XN000022-1977-02-01 — Page 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1977

TRAVELLERS TO CHINA OR MACAU DURING LUNAR NEW YEAR NEED TO APPLY FOR RE-ENTRY PERMITS EARLY

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THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR. MARTIN ROWLANDS, TODAY ADVISED RESIDENTS INTENDING TO TRAVEL TO CHINA OR MACAU OVER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS TO APPLY NOW FOR THEIR HONG KONG RE-ENTRY PERMITS BEFORE THE RUSH STARTS.

HE URGED PEOPLE NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE THEY WOULD FACE THE INEVITABLE DELAYS AND LONG QUEUES AT THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICES.

A SINGLE JOURNEY RE-ENTRY PERMIT COSTING ONLY $3 IS VALID FOR ONE JOURNEY TO MACAU OR CHINA AND RETURN TO HONG KONG WITHIN SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE. A MULTIPLE JOURNEY PERMIT COSTING $15 IS VALID FOR ANY NUMBER OF JOURNEYS WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUE.

+THERE IS THEREFORE NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO WAIT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR BEFORE APPLYING,+ MR. ROWLANDS SAID.

RE-ENTRY PERMITS CAN BE OBTAINED NOW FROM ALL IMMIGRATION BRANCH OFFICES AND FROM THE MOBILE IMMIGRATION OFFICE WHICH CALLS DAILY AT REMOTE PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

LEGCO MEETS TOMORROW

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UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 14 QUESTIONS WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THE QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED WILL INCLUDE SUCH SUBJECTS AS CHILD EMPLOYMENT, STREET LIGHTING, TRANSIT CENTRE, CRIME AND FACTORY INSPECTIONS.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO BE ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD CONSIDER THE ENACTMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PENSIONERS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES TO COLLECT THEIR PENSIONS PERSONALLY.

DEBATE WILL RESUME ON FOUR BILLS. THEY ARE THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977 AND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION BILL 1977.

ALSO DURING THE MEETING, DR. THE HOT. S.Y. CHUNG WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ANNUAL REPORT HICH WILL BE TABLED WITH BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1970.

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