XN000022-1990-01-07 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 7, 1990

PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES HANDLE 6.2M CASES

THE 68 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE, (PES) CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (ONTA) HANDLED A TOTAL OF 6.2 MILLION CASES DURING THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989.

A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE FIGURE POPULARITY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PES CENTRES.

REFLECTED THE

+

TIF SPOKESMAN SAID TUF MOST COMMON SUBJECTS OF ENQUIRY CONCERNED DECLARATIONS AND OATHS, CIVIE SERVICK JOB VACANCIES THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS LOCATION AND OFFICE HOURS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES,

IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.

AND ENROLMENT

·

DURING THE PERIOD, SOME 9.8 MILLION FORMS AND PUBLICITY MATERIALS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PUBLIC. REPRESENTING A FIVE PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE SAME PRRIOD IN 1988.

IN ADDITION TO ANSWERING ENQUIRIES AND ISSUING FORMS AND GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, THE PES CENTRES ALSO ARRANGED INTERVIEWS UNDER THE "MEET-THE-PUBLIC" SCHEME, ADMINISTERED OATHS AND DECLARATIONS, AND REFERRED CASES UNDER THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME AND THE RENT OFFICER SCHRME.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE "MEET-THE-PUBLIC" SCHEME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO VOICE COMPLAINTS OR SUGGESTION COULD APPROACH THE NEAREST PES CENTRE TO ARRANGE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.

THEIR COMPLAINTS AND OPINIONS WOULD THEN BE REFERRED TO DISTRICT BOARDS AND DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION.

NOTING THAT THE DECLARATION SERVICE WAS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CENTRES ADMINISTERED 785.000 DECLARATIONS AND OATHS FROM JANUARY TO NOVEMBER 1989, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 13.1 PER CENT OVER THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE IN 1988.

THE MOST COMMON MATTERS WERE DECLARATING TRUE COPIES OF DOCUMENTS, AND) DECLARATIONS CONCERNING EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.

THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CNTA AND THE LAW SOCIETY SINCE 1978. UNDER IT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SEEK ADVICE ON CIVIL LEGAL MATTERS BUT CANNOT AFFORD TO CONSULT LAWYERS. CAN RECEIVE FREE CONSULTATION WITH LAWYERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES.

A TOTAL OF 2.811 CASES WERE REFERRED TO THE LAW SOCIETY IN THE FIRST 11 MONTHS OF 1989.

UNDER THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME. LANDLORDS OR TENANTS WHO HAVE DOUBTS ABOUT THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS CAN SEEK ADVICE FROM RENT OFFICERS OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ON DUTY AT 15 DISTRICT OFFICES.

/DURING THE