XN000022-1986-01-07 — Page 5

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1936

LEGCO TO DEAL WITH TWO COUNCILS' RATES BILL

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A BILL PROPOSING CHANGES IN THE METHOD OF CALCULATING RATES PAYABLE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND PROVIDING FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL RATES, WILL BE AMONG MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATIVC COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WILL BE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE.

TWO OTHER BILLS, AND NINE QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S MOTION WILL BE AMONG THE OTHER MATTERS TO BE DEALT WITH.

THE TWO BILLS ARE THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985, AND THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S MOTION, ENTITLED THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALITY) ORDER 1986+, WILL BE MOVED BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A STATEMENT BY MISS DUNN ON THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL ANNUAL REPORT 1984-85 WHICH WILL BE TABLED.

AND AT THE SAME MEETING, THE AFFIRMATION OF ALLEGIANCE WILL BE TAKEN BY THE HON H.H.T. BARMA, ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, AND THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE BY THE HON MICHAEL SZE CHO-CHEUNG, ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY.

AMBULANCEMEN RECEIVE MEDALS ***

THE AMBULANCE SERVICE RESPONDED TO A RECORD TOTAL OF 330 905 CALLS DURING 1985, WHICH WAS A 6.6 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER, MR H. KENYON.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO 24 MEMBERS OF AMBULANCE COMMAND AT SAI WAN HO AMBULANCE DEPOT TODAY (TUESDAY).

+THIS IS A MOST IMPRESSIVE WORKLOAD AND ONE WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE QUICK TO CRITICISE THE SERVICE, WHEN FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, THE RESPONSE OF THE SERVICE CANNOT IMMEDIATELY MEET THEIR REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE,+ MR KENYON SAID.

75 PUIN ZED