XN000022-1983-09-02 — Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1983

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NEW ID CARD SCHEME ENTERING FIFTH PHASE

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THE NEW IDENTITY CARD SCHEME WILL ENTER ITS FIFTH PHASE ON SEPTEMBER 12, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THIS PHASE, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL OCTOBER 29, IS AIMED AT MEN BORN IN 1959 AND 1958.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID ABOUT 128 000 MEN ARE EXPECTED TO TURN UP FOR THEIR NEW ID CARDS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.

HE SAID: +APART FROM THESE TWO AGE GROUPS, ANY MAN BORN BETWEEN 1964 AND 1960 WHO IS STILL HOLDING THE OLD CARD IS ALSO ADVISED TO COME FORWARD DURING THIS PHASE.

+IN FACT, THE PURPOSE OF SETTING ASIDE SEVEN WEEKS FOR THIS PHASE IS TO GIVE LATE-COMERS A SECOND CHANCE TO APPLY FOR NEW CARDS.

+THEIR OLD CARDS WILL BE DECLARED INVALID AT THE END OF THIS PHASE. AND ANYONE WHO IS FOUND TO BE HOLDING THE OLD CARD AFTER THE EXPIRY DATE WILL BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.+

HOWEVER, THOSE WHO ARE AWAY FROM HONG KONG DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD ARE NOT AFFECTED BUT THEY SHOULD APPLY FOR A NEW CARD WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR RETURN.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED APPLICANTS TO BRING ALONG THEIR OLD ID CARDS AND TO REPORT IN PERSON TO ANY OF THE EIGHT ISSUING OFFICES BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.

+ THE PROCESSING OF AN APPLICATION WILL TAKE ABOUT HALF AN HOUR ONLY. AND APPLICANTS WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN AFTER 18 WORKING DAYS TO COLLECT THEIR NEW CARDS AND SURRENDER THEIR OLD ONES,+ HE ADDED.

EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL PROJECT UPGRADED

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THE EASTERN DISTRICT HOSPITAL PROJECT HAS TAKEN AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD AS A RESULT OF CONCERTED EFFORTS BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN UPGRADED FROM CATEGORY B TO CATEGORY AB TO ENABLE SITE INVESTIGATION AND DETAILED DESIGN WORK TO PROCEED.

+IN FACT, SITE INVESTIGATION WORK IN CHAI WAN HAS ALREADY BEGUN AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+AT THE