XN000022-1986-01-27 — Page 7

MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 1986

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SIR DAVID SEES POSTAL WORK

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, HAD A FIRST-HAND LOOK TODAY (MONDAY) AT POSTAL FACILITIES IN THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE IN HUNG HOM.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, MR HUGH ARDLEY, AND HIS DEPUTY MR DAVID LAN, SIR DAVID LEARNED HOW INCOMING AND OUTGOING MAIL IS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY.

HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE PARCEL SORTING MACHINE, ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED TYPES USED IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.

AFTER A BRIEF DISCUSSION WITH MR ARDLEY AND OTHER OFFICIALS ON POSTAL MATTERS, SIR DAVID CROSSED THE HARBOUR TO VISIT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE.

THERE, SIR DAVID SAW THE $5-MILLION FREQUENCY ALLOCATION COMPUTER SYSTEM WHOSE MAIN FUNCTION IS TO ASSIGN AVAILABLE FREQUENCIES TO APPLICANTS FOR USE OF RADIO COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND TO KEEP RECORDS OF LICENSEES.

HE ALSO LEARNED THAT AN AVERAGE OF 10 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN A MONTH BY THE FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT SECTION AGAINST PERSONS CONTRAVENING LICENSING REGULATIONS OR USING RADIO EQUIPMENT ILLEGALLY.

SIR DAVID CONCLUDED HIS TOUR WITH A VISIT TO THE BROADCASTING TECHNICAL MONITORING UNIT WHERE HE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION QUALITY AND PRODUCTION STANDARD OF TELEVISION COMPANIES WERE CLOSELY MONITORED BY THE POST OFFICE.

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REPORT ON LAWS ON INSURANCE PUBLISHED *****

A LAW REFORM COMMISSION REPORT WHICH CONTAINS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROPOSALS FOR MORE SAFEGUARDS FOR INSURANCE POLICY-HOLDERS AGAINST ABUSE IS PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY).

THE FIRST PART OF THE REPORT ON LAWS ON INSURANCE IS CONCERNED WITH THE DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL FACTS BY THE INSURED PERSON TO THE INSURER WHILE THE SECOND PART EXPLORES THE FEASIBILITY OF A SYSTEM OF CONTROL ON THE ACTIVITIES OF INSURANCE BROKERS AND AGENTS.

EXPLAINING THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE SECRETARY TO THE COMMISSION, MR BERTRAND DE SPEVILLE, SAID THAT THEY WERE THE RESULTS OF FOUR YEARS' WORK BY A SUB-COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF PROFESSOR PETER WILLOUGHBY, AND BY THE COMMISSION ITSELF.

/ON THE