XN000022-1977-04-17 — Page 4

SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 1977

AT THE EXHIBITION HALL AT HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS MR. LIAO; THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR. BERNARD WILLIAMS, AND OTHER OFFICIALS COMPLETED MRS. THATCHER'S ON-THE-SPOT ERIEFING ON THE HOUSING SITUATION.

SHE SAID SHE HAD BEEN IMPRESSED BY THE ATTRACTIVE DESIGN OF THE LATER ESTATES AND THE IMAGINATIVE WAY+ THEY HAD BEEN LAID OUT.

SHE SPOKE TO MR. LIAO ABOUT THE SURPRISINGLY STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHICH HAD OBVIOUSLY GROWN UP IN HOUSING ESTATES, DESPITE THE COMPARATIVE NEWNESS OF SOME, AND HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS SPIRIT WAS FOSTERED BY HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF ON ALL ESTATES, WHO KEPT UP PERSONAL CONTACT AT ALL TIMES AND SAW EACH TENANT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, WHEN COLLECTING THE RENT.

SHE WAS KEENLY INTERESTED IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, WHICH MR. LIAO EXPLAINED WAS THE NEXT PHASE IN HONG KONG'S MASSIVE PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME, AND WOULD GIVE TENANTS AN EVEN GREATER OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER DEVELOP COMMUNITY SPIRIT BY ALLOWING THEM TO OWN THEIR OWN HOMES IN INDIVIDUAL ESTATES.

WARNING AGAINST BOGUS LABOUR OFFICERS

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ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. LIN HUO-FU, TODAY WARNED FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO BE ON GUARD AGAINST BOGUS LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM FACTORY PROPRIETORS WHO WERE APPROACHED FOR MONEY FOR ADVERTISEMENTS IN PURPORTED DEPARTMENTAL PUBLICATIONS BY PEOPLE WHO CLAIMED TO BE OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

+NO PUBLICATION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CARRIES ADVERTISEMENT, MR. LIN STRESSED.

+ALL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ARE FREE, AND FROM TIME TO TIME, THE DEPARTMENT PUBLISHES PAMPHLETS ON LABOUR LEGISLATION, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, WHICH ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.+

HE REMINDED FACTORY PROPRIETORS THAT ALL LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS CARRIED WITH THEM GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS AND WARRANTS BEARING THE PHOTOGRAPH AND NAME OF THE HOLDER.

+MEMBERS OF THE FACTORY AND LABOUR INSPECTORATES ARE UNDER INSTRUCTION TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES BY PRODUCING THEIR WARRANTS WHEN VISITING FACTORIES,+ HE ADDED.

MR. LIN ADVISED FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO CHECK ON THE IDENTITY OF VISITORS CLAIMING TO BE OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND

IF IN ANY DOUBT TO REPORT IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.