TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1988
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HONG KONG CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY
THE INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY WAS CELEBRATED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG TODAY (TUESDAY), AS IT HAD BEEN CELEBRATED BY MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS COOPERATION COUNCIL (CCC) AROUND THE WORLD TO PROMOTE THE IMAGE OF CUSTOMS SERVICES AND MAKE THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND ROLE BETTER KNOWN.
AT A RÉCEPTION FOR THE OCCASION THIS EVENING, THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON, SAID HONG KONG NOT ONLY BECAME A CCC MEMBER LAST YEAR, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER AFTER 1997 IN THE NAME OF "HONG KONG, CHINA"
THE CCC IS A GROUPING OF MORE THAN 100 CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS, INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PROMOTION OF COOPERATION, HARMONY AND UNIFORMITY AND THE CIRCULATION OF INFORMATION AMONG VARIOUS CUSTOMS SERVICES.
IT ALSO DRAWS UP DRAFT AGREEMENTS TO SIMPLIFY AND STANDARDISE CUSTOMS WORK, AS WELL AS SETTLING CUSTOMS DISPUTES.
AS PART OF ITS CONTRIBUTION AS MEMBER TO THE CCC, HONG KONG HAS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED A REGIONAL LIAISON OFFICE FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN CCC MEMBERS. IT IS THE FIRST IN THE WORLD AND IS SEEN BY MANY AS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE DRUG TRADE.
MR WILLIAMSON ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT ENJOYED CLOSE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION WITH OTHER CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIONS WORLD-WIDE AND WAS HELD IN HIGH REGARD BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS.
M&H STAFF GIVEN REASSURANCE ON STATUS
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THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR ADOLF HSU, TODAY (TUESDAY) REASSURED STAFF OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, THEY COULD RETAIN THEIR CIVIL SERVICE STATUS IF THEY SO WISHED.
INSTEAD OF
IF THEY OPTED TO REMAIN IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, JOINING THE FUTURE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT, THEY COULD KEEP ALL THE BENEFITS ENJOYED BY CIVIL SERVANTS, HE SAID.
MR HSU POINTED OUT THAT SUCH ASSURANCES HAD BEEN STAFF DURING MEETINGS WITH THEM THROUGH DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES AND SEPARATE MEETINGS BETWEEN STAFF UNIONS AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE
GIVEN то AND GRADE LEAGUE OF
HE EXPLAINED,