XN000022-1974-01-30 — Page 10

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Wednesday, January 30, 1974

Of the total, 14 posts were at a rank higher than that attainable

in 1971, two posts at Chief Interpreter/Translator level were filled recently

by distinguished scholars, and in addition to a Chief Interpreter in simultaneous

interpretation, the government has the services of two full-time simultaneous

interpreters and five part-time simultaneous interpreters.

"Because of this rapid progress, the government believes that the

time has come formally to declare Chinese and English as official languages,

he said.

MORE STAFF FOR B.0.0.

Staff resources are always made available to the Buildings Ordinance

Office when it has to deal with unauthorised alterations to buildings which

would cause a risk to life, the acting Director of Public Works, the Hon,

William Boll, told the Legislative Council today.

He was replying to the Hon. Szeto Wai who had asked when administrative,

legal and technical staff would be available to the B.0.0. to enable it to

make a start on the control of the more serious unauthorised alterations to

buildings.

Mr. Bell said the necessary staff should become available progressively

within two years.

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