XN000022-1983-06-23 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1983

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CHIEF SECRETARY VISITS CNTA HQS

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY SAW SOME OF THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE WHEN HE VISITED THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS IN THE WORLD SHIPPING CENTRE.

SIR PHILIP WAS MET AND BRIEFED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES: THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR LAWRENCE MILLS; AND THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARIES, MR HAIDER BARMA AND MR ALBERT LAM,

THE CHIEF SECRETARY CALLED AT VARIOUS DIVISIONS AND SECTIONS OF CNTA HEADQUARTERS, CHATTING WITH STAFF ABOUT THEIR WORK.

AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE COUNTER, HE WAS TOLD THAT APART FROM ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, THE 60 PES CENTRES ALSO PROVIDED SUCH SERVICES AS DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS AND DISTRIBUTING GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS.

FOUR MILLION ENQUIRIES AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE HANDLED BY THE CNTA'S 60 PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

OF THESE, 3.6 MILLION WERE GENERAL ENQUIRIES RANGING FROM JOB VACANCIES AND APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING TO PROBLEMS CONCERNING EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE.

THE REMAINING 400 000 RELATED TO PERSONAL CASES OF WHICH MORE THAN 96 PER CENT INVOLVED REQUESTS FOR STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE.

MORE PUBLIC HELP SOUGHT FOR EPCOM WORK

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MR GERALD FORSGATE, CHAIRMAN OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SAID TODAY THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO MORE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN HONG KONG.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EPCOM ANNUAL MEETING, MR FORSGATE POINTED OUT THAT THE MEETING ITSELF, WHICH WAS OPEN TO INVITED GUESTS FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND TO THE PRESS. WAS INTENDED TO INVOLVE THEIR FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE DISCUSSIONS.

HE ALSO EXPRESSED