XN000022-1979-03-07 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1979

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CONTRACT FOR AIRCRAFT FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES

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THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS PLACED AN ORDER FOR THREE AIRCRAFT FIRE-FIGHTING VEHICLES ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT.

A CONTRACT TO SUPPLY THESE VEHICLES, WORTH SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS, WILL BE SIGNED TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

THE SIGNING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE AT CAROLINE HILL, SECOND FLOOR, AT 3 P.M.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE CONTRACT SIGNING CEREMONY.

IT WILL BE HELD AT THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE, CAROLINE HILL, SECOND FLOOR, AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

OFFICERS FROM PWD'S PUBLICITY UNIT WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PRESS.

APPLY NOW FOR BRITISH PASSPORTS ISSUED IN LONDON

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DELAYS ARE EXPECTED IN THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS AND THE DELIVERY OF BRITISH PASSPORTS ISSUED IN LONDON.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WHEN HE ADVISED ALL THOSE REQUIRING THESE PASSPORTS TO APPLY EARLY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DELAY WAS DUE TO THE SEASONAL INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR PASSPORTS IN U.K. FROM APRIL TO AUGUST.

HE POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR THESE APPLICATIONS TOOK 12 WEEKS OR MORE TO FINALISE INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL EIGHT WEEKS, AND THEREFORE, SIMILAR DELAYS ARE EXPECTED THIS YEAR.

REGARDING BRITISH PASSPORTS ISSUED IN HONG KONG, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE PROCESSING TIME OF 10 WORKING DAYS, HE SAID.

THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ACTS AS AN AGENT FOR THE U.K. IN RESPECT OF APPLICATIONS FOR LONDON-ISSUED UK PASSPORTS.

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