XN000022-1980-12-17 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1980

+THERE WAS NO TRACE OF PRIDE IN THIS IMPERIAL TRIBUTE TO THE MOTHER OF PARLIAMENTS, HE OBSERVED, ADDING THAT THE BARMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WERE A HARD WORKING LOT AND DESERVED THE BEST.

+ I HAD TO EXPLAIN WITH SORROW THAT IF THE BARMEN GOT THREE DOZEN SHIRTS BETWEEN THEM THIS MEANT THAT SOME OTHER GOOD CITIZENS HAD TO BE DEPRIVED OF THREE DOZEN SHIRTS FOR SHIRTS ARE UNDER QUOTA. NO WAY COULD WE SHIP EXTRA SHIRTS, NOT EVEN FOR BARMEN IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.+

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MR BRAY SAID HE DID NOT THINK IT NECESSARY TO ADD THAT HONG KONG'S QUOTA WAS 21 MILLION SHIRTS WHICH IS JUST ABOUT ENOUGH TO ENABLE EVERY MAN AND BOY IN ENGLAND TO BUY JUST ONE HONG KONG SHIRT A YEAR EACH.

GIFT OF AMERICAN BOOKS TO NT PUBLIC LIBRARIES *****

THE COLLECTION OF BOOKS AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE NEW TERRITOR IES WAS TODAY BOOSTED BY 180 VOLUMES ON CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS.

THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION WAS MADE TO THE KWAI CHUNG PUBLIC LIBRARY BY THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION AGENCY, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

ACCEPTING THE BOOKS AT A BRIEF CEREMONY AT THE LIBRARY, THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR BRIAN WILSON, SAID THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES WERE MOST PLEASED TO HAVE THE AGENCY WITH THEM TODAY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+THE BOOKS WHICH COVER CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN DANCE, DRAMA, MUSIC, FILM AND TELEVISION WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE BOOK STOCK OF THE KWAI CHUNG PUBLIC LIBRARY.

+THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL RESIDENTS IN THE NEW TERRITOR IES THROUGH THE INTER-LIBRARY LOAN NETWORK.

+THE COLLECTION WILL ALSO LEND SUPPORT TO THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL, WHICH IS NOW BEING PLANNED, HE SAID,

PRAISING THE AGENCY WHICH IS WELL-KNOWN AS A PIONEER IN THE PROMOTION OF LIBRARY SERVICES AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG, MR WILSON SAID: +WE LOOK FORWARD TO CLOSE COOPERATION IN THE YEARS AHEAD.+

AT THE CEREMONY, MR WILSON ACCEPTED THE BOOKS FROM MR THOMAS SHOESMITH, THE US CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG.

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO MR SHOESMITH AND THROUGH HIM TO THE 44 AMERICAN PUBLISHERS FOR THEIR GIFT.

+WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE IR GENEROSITY AND WE PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THIS EVIDENCE OF THEIR INTEREST IN THE CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR WILSON SAID.

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