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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1993
NO PLAN TO ADD MORE MARRIAGE REGISTRIES
THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MARRIAGE REGISTRIES AND TO PRIVATISE THE SERVICE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TIMOTHY HA WING-HO THE LEGISTLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR ASPREY SAID THE EXISTING FACILITIES COULD COPE WITH DEMAND.
IN
"THE PROBLEM OF INSUFFICIENT TIME SLOTS EXISTS FOR LESS THAN 10 DAYS IN THE YEAR.
HE
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SAID EXTENDING REGISTRIES' OFFICE HOURS WAS A VIABLE WAY TO MEET EXCESS DEMAND ON PARTICULAR DAYS, BUT PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE EARLY MORNINGS OR LATE AFTERNOONS FOR THE CEREMONY.
HE
ALSO POINTED OUT THAT PROLONGED QUEUING WAS UNNECESSARY AS THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT COULD COPE WITH THE NUMBER OF COUPLES WISHING TO BE MARRIED.
HE SAID THE 11 CIVIL MARRIAGE REGISTRIES PROVIDED AN EFFICIENT SERVICE AT REASONABLE COST, ADDING THAT THERE WERE SOME 220 PLACES OF WORSHIP OF DIFFERENT RELIGIONS LICENSED FOR THE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE.
MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE AIRPORT CONGESTION
* * * * *
THE
THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE THE CONGESTION OF TRANSFER PASSENGERS AT THE RESTRICTED AREA OF KAI TAK AIRPORT, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR GORDON SIU, SAID.
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR SIU SAID THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT HAD STARTED A PROGRAMME TO EXPAND THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE IN THE RESTRICTED AREA.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES THE WIDENING OF DEPARTURE PIERS TOWARDS THE LANDSIDE AND THE RE-LOCATION OF SOME AIRLINE ACCOMMODATION. AN ADDITIONAL 2,200 SQUARE METRES OF SPACE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR.
HE ADDED THAT THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE AT THE AIRPORT ALSO ALLOWED TRANSFER PASSENGERS UNABLE ΤΟ MAKE AN IMMEDIATE ONWARD CONNECTION TO LEAVE THE AIRPORT TEMPORARILY UNDER A GUARANTEE FROM THE AIRLINES WHICH BROUGHT THEM TO HONG KONG.
/MR SIU