XN000022-1981-01-26 — Page 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1981

HAD ENQUIRY COUNTERS GROWING POPULAR

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THERE WAS A 35 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CALLERS AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR.

THE 27 ENQUIRY COUNTERS ANSWERED THE REQUESTS OF A TOTAL OF 5 223 666 PEOPLE, COMPARED WITH 3 870 205 IN 1979.

OF THESE REQUESTS, 1 866 456 WERE ENQUIRIES, 3 154 264 WERE FOR GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS, AND 202 946 FOR HELP IN SOLVING MORE COMPLICATED PROBLEMS.

SUBJECTS MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED WERE: TECHNICAL EDUCATION (98 010 OR 5.3 PER CENT OF ALL REQUESTS HANDLED), HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME (89 111 OR 4.8 PER CENT), LOCATION AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES (70 775 OR 3.8 PER CENT), GOVERNMENT JOBS AND VACANCIES (62 666 OR 3.4 PER CENT), AND PUBLIC HOUSING WAITING TIME (52 189 OR 2.8 PER CENT).

GOVERNMENT FORMS IN GREATEST DEMAND WERE THOSE APPLYING FOR: CIVIL SERVICE JOBS (328 768), HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS (255 356) ADMISSION TO THE POLYTECHNIC AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES (211 372), SPONSORSHIP OF COMMUNITY CHEST WALKS (164 996), AND PRIVATE CANDIDATE ENTRY TO GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS (110 519).

THE MAJORITY (95 PER CENT) OF THE MORE COMPLICATED REQUESTS FOR SERVICE WERE FOR PROCESSING OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS. THESE WERE NEEDED BY THE CALLERS FOR APPLICATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, ENTRY TO SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, SITTING PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS, MARRIAGE REGISTRATION, AND EMIGRATION.

AT PRESENT, PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS ARE LOCATED AT THE 10 CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, THEIR 16 SUB-OFFICES, AND THE INFORMATION SECTION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT IN INTERNATIONAL BUILDING.

TWO MORE COUNTERS WILL OPEN LATER THIS YEAR TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SERVICE IN STANLEY AND TSIM SHA TSUI,

BESIDES DISTRIBUTING FORMS, ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS AND ADVISING ON THE SERVICES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SOME SEMI-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, COUNTER STAFF ALSO HELP IN SOLVING PERSONAL PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS, THE MORE COMPLICATED OF WHICH ARE REFERRED TO THE SPECIALIST DÉPARTMENTS.

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