XN000022-1976-09-19 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1976

THE IMPACT' SYSTEM IS UNDERGOING VARIOUS ELABORATE TESTS, THE INITIAL PHASE OF THE IMPACT' SYSTEM COVERING GROUP 'C' (MEDICAL) ITEMS HELD IN THE DEPARTMENT'S MAIN DEPOTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR. GROUPS 'A' AND 'B' ITEMS WILL BE PHASED IN BEFORE THE END OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

COMMODITIES UNDER GROUP 'A' INCLUDE GENERAL STORES, CLOTHING MATERIALS, STATIONERY, SPORTS AND OFFICE INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT, WHILE GROUP 'B' COVERS MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, AND BUILDING ITEMS AS WELL AS FIRE-FIGHTING INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT.

MANUAL RECORDS OF THE THREE GROUPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FED INTO THE SYSTEM.

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AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE THREE GROUPS, MR. TAM SAID, THE DEPARTMENT'S DATA PROCESSING DIVISION WOULD SPEND ABOUT A YEAR TO REVIEW THE IMPACT SYSTEM BEFORE DECIDING TO EXTEND IT TO THE SUB-DEPOTS IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, THE WATERWORKS OFFICE AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE.

+OUT TARGET DATE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE

COMPUTER ISATION SCHEME IS 1981, + HE ADDED.

THE 'IMPACT SYSTEM WILL INITIALLY RUN IN 'BATCH' MODE. THAT IS VOUCHERS/INPUT DOCUMENTS ARE BATCHED AND DATA ARE PUNCHED ON MAGNETIC TAPES WHICH ARE THEN FORWARDED IN BATCHES TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT'S COMPUTER CENTRE AT NEW MERCURY HOUSE FOR PROCESSING. FROM THERE THE DEPARTMENT COLLECTS THE PRINTOUT REPORTS THE NEXT DAY FOR NECESSARY ACTION.

MR. TAM SAID THAT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, A FEASIBILITY STUDY IS CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED INTO AN ON-LINE AND POSSIBLY REAL-TIME EXTENSION OF THIS SYSTEM IN THE NEXT PHASE COVERING THE DEPARTMENT'S SUB-DEPOTS IN THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, THE WATERWORKS OFFICE AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE.

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