XN000022-1981-09-20 — Page 11

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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1981

THIS WAS IN FACT A DOUBLING OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S FIGURE, SAID MISS BETTY HO OF THE NTA COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIVISION. THE NTA CENTRES WERE FIRST STARTED IN 1974, WITH FOUR OFFICES, DEALING WITH SOME 73 000 REQUESTS A YEAR.

+AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR SERVICE, LIKE THE ONE FOR THE URBAN AREAS, HAS ALSO EXPANDED CONSIDERABLY, SHE SAID.

THE MATTERS DEALT WITH ARE WIDE-RANGING, AND CONCERN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATION, INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, RECREATION AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, STATUTORY MATTERS. SUCH AS DECLARATIONS, APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS MARRIAGE REGISTRATION, AS WELL AS HOUSING AND EMIGRATION. THERE ARE ALSO CASES OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR PRIVATE BODIES NEEDING FOLLOW-UP WORK.

OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERN SANITATION, PUBLIC NUISANCES SQUATTING, COMPENSATION, RESETTLEMENT, ROAD AND DRAINAGE, STAFF ATTITUDES, AND DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES.

LARGE NUMBERS OF REQUESTS ARE MADE FOR GOVERNMENT FORMS, APPLICATIONS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP, AND ENROLMENT IN THE TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTES.

CONSTANT EFFORT IS MADE TO PROVIDE EVEN BETTER SERVICE IN BOTH THE URBAN AND NT AREAS, AND IN MAKING IT MORE CLOSELY WITHIN THE REACH OF THE PEOPLE.

MOBILE VANS AND SERVICES ARE OPERATED TO REMOTE AREAS AND MORE RECENTLY, A LUNCH-TIME ENQUIRY SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED IN FACTORIES, FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF WORKERS.

THE SERVICES ALSO MAKE REFERRALS TO THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, AND ONCE A WEEK LEGAL ADVISERS FROM THE HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY ATTEND TWO COUNTERS EACH IN HONG KONG (IN THE WAN CHAI AND EASTERN AREAS) AND KOWLOON (IN THE MONG KOK AND WONG TAI SIN AREAS) AS WELL AS THE NEW TERRITORIES (IN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN) TO PROVIDE SERVICE ON LEGAL MATTERS.

+OUR COUNTERS ARE MANNED BY EXPERIENCED STAFF WHO ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP UP WITH LATEST INFORMATION ON ALL RELEVANT MATTERS,+ THEY SAID.

THE SERVICES WELCOME PUBLIC ENQUIRIES, AND INDEED, WISH TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO APPROACH THEM IN THE THOUGHT THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD THEREBY GET TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S WORKS.

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