XN000022-1975-09-04 — Page 6

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1975

PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE

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THE 23 PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES OPERATED BY THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HANDLED 734,636 ENQUIRIES IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR - AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 4,000 A DAY.

MOST OF THE ENQUIRIES WERE ABOUT APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND PUBLIC HOUSING, SCHOOL AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

THE CENTRES ARE MANNED BY TRAINED STAFF WHOSE WORK INCLUDES ANSVERING QUERIES ON GOVERNMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES, SUPPLYING INFORMATION ON AND DISTRIBUTING FORMS FOR GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, PROCESSING AND ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, AND DISTRIBUTING EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS TO NEEDY RESIDENTS IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

THEY ARE ALSO OFTEN CALLED UPON TO INTERPRET LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS FOR ILLITERATE PEOPLE.

THE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE ENQUIRY CENTRES ARE FREE.

ANYONE CAN WALK IN ANY OF THE CENTRES AND ASK FOR INFORMATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SAID, ENQUIRIES OR COMPLAINTS COULD ALSO BE MADE BY TELEPHONE, HE ADDED.

COPIES OF A LIST OF TELEPHONE NUMDERS AND ADDRESSES OF THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ANY ENQUIRY CENTRE.

PACKAGING DESIGN SEMINAR CLOSES TOMORROW

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE REGIONAL SEMINAR ON PACKAGING DESIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETS WILL CONCLUDE WITH A SHORT CLOSING CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER AT 11.30 A.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY). YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.

THE REGIONAL SEMINAR BEGAN ON AUGUST 27 AND IS BEING ATTENDED BY SOME 24 DELEGATES FROM 12 COUNTRIES PLUS NINE PARTICIPANTS FROM HONG KONG. ITS AIM IS TO PROMOTE EXPORTS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES OF ASIA AND THE PACIFIC BY ENCOURAGING AN AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PACKAGING DESIGN.