XN000022-1986-10-30 — Page 10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1986

THIS STUDY, BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT WITH PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM A FIRM OF CONSULTANTS, WILL MAP OUT TRANSPORT NEEDS FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS.

THE STUDY WILL DETERMINE WHAT POLICIES AND INVESTMENT IN TRANSPORT FACILITIES ARE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE AN OPTIMAL BALANCE BETWEEN THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES. THE STUDY WILL BE COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS.

SIR DAVID WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON A MAJOR PROJECT CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPUTERISED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SCHEME FÖR HONG KONG ISLAND WITH THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW HONG KONG AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTRE IN HARBOUR BUILDING, CENTRAL.

EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE ARE BEING TESTED BY THE CONTRACTOR, AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE DELIVERED, INSTALLED AND COMMISSIONED EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO OPERATES A DIVISION, WHICH, WITH THE AID OF STORED INFORMATION IN THE COMPUTER, SPECIALISES IN DIAGNOSING THE CAUSES OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AT BLACK SPOTS IN THE TERRITORY AND GIVES ADVICE ON THE REMEDY.

SIR DAVID WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE AT MURRAY ROAD HANDLED ABOUT 3 000 TRANSACTIONS DAILY. THESE INCLUDED FIRST REGISTRATION AND LICENSING OF VEHICLES TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP RENEWALS ISSUE AND RENEWAL OF DRIVING LICENCES AND ISSUE OF OTHER PERMITS.

NEW SCHEME TO STRENGTHEN ENGLISH TEACHING

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A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH IS TO BE INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN JUNE 1987 TO EXTEND CURRENT MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

THE NEW SCHEME INVOLVES A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROJECT USING QUALIFIED NATIVE-SPEAKING TEACHERS FROM OVERSEAS AND PROVIDING OVERSEAS TRAINING TO LOCAL TEACHERS OF ENGLISH.

SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, IT IS INTENDED TO SUPPLY UP TO 89 NATIVE-SPEAKING TEACHERS TO 44 PUBLIC-SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST IN HAVING SUCH TEACHERS NEXT YEAR.

AN EDUCATION

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