XN000022-1980-01-01 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1980.

HEADED BY AN ENGINEER ON SECONDMENT FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE SECTION HAS MORE THAN 60 STAFF STATIONED IN THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF SHA TIN, SAI KUNG, TAI PO, NORTHERN, TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG AND ISLANDS.

MORE THAN $28 MILLION WERE SPENT ON LPW AND RELATED PROJECTS DURING THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 1979.

IN CARRYING OUT THIS PROGRAMME, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINS CLOSE LIAISON WITH PWD AND NT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE ARMY AND UTILITY COMPANIES TO ENSURE SMOOTH PROGRESS.

PROJECTS ARE INITIATED BY DISTRICT OFFICERS AND LOCAL VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES WHILE THE NTA'S WORKS SECTION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IR DESIGN AND SUPERVISION.

THE PROJECTS ARE OFTEN CONSTRUCTED WITH THE HELP OF LOCAL VILLAGERS, WHOSE PARTICIPATION IS ENCOURAGED.

SOME ARE JOINT EFFORTS WITH THE ARMY OR OTHER VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE CO-OPERATIVE FOR AMERICAN RELIEF EVERYWHERE (CARE).

GOVERNMENT EVENING CLASSES BENEFIT MANY

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A FORMER HAWKER IS NOW A SCHOOL TEACHER, AND A FORM 1 SCHOOL DROPOUT IS NOW AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

THEY BOTH HAVE AT LEAST ONE THING IN COMMON THE DETERMINATION TO BETTER THEMSELVES BY ATTENDING EVENING SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES RUN BY THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THEY DID SO WELL IN THEIR PART-TIME STUDIES THAT BOTH CAME OFF WITH FLYING COLOURS IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION, EACH SCORING ONE DISTINCTION AND FOUR CREDITS.

WITH THE HELP OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THEY OBTAINED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES IN THE MATRICULATION COURSE AND EVENTUALLY TO UNIVERSITY, WHICH LANDED THEM IN THE IR PRESENT JOBS.

MR. C.H. YIP, A FORMER HAWKER IS THE ELDEST SON IN A FAMILY OF EIGHT. HE HAD TO QUIT SCHOOL AFTER COMPLETING PRIMARY SIX TO HELP OUT AT HIS PARENTS' POULTRY STALL.

ADVISED BY HIS FRIENDS, HE LATER ENROLLED IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSE AT THE TIN KWONG ROAD GOVERNMENT SCHOOL CENTRE WHERE HE RECEIVED FORMAL SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE EVENING.

/MR. M.F.