XN000022-1983-06-30 — Page 18

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THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1983

STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE POPULAR

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ABOUT 400 000 PEOPLE MADE USE OF THE STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE AT THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S 60 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE (PES) CENTRES LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE MORE POPULAR STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ADMINISTERED WERE OF TRUE COPIES (26.3 PER CENT), EDUCATION AND EXAMINATIONS (9.7 PER CENT), SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS (9.2 PER CENT) AND HOUSING (8.4 PER CENT).

A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE PROCEDURE FOR MAKING A STATUTORY DECLARATION WAS VERY SIMPLE AND THE SERVICE WAS FREE OF CHARGE.

+A DECLARATION MAY BE MADE, TAKEN OR RECEIVED EITHER IN ENGLISH OR CHINESE AT THE OPTION OF THE DECLARANT+, HE SAID.

+THE DECLARANT IS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE CONTENTS OF HIS STATEMENT IN A SPECIFIED STATUTORY DECLARATION FORM, COPIES OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL PES CENTRES, OR HE MAY ASK THE STAFF TO PREPARE THE DECLARED DOCUMENTS FOR HIM.

+AFTER FILLING IN THE DECLARED CONTENTS, THE DECLARANT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SWEAR IN FRONT OF A COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS AT ANY OF THE CENTRES.

→THE ONLY DOCUMENT REQUIRED IS THE DECLARANT'S IDENTITY CARD OR ANY DOCUMENT THAT CAN PROVE HIS IDENTITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE EXPLAINED THAT STATUTORY DECLARATIONS WERE MADE BY THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY COULD NOT PRODUCE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTARY PROOF TO SUBSTANTIATE THEIR CLAIM OR TO SUPPORT THEIR APPLICATION FOR DOCUMENTS OF ANY TYPE FROM GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE SERVICE OF ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS HAS BEEN EXPANDED FROM THE COURT TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE DISTRICT OFFICES.

HE ADDED THAT ANY PERSON WHO WISHED TO SEEK ADVICE OR MAKE A STATUTORY DECLARATION COULD APPROACH ANY OF THE 60 PES CENTRES.

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