XN000022-1985-01-04 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1985

HE ADDED THAT IN HIS OWN CASE, HE WAS APPOINTED AS CHIEF SECRETARY FOR FOUR YEARS ON NOVEMBER 11, 1981 AFTER SERVING AS FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR 10 YEARS. HE WAS RETIRING 5-1/2 MONTHS BEFORE HIS FOUR-YEAR APPOINTMENT WAS UP TO FACILITATE MR DAVID AKERS-JONES' APPOINTMENT. SIR PHILIP WILL BE 60 IN JULY 1985 AND MR AKERS-JONES 60 IN APRIL 1987.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHAT HIS TASKS WOULD BE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, SIR PHILIP SAID IT WOULD BE TO CARRY ON AS USUAL RIGHT UP TO THE DAY HE HANDED OVER TO MR AKERS-JONES.

NOMINATION OF DB CANDIDATES BEGINS

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82 CANDIDATES SUBMITTED THEIR NAMES TODAY THE OPENING DAY OF NOMINATION TO STAND FOR THE FIRST TERRITORY WIDE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 7.

NOMINATIONS CAN BE MADE AT DISTRICT OFFICES DURING OFFICE HOURS ON WEEKDAYS. THE DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, JANUARY 31.

ANY REGISTERED VOTER WHO HAS BEEN A RESIDENT IN HONG KONG FOR TEN YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEEDING THE NOMINATION DATE CAN QUALIFY AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE ELECTIONS.

THE NOMINATED CANDIDATE WILL CONTEST FOR 237 SEATS IN THE 19 DISTRICT BOARDS.

GENERAL HOLIDAYS PUBLISHED

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GENERAL HOLIDAYS FOR THIS YEAR AND FOR 1986 ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED, THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR FOR THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN AND THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY WOULD FALL ON JUNE 15 AND JUNE 17 INSTEAD OF JUNE 8 AND JUNE 10,

THE DATES ANNOUNCED FOR THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY AND THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY IN 1986 WERE PROVISIONAL ONLY AND MIGHT BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ANY CHANGE WOULD BE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED AND WOULD BE NOTIFIED IN THE GAZETTE AS SOON AS IT WAS KNOWN, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

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/HE POINTED