XN000022-1982-03-07 — Page 10

SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 1982

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DESTRUCTION OF 1981 POPULATION CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES

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CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRES CONTAINING PERSONAL PARTICULARS OF SOME 5 MILLION PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE BURNT TO ASHES THIS MORNING AT THE KENNEDY TOWN INCINERATOR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE STAFF OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THESE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE USED IN THE 1981 POPULATION CENSUS CONDUCTED IN MARCH LAST YEAR TO COLLECT DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE, ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE CENSUS MUST BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL AND ALL QUESTIONNAIRES CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION MUST BE DESTROYED WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE CENSUS.

HE STRESSED THAT THROUGHOUT THE CENSUS OPERATION, STEPS WERE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE DATA WAS MAINTAINED.

+NO PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS OR OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE PERSONAL DATA. ALL CENSUS OFFICERS ARE UNDER AN OATH OF SECRECY NOT TO DISCLOSE SUCH INFORMATION.

+QUESTIONNAIRES FROM THE CENSUS WERE BURNT IN ORDER TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC AND TO DISPEL ANY ANXIETY THEY MAY HAVE OVER THE IR USE,+ HE SAID.

THE DATA COLLECTED FROM THE 1981 CENSUS WERE PROCESSED BY COMPUTER. NO PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION SUCH AS NAME AND ADDRESS IS KEPT BY THE DEPARTMENT. CENSUS RESULTS ARE PUBLISHED IN AGGREGATED FORM AND NO PERSONAL PARTICULARS ARE DISPLAYED.

TENDERS FOR THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENT IN YUEN LONG

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TENDERS ARE NOW BEING INVITED FOR THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT YUEN LONG RECREATION AND SPORTS GROUND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START BUSINESS ON APRIL 16 AND THE CONTRACT WILL EXPIRE ON MARCH 31, 1984, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

TENDER FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF AUSTIN CENTRE, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSU!.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF NTSD HEADQUARTERS BEFORE FRIDAY, MARCH 19.

ENQUIRIES FOR FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION OF NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON TELEPHONE 0-678715.

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