XN000022-1978-03-25 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 1978

PRINTING DEPARTMENT COPING WITH INCREASED WORKLOAD

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THE WORKLOAD OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING DEPARTMENT HAS DOUBLED IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND THE PAPER TONNAGE USED ALSO INCREASED BY THE SAME RATE IN TEN YEARS, MR. DENNIS RICK, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, SAID TODAY.

AT THE MOMENT, HE ADDED, STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE NOW WORKING FULL SWING TO COPE WITH THE WORKLOAD IN ITS BUSIEST PERIOD OF THE YEAR.

MR. RICK SAID: +BETWEEN DECEMBER AND MAY EACH YEAR THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO PRINT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COPIES OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS INCLUDING THE BUDGET SPEECH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND ITS SUPPORTING STATEMENTS. THE HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS AND A LARGE QUANTITY OF PUBLIC EXAMINATION PAPERS.

+THIS YEAR WE PRINTED 42,000 COPIES OF THE HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, AN INCREASE OF 10 PER CENT IN THE ENGLISH EDITION AND 30 PER CENT IN THE CHINESE EDITION COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR.

+THE VOLUME OF PUBLIC EXAMINATION PAPERS FOR THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR WILL INCREASE BY 12 PER CENT,+ HE SAID.

THE MAJOR INCREASE IS IN OFF-SET COLOUR PRINTING.

MR. RICK SAID: +DURING LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF COLOUR TRANSPARENCIES WE PROCESSED FOR PRINTING DOUBLED THAT FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.+

HE STRESSED THAT THE QUALITY OF HIS DEPARTMENT'S OUTPUT HAS NOT BEEN AFFECTED BY THE INCREASING WORKLOAD.

+WE STRIVE TO PRESERVE THE STANDARD AND TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMERS THE BEST SERVICES WE CAN. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE QUALITY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS WHICH HAS EARNED FAVOURABLE COMMENTS IN AND OUT OF HONG KONG,+ MR. RICK SAID.

MR. RICK REVEALED THAT A PLAN TO MOVE THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT TO A NEW SITE WITH BIGGER ACCOMMODATION IS ON THE DRAWING BOARD, AND A SITE CLOSE TO THE EXISTING PLANT IN NORTH POINT IS BEING CONSIDERED.

HE SAID: +THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO ACTIVELY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPUTERISING THE TYPE COMPOSITION FACILITIES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE.+

MR. RICK SAID IT WAS SIMPLER TO OPERATE PHOTO TYPE-SETTING WITH A COMPUTER WHICH HAD AN ENORMOUS STORAGE CAPACITY FOR ALL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS.

+WE CAN UPDATE ANY INFORMATION EASILY AND QUICKLY TO ENABLE US TO PRODUCE PUBLICATIONS IN A VERY SHORT TIME.+

HE SAID THAT COMPUTERISATION OF CHINESE CHARACTERS COMPOSITION WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED WHEN THE MARKET COULD PROVIDE SUCH ADVANCED EQUIPMENT.