XN000022-1981-06-14 — Page 4

SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 1981

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INFORMATION IS OBTAINED ONCE A MINUTE FROM SURFACE UP TO A HEIGHT OF 30 000 METRES. A VERY LOW FREQUENCY RECEIVER AND PROCESSOR USES THE +OMEGA+ NAVIGATIONAL SIGNAL TO TRACK THE MOVEMENT OF THE RADIOSONDE AND DETERMINE THE WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED AT VARIOUS HEIGHTS.+

IN THE PAST, THIS WAS DONE BY RADAR AND REQUIRED MORE MANPOWER TO OPERATE AND WAS ALSO RELATIVELY MORE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN.

+SINCE THE MODERN EQUIPMENT IS AUTOMATIC, WE NOW NEED ONLY ONE OPERATOR A SHIFT INSTEAD OF FOUR, AND CONSEQUENTLY A TOTAL OF SIX STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN RELEASED FOR OTHER WORK, HE SAID.

DATA FROM THIS NEW DEVICE IS NOT ONLY BENEFICIAL TO WEATHER FORECASTING IN HONG KONG, BECAUSE INFORMATION COLLECTED IS ALSO FED DIRECTLY INTO THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM AND DISSEMINATED TO OVERSEAS METEOROLOGICAL CENTRES. MATERIAL RECEIVED IN RETURN FROM THESE CENTRES ENABLES THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TO HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT VARIOUS HEIGHTS OF THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE REGION.

APART FROM ACQUIRING THE UPPER-AIR SOUNDING SYSTEM, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAS ALSO WORKED OUT PLANS TO UPDATE OTHER EQUIPMENT.

MORE GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR THE DISABLED ****

THE GOVERNMENT GAVE EMPLOYMENT TO 126 DISABLED PERSONS DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

ON APRIL 1, THERE WERE ALTOGETHER 878 DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE INCREASE OF 80 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S INTAKE OF 70 WAS DUE MAINLY TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE TEMPO OF RECRUITING DISABLED PERSONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THIS IS BEING EFFECTED THROUGH REVISED CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS INTRODUCED IN FEBRUARY 1980, WHICH MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR A DISABLED CANDIDATE TO BE RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT IF HE CAN CARRY OUT THE DUTIES OF A PARTICULAR POST EVEN THOUGH HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF EVERY POST IN THE SAME RANK.

THE REVISED REGULATIONS ALSO MADE IT CLEAR THAT A DISABLED PERSON FOUND SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT WOULD BE GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF PREFERENCE FOR APPOINTMENT OVER OTHER APPLICANTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IN PLACING THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS WHEREVER POSSIBLE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE GENERAL POLICY TO INTEGRATE THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT.

/+TO ACHIEVE