XN000022-1982-05-28 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1982

RETIREMENT OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHER LES.

OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES MONTH AFTER

DR WONG CHEN-TA, RETIRES FROM GOVERNMENT SERVICE NEXT MONTH AFTER 33 YEARS SERVICE IN PROMOTING THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.

DR WONG STARTS HIS PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON JUNE 1, AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UP A NEW APPOINTMENT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG LATER IN THE YEAR.

DR WONG, 59, GRADUATED IN FORESTRY FROM KWANGSI UNIVERSITY IN 1948 AND JOINED THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT THE FOLLOWING YEAR AS AN AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANT.

HE WAS PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT AGRICULTURAL OFFICER IN 1954, AGRICULTURAL OFFICER IN 1961, SEN FOR AGRICULTURAL OFFICER IN 1969 AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (AGRICULTURE) IN 1977. HE BECAME DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN 1980.

DR WONG WAS THE GUEST OF HONOUR AT A DINNER PARTY THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING ATTENDED BY STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE FISH AND VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF PRIMARY PRODUCERS.

IN PAYING TRIBUTE TO DR WONG, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID DR WONG STARTED BUILDING UP HIS CONTACTS WITH THE FARMING COMMUNITY DURING HIS EARLY YEARS WORKING ON AGRICULTURAL STATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+DR WONG HAS MANY STERLING QUALITIES BUT OUTSTANDING IS HIS EASY, FRIENDLY MANNER AND ABILITY TO GET ALONG WELL WITH PEOPLE ESPECIALLY WITH THE RURAL LEADERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE FARMING COMMUNITY.

+DURING HIS CAREER, DR WONG HAS ALSO BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN THE ACADEMIC SIDE OF AGRICULTURE AND IN 1958 WAS SENT TO THE THEN IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE IN TRINIDAD WHERE HE GAINED THE DIPLOMA IN TROPICAL AGRICULTURE. SUBSEQUENTLY, AS A RESULT OF HIS THESIS ON VEGETABLE FARMING IN HONG KONG, HE WAS AWARDED THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

DR WONG HAD RENDERED LONG AND VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND +THIS SERVICE WAS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN HE WAS AWARDED THE COMPANIONSHIP OF THE IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER BY THE QUEEN IN 1981, MR RIDDELL-SWAN ADDED.

APART FROM THE FAREWELL DINNER THIS EVENING, DR WONG WAS EARLIER FETED BY THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION EMPLOYEES UNION, IMPORTERS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AND FISH MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS.