XN000022-1978-01-04 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1978

IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, A NUMBER OF MAJOR PROJECTS AS OUTLINED IN THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED. THE NEW DENTAL CENTRE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TRAINING FOR DENTAL NURSES WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1978 AND THE SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL IN 1980 WHEN THE SUPPLY OF TRAINED STAFF COMES ON STREAM.

THE 1,300 BED PSYCHIATRIC WING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL WILL BE COMPLETED BY 1980. IN SHA TIN SITE FORMATION WORK FOR THE TEACHING HOSPITAL OF ABOUT 1,400 BEDS HAS COMMENCED WHILE AT TUEN MUN PREPARATORY WORK ON ANOTHER MAJOR HOSPITAL OF 1,200 BEDS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

THESE PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED BY 1982 AND 1983 RESPECTIVELY.

EIGHT NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WILL ALSO BE COMPLETED : SHATIN GENERAL CLINIC IN 1979. TUEN MUN POLYCLINIC STAGE I. NGAU TAU KOK AND LEI MUK SHU BY 1980, EAST KOWLOON BY 1981, SHA TIN POLYCLINIC BY 1982 AND HUNG HOM AND SHAM SHUI PO BY 1983.

CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TO RETIRE

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MR. J.K. SAUNDERS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT (TECHNICAL AND PLANNING) IS TO GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE SHORTLY AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED BY MR. J.T. THORPE, CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER.

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MR. SAUNDERS, WHO WAS RECRUITED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1958 AFTER SERVICE WITH THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER 11, AT A TIME WHEN AIR TRAVEL WAS FAR LESS IN DEMAND BY THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC. HONG KONG AT THAT TIME WAS ONLY SERVED BY 20 AIRLINES OPERATING REGULAR SERVICES BRINGING IN SOME 115,000 PASSENGERS AND DEPARTING WITH ABOUT 120,000 PASSENGERS ANNUALLY.

MR. SAUNDERS HAS WITNESSED THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY AND THE EXPANSION OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. TODAY, THERE ARE 26 AIRLINES OPERATING SCHEDULED SERVICES AT THE AIRPORT AND THE NUMBER OF INCOMING AND OUTGOING PASSENGERS IS APPROACHING THE 5,000,000 MARK - A GROWTH OF OVER 2,000 PER CENT,

DURING HIS LONG YEARS OF SERVICE, MR. SAUNDERS WAS REDESIGNATED AS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL OFFICER I IN 1960 AND WAS APPOINTED AS CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER IN 1972. HE HAS HELD THE POST OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SINCE 1973.

TO MARK HIS WELL-EARNED RETIREMENT, MR. ROY DOWNING, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, WILL PRESENT A MEMENTO TO MR. SAUNDERS ON BEHALF OF HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AT A FAREWELL DINNER TO BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

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