XN000022-1982-06-09 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1982

'FRONT DESKS' HANDLE 10 MILLION ENQUIRIES

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THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES (PEC'S) OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HANDLED 10.1 MILLION ENQUIRIES IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

DISCLOSING THIS TODAY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY (ADMINISTRATION) OF CNTA, MR HAIDER BARMA, SAID THE MOST COMMON ENQUIRIES INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL MATTERS, GOVERNMENT JOBS AND VACANCIES, THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND TENANCY PROBLEMS AND DISPUTES.

IN A LUNCHEON TALK ON +PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE+ TO THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA, HE DESCRIBED THE PEC'S AS THE GOVERNMENT'S +FRONT DESKS+ IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO AND IN DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE.

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD SUCCEEDED IN ENCOURAGING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE TO UTILISE THIS SERVICE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1961 AND THAT THE PEC NETWORK WAS EXTENDED EVERY YEAR IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING DEMANDS FOR THESE SERVICES.

+ THE PEC'S ARE DIRECTLY LINKED TO OUR DISTRICT OFFICES WHICH SERVICE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND DISTRICT BOARDS,+ HE SAID.

THERE ARE NOW 53 PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE 18 DISTRICTS IN BOTH THE URBAN AREA AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, DEALING MAINLY WITH ENQUIRIES, COMPLAINTS AND STATUTORY DECLARATIONS.

MR BARMA POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES WAS THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SOONER OR LATER, WOULD HAVE SOME DEALINGS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

+THE AVERAGE CITIZEN COULD, QUITE UNDERSTANDABLY, FIND THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY AND PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLICATED HE MAY NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO OR, BECAUSE OF HIS MANY COMMITMENTS, WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH HIS PROBLEM MORE READILY.

OUTLINING THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED, HE SAID THE PEC'S TRIED TO ANSWER BASIC ENQUIRIES CONCERNING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE IR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND PUBLIC UTILITIES LIKE THE COMMUNITY CHEST AND THE TRANSPORT COMPANIES.

THEY ALSO PROVIDED A FRONT LINE SERVICE BY MAKING AVAILABLE ALL GOVERNMENT APPLICATION FORMS, SUCH AS THOSE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, PASSPORT OR RE-ENTRY PERMIT, BUSINESS REGISTRATION AND OTHERS.

ON COMPLAINTS, HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE PEC STAFF DID NOT HAVE ANY EXECUTIVE POWERS THEY PROVIDED ONE OF THE MANY CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH THE PUBLIC COULD SEEK REDRESS.

<BAMA LË,