XN000022-1986-11-30 — Page 2

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1986

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PROPOSALS ON DB MEMBER ALLOWANCE TO GO TO F.C. CS

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PUTTING PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE ADJUSTMENT OF ALLOWANCE FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE AT SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STADIUM, SIR DAVID HOWEVER NOTED THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSALS IN DETAIL UNTIL THEY HAD GONE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

ASKED WHETHER THE ALLOWANCE WOULD BE INCREASED TO $5 000 PER MONTH, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING INTO ALL ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE AS WELL AS THE REPRESENTATIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PAST.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, SIR DAVID SAID HE HOPED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE SATISFIED WITH THE NEW RATE AND THAT +WE CAN GET THIS PAST DISAGREEMENT BEHIND US AND MOVE FORWARD+.

DEDICATION OF ST. JOHN BRIGADE MEMBERS LAUDED

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HONG KONG IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MANY DEDICATED MEN, WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE WHO ARE PREPARED TO DEVOTE THEIR FREE TIME TOWARDS SERVING THE COMMUNITY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF BRIGADE, SIR DAVID SAID: +SUCH PUBLIC SPIRITEDNESS AND DEDICATION ARE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY GOVERNMENT AND ALL WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ST JOHN.+

HE NOTED THAT SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL PARADE, ITS MEMBERS HAD PERFORMED OVER 139 000 HOURS OF PUBLIC DUTY.

SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT THE ORDER OF ST JOHN HAD A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE INTERNATIONALLY.

+ IN HONG KONG, SINCE THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1916, IT HAS BEEN PROVIDING FIRST AID SERVICES AT CEREMONIAL, SPORTING AND OTHER PUBLIC OCCASIONS, ON TOP OF ITS 24 HOURS AMBULANCE SERVICE WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO ALL BY A SINGLE TELEPHONE CALL, HE SAID.

BESIDES DIRECT