XN000022-1977-01-21 — Page 7

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1977

IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING WELL APPRECIATED BY N.T.A. ******

THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WELL APPRECIATES THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING FOR ITS STAFF WHICH BETTER EQUIPS THEM TO MEET CONFIDENTLY THE DAILY CHALLENGES IN THEIR FIELDS.

THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS TODAY IN A CEREMONY IN WHICH HE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO 16 N.T.A. LAND EXECUTIVES - THE FIRST GROUP TO HAVE COMPLETED A TWO-YEAR PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSE IN LAND ADMINISTRATION.

HE TOLD THE GRADUATES +WITH THE INCREASING COMPLEXITY OF A LAND EXECUTIVE'S DUTIES, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THOSE WHO DEAL WITH IMPORTANT DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE A SOUND KNOWLEDGE OF THE RELEVANT SUBJECTS SUCH AS THOSE YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.+

WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE GUIDANCE THEY RECEIVED FROM THE IR SENIOR OFFICERS, HE SAID, THE GRADUATES WOULD BE WELL EQUIPPED TO MEET CONFIDENTLY THE DAILY CHALLENGES IN THE FIELD.

MR. CHAMBERS SAID THE COURSE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1974 TO REPLACE THE DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION WHICH QUALIFIED NEWLY- APPOINTED LAND EXECUTIVES FOR CONFIRMATION TO THE PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT,

THE COURSE IS CONDUCTED AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNDER A PILOT TRAINING SCHEME FOR LAND EXECUTIVES JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE N.T.A. AND THE POLYTECHNIC.

HE EXPRESSED THANKS TO THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE N.T.A. STAFF FOR MAKING THE COURSE A SUCCESS,

AT PRESENT, 35 OTHER LAND EXECUTIVES ARE NOW ATTENDING THE SECOND AND THIRD COURSES, WHICH INCLUDE TRAINING IN VALUATION OF LAND AND BUILDING, LAND SURVEYING AND MAP INTERPRETATION, AND LAW RELATED TO LAND ADMINISTRATION.

THE 16 GRADUATES HAVE COME FROM VARIOUS DISTRICT OFFICES - FIVE EACH FROM TSUEN WAN AND TAI PO, TWO EACH FROM YUEN LONG AND ISLANDS, AND ONE EACH FROM TUEN MUN AND SAI KUNG.