XN000022-1986-01-10 — Page 11

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10,

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SECOND MEETING ON LICENSING OF TRAVEL AGENTS

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THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON TRAVEL AGENTS HELD ITS SECOND MEETING THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON TO REVIEW THE PROGRESS OF LICENSING WORK FOR TRAVEL AGENTS CARRIED OUT BY THE TRAVEL AGENTS REGISTRY.

THE MEETING NOTED THAT, UP TO JANUARY 9, 1986, A TOTAL OF 530 APPLICATIONS FROM EXISTING TRAVEL AGENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRY.

OF THIS NUMBER, 156 WERE FROM INDIVIDUALS OR PARTNERSHIP AND 374 FROM BODY CORPORATE.

THE APPLICATIONS ARE BEING CLOSELY SCRUTINISED BY THE REGISTRY. INCLUDING CRIMINAL RECORDS CHECK ON THE APPLICANTS AND THE IR MANAGEMENT STAFF, CONDUCTED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE POLICE.

WHERE NECESSARY, THE APPLICANTS ARE ALSO BEING CALLED FOR INTERVIEW IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF INFORMATION GIVEN IN THEIR APPLICATIONS.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT BY THE END OF THE MONTH, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATIONS SO FAR RECEIVED AND DECISION CAN BE TAKEN AS TO WHICH APPLICATIONS MAY BE ISSUED WITH A LICENCE.

AS IT IS INTENDED THAT ALL EXISTING TRAVEL AGENTS WILL NEED TO BE LICENSED UNDER THE TRAVEL AGENTS ORDINANCE BY FEBRUARY 1, 1986, TRAVEL AGENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED ARE STRONGLY URGED TO SUBMIT THE IR APPLICATIONS BEFORE JANUARY 15, 1986 AS APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THAT DATE MAY NOT BE PROCESSED IN TIME FOR LICENCES TO BE ISSUED TO CONTINUE THE APPLICANTS' BUSINESS AS TRAVEL AGENT AFTER FEBRUARY 1, 1986.

WAN CHAI GOVERNMENT BUILDING TOPPED OUT

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THE FIRST BUILDING IN THE HARBOUR ROAD GOVERNMENT COMPLEX WAN CHAI WAS TOPPED OUT TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN.

THE 30-STOREY, $212 MILLION BUILDING WILL HOUSE 39 DISTRICT AND MAGISTRATES' COURTS AND SIX GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN 27 30) SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION.

THE DEPARTMENTS