XN000022-1979-06-15 — Page 4

3

+A DIFFICULT TASK EVEN WHEN FRESH AND IN DAYLIGHT BUT AT DAWN WHEN YOU ARE TIRED FROM A HARD DAY'S NIGHT', THIS - THIS

THIS SHOWS A DEEP DEDICATION TO DUTY AND I KNOW THAT THAT IS THE SORT OF SPIRIT WHICH FLOWS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CIVIL AID SERVICES.+

REFERRING TO C.A.S.'S PLANNED EXPANSION INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES OR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ITS CADET WATER ACTIVITY CENTRE THIS YEAR, SIR JACK SAID IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT FUNDS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT DIFFICULT ECONOMIC SITUATION.

ADMITTING THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE HIGHLY DESIRABLE, SIR JACK SAID HE HOPED THAT WHEN THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IMPROVED, THE NECESSARY FUNDS WOULD BE GRANTED TO IMPLEMENT THEM.

TURNING BACK TO THE C.A.S. DUTIES, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ROAD AHEAD COULD BE LONG AND ARDUOUS.

+ IT IS CLEAR THAT IN THE WEEKS, MONTHS AHEAD THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE TO CALL CH YOUR SERVICES PERHAPS AS NEVER BEFORE,+ HE SAID.

+BUT I KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT COME WHAT MAY, THE SERVICE WILL RESPOND AS ALWAYS, WITH DEDICATION AND DEVOTION" TO DUTY: A DETERMINATION TO ŠERVE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ SIR JACK CONCLUDED.

THE C.A.S. COMMISSIONER, MR. ROGER LOBO, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE DINNER SAID THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE STATE OF THE ORGANISATION WAS ESPECIALLY TIMELY THIS YEAR BECAUSE, LIKE NEVER BEFORE

THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WERE HEAVILY ENGAGED IN WORK OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY.

MENTIONING SOME OF THE WORK THIS YEAR, MR. LOBO SAID: +SIX DAYS A WEEK, IN ALL WEATHER, C.A.S. PERSONNEL HANDLE THE DELIVERY OF FOOD TO THE SHIP +SKYLUCK+ FOR THE REFUGEES ABOARD.

+KAI TAK CAMP WAS OPENED ON JANUARY 20 TO ACCOMMODATE MORE REFUGEES FROM VIETNAM AND SINCE THAT DATE WE HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE ALONG WITH THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMP.

+WE ARE ALSO ENGAGED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CAMPS AT THE YAU MA TEI DOCKSIDE, MA TAU WAI AND ARGYLE STREET, IN ADDITION TO PERFORMING THE DIFFICULT TASK OF DELIVERING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES TO THE MANY BOATS WHICH WERE LYING AT THE WESTERN QUARANTINE ANCHORAGE, AND MORE RECENTLY TO THOSE IN DISCOVERY BAY, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEA AND WEATHER CONDITIONS,+ HE ADDED.

TO GIVE SOME IDEA OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE COMMITMENT, MR. LOBO SAID EVERY OPERATIONAL MEMBER OF THE C.A.S. HAD HAD TO OBTAIN THREE DAYS LEAVE EACH MONTH, OR 5,000 MEN DAYS PER MONTH FOR THE ENTIRE SERVICE SINCE MID-JANUARY.

MR. LOBO ADDED THAT IN THE LIGHT OF THE HEAVY COMMITMENTS, THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE VALUE OF THE C.A.Ş. IN DIFFICULT AND DELICATE+ SITUATIONS, AND THE DEMAND FOR THE IR PRESENCE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE WAS A SERIOUS NEED TO CONSIDER INCREASING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORGANISATION.

+AND I HOPE THE PROPOSALS WHICH WE ARE ABOUT TO SUBMIT WILL RECEIVE FAVOURABLE AND URGENT CONSIDERATION,+ HE SAID.

/4