XN000022-1977-01-23 — Page 2

FO

SUNDAY, JANUARY 23, 1977

+THIS NEW ROLE OF THE ISLANDER SEEMS TO BE HAVING A STRONG DETERRENT EFFECT, ESPECIALLY SINCE SUCCESSFUL SIGHTINGS IN 1975 HAD FORCED TWO SUSPECTED THAI TRAWLERS TO TURN BACK,+ FLT. LT. SHAWCROSS SAID.

+WE ARE STILL BEING CALLED IN BY THE POLICE REGULARLY TO CARRY OUT SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS, BUT THE NUMBER OF SUCH FLIGHTS CARRIED OUT DURING THE PAST YEAR WAS MUCH LESS THAN BEFORE,+ HE SAID, +NO SUCH TRAWLERS WERE SPOTTED DURING THE YEAR.+

THE UNIT'S FIFTH AIRCRAFT, THE BEECHCRAFT MUSKETEER, CONTINUED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT FOR PRIVATE PILOT LICENCES.

+THESE LICENCES, FLT. LT. SHAWCROSS WENT ON, +MUST BE RENEWED REGULARLY AND IT INVOLVES RIGID TESTING OF FLYING PROCEDURES. THE MUSKETEER ALSO HELPS FULFIL THIS COMMITMENT.+

+ IN ADDITION, THE ISLANDER AIRCRAFT WAS USED FOR SHORT RANGE SEARCHES, OBSERVATION FLIGHTS AND THE PRELIMINARY TESTING OF NAVIGATIONAL AID EQUIPMENT SUCH AS THE NEWLY INSTALLED SECONDARY SURVEILLANCE RADAR OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT,+ HE SAID.

PRISONS GIRLS DRESS IN STYLE

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+ALL THE NICE GIRLS LOVE A UNIFORM+,

OR SO THE SAYING

GOES. WELL IT'S CERTAINLY TRUE OF SOME OF FEMALE SECRETARIAL AND CLERICAL STAFF OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

ENVIOUS OF THEIR UNIFORMED COLLEAGUES IN THE SERVICE, THE GIRLS, ALL AT THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS IN CENTRAL, REQUESTED A UNIFORM OF THEIR OWN. HOWEVER, UNDER CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS

THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE.

ANXIOUS TO GET THAT TAILORED-LOOK, THE GIRLS - LED BY MISS VERONCICA NG, SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. T.G. GARNER - GOT TOGETHER AND DESIGNED THEIR OWN COSTUME. A BOUTIQUE TAILOR DID THE REST AND THE GIRLS THEMSELVES PAID FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF DRESSING UNIFORMLY.

PRESENTLY 14 OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S FEMALE OFFICE STAFF CAN BE SEEN AT THEIR DESKS IN NEAT, WELL-CUT AND ALMOST IDENTICAL COSTUMES, DARK-BLUE DRESS AND RED JUMPER FOR WINTER AND A LIGHT-BLUE BLOUSE IN SUMMER. THE DEPARTMENT PRESENTED EACH GIRL WITH A SMALL LABEL-PIN TO COMPLETE THE EFFECT.

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