XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

HOTLINE SERVICES OUTLINED

本本

THERE ARE THREE SECRETARIAT BRANCHES AND

19 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OPERATING ABOUT 50 TELEPHONE HOTLINES MOST OF WHICH ARE MANNED ROUND THE CLOCK, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON DR HENRIETTA IP

ON EXISTING HOTLINE SERVICES OFFERED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, MR LIAO SAID, "THROUGH THE HOTLINES, INFORMATION COVERING THE WEATHER, IMMIGRATION MATTERS, SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, HEALTH EDUCATION, LABOUR MATTERS, AIDS, NARCOTICS, ETC. IS PROVIDED AND "COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, CORRUPTION CRIME ETC. ARE RECEIVED."

TP

AND

IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, MR LIAO NOTED THAT THERE WERE SIX 24-HOUR HOTLINE SPRVICES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE, FAMILY PLANNING AND FAMILY WELFARE, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING.

HE ADDED THAT THE TERRITORY-WIDE NETWORK OF THE 67 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE COUNTERS OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION DEALT WITH MANY GENERAL ENQUIRIES DURING OFFICE HOURS, INCLUDING PROVIDING THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE HOTLINE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTORS.

.AS ΤΟ DR IP'S QUESTION OF WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER SETTING UP A CENTRAL HOTLINE WHICH WOULD DIRECT A CITIZEN TO THE APPROPRIATE HOTLINE HE WAS LOOKING FOR, MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVE WAS ALREADY BEING MET BY CNTA'S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE DURING OFFICE HOURS, AND BY THE TELEPHONE COMPANY'S DIRECTORY ENQUIRY SERVICE, I.E. LINE '108', ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.

"FURTHERMORE, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE TELEPHONE COMPANY 19 PLANNING ΤΟ EXPAND ITS ENQUIRY SERVICE. THEREFORE, PROVIDING A CENTRAL HOTLINE WILL ONLY COMPETE WITH THE EXISTING HOTLINES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE ALREADY WELL-KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC,' HE SAID.

TRAINING FOR OFFICIALS FOR DB MEETINGS PLANNED

A

PLANS ARE IN HAND TO ORGANISE SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR OFFICIALS FROM DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ATTENDING DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS TO GAIN

BETTER APPRECIATION OF THEIR ROLE IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HAD

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN, MR LIAO SAID RECENTLY THE CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING CENTRE

IN CONDUCTED, COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, A STUDY TO ASCERTAIN THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THESE OFFICERS AND THE PROPOSED TRAINING REPRESENTED PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE 'THE OPERATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.

/HE ADDED .****