XN000022-1985-12-08 — Page 2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1985

SECRETARIAL EFFICIENCY IMPORTANT TO HK

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HONG KONG IS A GREAT CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, AN IMPORTANT FINANCIAL CENTRE AND A VERY HIGH STANDARD OF SECRETARIAL EFFICIENCY IS NECESSARY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF SECRETARIES LTD., SIR DAVID SAID THE SPEED AT WHICH DECISIONS WERE MADE IN THE BUSINESS, FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL FIELDS HERE WAS PROBABLY UNPARALLELED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

+THESE DECISIONS HAVE TO BE SET DOWN AND TRANSMITTED. WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT YOU?+ HE TOLD THE GATHERING.

SIR DAVID SAID THE ASSOCIATION RIGHTLY RECOGNISED THAT HIGH STANDARDS COULD ONLY BE ATTAINED BY CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

+YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WISH TO MAKE THEIR CAREERS AS SECRETARIES MUST BE WELL EDUCATED AND TRAINED IN THE SKILLS REQUIRED TO USE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY OF YOUR PROFESSION: COMPUTERS, WORD PROCESSORS, TELEX MACHINES AND SUCH.

+ THE DEMAND FOR HIGHLY TRAINED PERSONNEL INCREASES AND SO DOES THE DEMAND FOR AN EVER-INCREASING EFFICIENCY, ADAPTABILITY AND A READINESS TO UPDATE KNOWN AND FAMILIAR SKILLS AS NEW OFFICE MACHINERY IS INTRODUCED, + HE SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID AN EQUALLY IMPORTANT ASSET WAS A WIDE KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WHICH WAS THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE OF COMMERCE AND THE CORRECT USE OF IT BOTH WRITTEN AND SPOKEN WAS ESSENTIAL.

+YOUR ASSOCIATION HAS AS ITS AIM TO ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERS OF YOUR PROFESSION CONTINUE TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO RAISING STANDARDS.

+THIS THE TASK YOU HAVE SET YOURSELVES AND I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL SUCCEED, + SIR DAVID SAID.

MOUNTAINEERING UNION LAUDED FOR ENHANCING FITNESS *****

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (SUNDAY) PRAISED THE HONG KONG MOUNTAINEERING UNION FOR ENHANCING THE STANDARDS OF FITNESS AND SAFETY IN HONG KONG AND EXTENDING THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HILLS AND THE MOUNTAINS TO MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

HE SAID THAT TO HIM MOUNTAINEERING MEANT HIKING IN THE HIGH HILLS, WHILE TO OTHERS IT MEANT ROCK-CLIMBING AND CLIMBING PEAKS.

/SPEAKING AT