XN000022-1983-06-27 — Page 6

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 1983

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ADDRESSING A GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR 329 GDT MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THEIR SIX-WEEK TRAINING COURSE, MR PEAKE SAID: +YOU HAVE BEEN TRAINED WELL TO DO YOUR JOB AND YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN WITH EXPERIENCE.

+BUT YOUR CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY ARE YOURS AND YOURS ALONE, AND IT IS UP TO YOU TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD.

+1 BELIEVE THAT THE GENERAL EFFICIENCY AND STANDARD OF DISCIPLINE AND CONDUCT OF THE GDTS IS CONSTANTLY IMPROVING AND I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT WITH YOUR JOINING THE RANKS FURTHER PROGRESS WILL BE MADE.+

WHILE NOTING THAT SOME PEOPLE TEND TO THINK THAT THE WORK OF THE TEAMS IS TO ARREST HAWKERS AND DRIVE THEM OUT OF BUSINESS, MR PEAKE CON TENDED THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE.

HE STRESSED THAT THEIR WORK IS VARIED AND IS MAINLY INVOLVED IN RE-SITTING HAWKERS INTO MODERN MARKETS AND HAWKER BAZAARS, RE-ORDERING HAWKER SITES, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL HAWKERS, AND KEEPING THE STREETS, PAVEMENTS AND PUBLIC PLACES FREE FROM OBSTRUCTIONS.

+UNDOUBTEDLY THE WORK OF THE GDTS IS BOTH IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY,+ HE SAID.

+THOUGH THEY ARE FREQUENTLY FACED WITH VARIOUS PROBLEMS, THEY DO A VERY GOOD JOB INDEED.+

MR PEAKE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT TO EXERCISE AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER HAWKERS DEPENDS MUCH ON THE CO-OPERATION OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

+HOWEVER, HE ADDED, THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR EFFECTIVE CONTROL FALLS CLEARLY ON THE GENERAL DUTIES TEAMS.+

OF THE 329 GRADUATES, 25 WERE OF THE RANK OF OVERSEERS, EIGHT

SENIOR FOREMEN, 169 FOREMEN AND 127 WORKMEN CLASS I.

SINCE THE TRAINING PROGRAMME STARTED IN JULY 1979, MORE

THAN 3 400 GDT MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED.

THE SIX-WEEK COURSE COVERS NOT ONLY THE LEARNING OF LEGISLATION AND DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES ON HAWKER CONTROL, BUT ALSO A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE.

ANTI-NARCOTICS BEACH CONCERT

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THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS TOGETHER WITH THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, DISTRICT OFFICE (SOUTHERN) AND RADIO HONG KONG ARE JOINTLY ORGANISING A BEACH CONCERT TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY (JULY 3) AT REPULSE BAY.

/DIMATES OF