XN000022-1982-03-07 — Page 11

SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 1982

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NT PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS MORE POPULAR

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MORE AND MORE NEW TERRITORIES PEOPLE ARE USING THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED AT THE 21 PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE EIGHT NT DISTRICTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SAID TODAY THAT IN 1981, HANDLED, AN AVERAGE OF 3

CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION A TOTAL OF 783 031 CASES WERE 107 CASES A MONTH AT EACH COUNTER.

THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 25 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR WHEN 625 925 PEOPLE MADE USE OF THE ENQUIRY COUNTERS WHICH ARE SET UP IN DENSELY POPULATED AREAS SUCH AS A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE OR IN THE CENTRE OF A TOWN, HE SAID.

FACILITIES PROVIDED AT THESE COUNTERS INCLUDE STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE, FOLLOW-UP ACTION ON COMPLAINTS, GENERAL ENQUIRIES, REFERRALS FOR FREE LEGAL AID SERVICE, MEDIATING IN FAMILY OR PERSONAL DISPUTES, AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT PAMPHLETS AND FORMS.

MOST COUNTERS ARE OPEN DURING OFFICE HOURS, WHILE SEVERAL REMAIN OPEN EVEN AT LUNCH TIME AND SOME OTHERS EXTEND THE SERVICE TO LATE EVENING HOURS DEPENDING ON THE DEMAND FOR THE FACILITIES.

THE FIRST COUNTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1968 IN THE LOBBY OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE AND OVER THE YEARS MORE AND MORE WERE SET UP IN OTHER AREAS TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR THIS POPULAR SERVICE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

MACLEHOSE TRAIL DIVERSION ****

SEASONED HIKERS ON THE WELL-TRODDEN MACLEHOSE TRAIL WILL SOON FIND THEMSELVES COVERING A LITTLE MORE DISTANCE IN ONE OF THE TEN STAGES OF THE TRAIL.

THE EXTRA DISTANCE TO BE FOUND IN STAGE 10 OF THE 100-KILOMETRE TRAIL - HONG KONG'S FIRST LONG-DISTANCE HIKING TRAIL COMES INTO BEING OUT OF NECESSITY RATHER THAN BY DESIGN.

A SECTION IN THIS STAGE OF THE TRAIL, NEAR THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE, WILL BE CLOSED FROM WEDNESDAY (MARCH 10) TO FACILITATE WORKS CONNECTED WITH WATER SUPPLIES.

IN ITS PLACE, A NEW ROUTE OF ABOUT 920 METRES WILL BE BUILT AS AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE.

THE DIVERSION IS EXPECTED TO BE IN FORCE UNTIL THE WORKS ARE COMPLETED IN ABOUT THREE YEARS.

THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY WILL PUT UP SIGNPOSTS AND WAYMARKS TO DIRECT HIKERS.

NEW MAPS WILL ALSO BE FOUND AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE NEW ROUTE.

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