XN000022-1978-12-24 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1978

CHINESE LANGUAGE ENFORCEMENT UNIT FORMED

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THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AUTHORITY HAS SET UP AN ENFORCEMENT UNIT TO SPEED UP IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CHINESE LANGUAGE POLICY.

THE NEW UNIT, HEADED BY A CHIEF CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER AND ASSISTED BY SEVERAL SENIOR OFFICERS, WILL SUPERVISE ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS POLICY AND HELP IMPROVE DEPARTMENTAL TRANSLATION SERVICES.

+ THE MAIN ROLE OF THE CHINESE LANGUAGE AUTHORITY, + EXPLAINED HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MRS. KATHERINE FOK, + IS TO ENSURE ALL DOCUMENTS AND NOTICES ISSUED TO THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE A CHINESE VERSION WHEN NECESSARY.+

SHE SAID CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS WERE DEPLOYED IN 31 DEPARTMENTS PROVIDING A BILINGUAL SERVICE BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. THEY ALSO UNDERTOOK INTERPRETATION WORK.

MRS. FOK NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THAT CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS ON THE USE OF CHINESE AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE WAS MADE DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE SHARP INCREASE IN CHINESE COMMUNICATION IS MOST ENCOURAGING, SHE ADDED.

STRESSING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE USE OF CHINESE IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS, SHE SAID THIS SERVICE HAD BEEN FURTHER SUPPLEMENTED BY THE PROVISION OF SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION.

+SIMULTANEOUS INTERPRETATION IS NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL IMPORTANT MEETINGS AND FUNCTIONS, SUCH AS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND SO ON, SHE SAID.

THE SECONDMENT OF CLOS TO THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, INTRODUCED LAST MONTH (NOVEMBER), ALSO PROVIDES A HELPFUL SERVICE TO NON-ENGLISH SPEAK ING PEOPLE WHO NEED LEGAL ADVICE, MRS. FOK POINTED OUT.

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