XN000022-1977-01-17 — Page 7

6

-

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 1977

NEW CENTRE FOR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

******

A NEW CENTRE PROVIDING MODERN BOOKSHOP FACILITIES FOR THE SALE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

SITUATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING IT REPLACES THE PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE LOCATED A FEW YARDS AWAY IN THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE.

THE NEW CENTRE SERVES NOT ONLY AS THE PRIMARY SALES OUTLET FOR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS BUT ALSO ACCOMMODATES AN INFORMATION. DESK STAFFED BY THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SALE OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, SAID TODAY THAT THE NEW PREMISES PROVIDED GREATLY IMPROVED FACILITIES TO SERVE THE INCREASING FLOW OF CUSTOMERS.

THERE IS A LARGE COUNTER AREA TO ACCOMMODATE SALES TRANSACTIONS, MORE STORAGE SPACE FOR PUBLICATIONS AND MODERN DISPLAY FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED.

+WE WERE HARD-PRESSED FOR SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE CUSTOMERS IN OUR PREVIOUS PREMISES, BUT NOW WE CAN OFFER THEM FAR MORE INVITING SURROUNDINGS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT ARE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE EFFORTS BEING MADE TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION. THERE IS A RANGE OF ABOUT 3,000 TITLES WHICH PROVIDE USEFUL REFERENCE MATERIAL ON MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HONG KONG,

CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS IN PROMOTING WIDER INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, AND IN EXPANDING OUTLETS WHERE THEY CAN BE OBTAINED BY THE PUBLIC.

THERE ARE NOW OVER 80 OUTLETS WHERE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CAN BE PURCHASED, INCLUDING BOOKSHOPS, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, HOTELS AND INFORMATION COUNTERS IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. FURTHER OUTLETS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED IN NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES.

THE KEY OUTLET, HOWEVER, WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, WHICH ALSO MARKETS PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN AGENCIES OVERSEAS. THESE ARE HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE (H.M.S.0.), THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (0.E.C.D.) AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION (W.H.O.).

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED BY THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY PRESS AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.