XN000022-1985-09-25 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1985

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GOVERNOR SEES IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT WORK

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THE NEW IDENTITY CARD RE-ISSUE SCHEME WAS AN AREA OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WHEN HE SAW THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AT WORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AT 61 MODY ROAD, KOWLOON, THE GOVERNOR, WHO WAS SHOWN AROUND BY THE DIRECTOR, MR ALAN CARTER, SAW THE IDENTITY CARD COMPUTER IN OPERATION AND LEARNED THAT SOME 2.3 MILLION RESIDENTS HAD ALREADY CHANGED TO THE NEW GARD.

THE RE-ISSUE PROGRAMME BEGAN IN MAY 1983 AND IS ON SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION EARLY IN 1987. ON AVERAGE THE EIGHT RE-ISSUE OFFICES HANDLE 3 700 NEW APPLICATIONS DAILY.

SIR EDWARD BEGAN HIS VISIT AT THE INFORMATION OFFICE WHERE HE SAW HOW THE STAFF MANNING 12 TELEPHONE LINES AND FIVE ENQUIRY COUNTERS COPE WITH SOME 4 000 ENQUIRIES A DAY.

THE GOVERNOR THEN TOURED THE DEPARTMENT'S FIVE FLOORS OF PUBLIC OFFICES WHICH PROVIDE A RANGE OF IMMIGRATION AND TRAVEL DOCUMENT SERVICES, AND WHICH HANDLE ABOUT 9 500 APPLICANTS A DAY.

DURING A TOUR OF THE TRAINING FACILITIES, SIR EDWARD WAS BRIEFED ON PROPOSALS TO COMPUTERISE IMMIGRATION CONTROL PROCEDURES. TENDERS FROM CONTRACTORS ARE NOW BEING EVALUATED.

SIR EDWARD CONCLUDED HIS VISIT TO THE DEPARTMENT WITH A STOP AT THE NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE AT 151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, HONG KONG, WHERE HE SAW MEN IN THE 57 TO 61 AGE GROUP COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.

'POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE GRADUAL"

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THE OBJECTIVE OF BUILDING HONG KONG INTO A SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY COULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+GIVEN THE VITAL IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG, WE SHOULD AIM TO AVOID DRASTIC CHANGES THAT MAY BRING AN UNDESIRABLE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY, MR LIAO SAID.

/+THE TASK