XN000022-1982-11-10 — Page 17

16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1982

MR ROWLANDS SAID THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT HE SAID, HE TRUSTED THAT MEMBERS WOULD ACCEPT THE ADMINISTRATION'S VIEW THAT A CASE HAD NOT BEEN MADE OUT FOR REOPENING THE QUESTION AT THE PRESENT TIME.

ON THE SUPPLY OF QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED STAFF FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS MAKING VERY STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT SKILLED STAFF WERE AVAILABLE TO ENABLE PROGRAMMES TO PROCEED AS PLANNED.

MR ROWLANDS POINTED OUT THAT AS AT TODAY, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 5 994 MEN AND WOMEN TRAINING TO ENTER THE MEDICAL, NURSING AND PARA-MEDICAL PROFESSIONS AND THESE NUMBERS WOULD GROW MONTH BY MONTH AS NEW TEACHING AND TRAINING FACILITIES COME ON STREAM.

HOPE OVER NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION

****

THE GOVERNMENT IS HOPEFUL THAT THE ISSUE OF THE NATIONALITY DESCRIPTION OF HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS WILL BE SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED BEFORE LONG AND JUSTICE PREVAIL, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR GRIFFITHS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT IN A PRESS INTERVIEW PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER HAD HINTED THAT GOOD NEWS ON THE ISSUE MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONTINUED TO PRESS THE MATTER AND HAD MADE +CRYSTAL CLEAR+ THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO IT BY OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME RAISED EARLIER BY THE HON PETER C. WONG. MR GRIFFITHS POINTED OUT THAT SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1978 IN TWO MAGISTRACIES, THE SCHEME HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER SIX OF THE EIGHT MAGISTRACIES.

+APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE FOR EXTENSION TO FANLING AND KWUN TONG MAGISTRACIES HAS BEEN GIVEN AND THE MATTER NOW DEPENDS ON THE FUNDS BEING MADE AVAILABLE, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IF FUNDS WERE APPROVED, IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE SCHEME TO THE LAST TWO MAGISTRACIES IN APRIL OR MAY NEXT YEAR.

/17