OR LAUNCHES ARE MORE CONVENIENT IN TRAVELLING TO THE MORE REMOTE ESTABLISHMENTS.
MR WOODHEAD CONSIDERS THAT JP'S PERFORM A VALUABLE FUNCTION FOR THE IR COMMUNITY, AND IT IS A TIME-HONOURED ONE WITH MUCH HISTORY BEHIND IT: THE ENGLISH JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ACT WHICH APPLIES IN HONG KONG DATES BACK TO THE YEAR 1361.
TALKING TRADE IN NORTH AMERICA
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HONG KONG WILL TAKE PART THIS WEEK IN FURTHER TALKS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AS A PART OF A PRESIDENTIAL REVIEW OF THE U.S. GENERAL ISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TRADE, NORTH AMERICA, MR ROBERT FOOTMAN. THE REVIEW WILL DETERMINÉ COMPETITIVE NEED LEVELS FOR EACH BENEFICIARY TERRITORY ON A PRODUCT BY PRODUCT BASIS,
/IT WILL