XN000022-1983-12-30 — Page 5

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1983

NEW I.D. CARD SCHEME ENTERING EIGHTH PHASE

****

THE EIGHTH PHASE OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE SCHEME WILL START ON JANUARY 9 NEXT YEAR, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THIS PHASE, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL FEBRUARY 11, IS TARGETED AT ABOUT 104 200 MEN BORN IN 1953 AND 1952.

+OF THIS NUMBER, ABOUT 97 200 ARE EXPECTED TO TURN UP FOR THEIR NEW CARDS DURING THE FIVE-WEEK PERIOD. THE REMAINING 7 000 HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THEIR NEW CARDS AT THE REGULAR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES AS A RESULT OF LOSS, DAMAGE OR CHANGE OF PARTICULARS ON THEIR OLD CARDS, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW CARDS SHOULD BE MADE IN PERSON TO ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES WHICH ARE OPEN BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED APPLICANTS TO BRING ALONG THEIR OLD 1.D. CARDS WHEN THEY REPORT TO THE ISSUE OFFICES.

+THE OLD CARDS WILL HAVE TO BE SURRENDERED WHEN NEW ONES ARE ISSUED AFTER 18 WORKING DAYS.

+THOSE WHO ARE BUSY ON WEEKDAYS CAN EITHER COME FORWARD IN THE EVENING OR AT WEEKENDS. THEY ARE ALSO WELCOME TO MAKE USE OF THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

+APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE TO VISIT ANY ONE OF THE ISSUE OFFICES ON ANY NORMAL WORKING DAY, EXCEPT MONDAYS, BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5.30 PM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+TO FIX UP AN APPOINTMENT, THE APPLICANT HAS TO COMPLETE A FORM OBTAINABLE FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE AND RETURN IT BY MAIL TO THE ISSUE OFFICE OF ONE'S CHOICE. IT MUST REACH THE OFFICE AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THIS PHASE.+

THOSE WHO ARE AWAY FROM HONG KONG AND WILL NOT BE BACK DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD ARE ADVISED TO APPLY FOR NEW CARDS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR RETURN.

HK FIRST FOR TAI PO BYPASS BRIDGES

*****

FOUR OF THE FIVE TA PO BY-PASS BRIDGES ARE BEING BUILT BY USE OF A TECHNIQUE NOT EMPLOYED BEFORE IN HONG KONG.

THROUGH USE OF THE INCREMENTAL LAUNCHING TECHNIQUE+ THE BRIDGES ARE BEING BUILT IN SHORT SEGMENTS AND LAUNCHED OUT OVER THE VALLEYS IN SUCCESSIVE STAGES ACROSS PREVIOUSLY CONSTRUCTED COLUMNS.

DURING LAUNCHING THE BRIDGES ARE SUPPORTED AT THE COLUMNS ON TEMPORARY BEARINGS, WHICH ARE STAINLESS STEEL AND TEFLON SURFACES THAT ENABLE THE STRUCTURES TO MOVE FORWARD SMOOTHLY.

THE RESIDENT