XN000022-1991-02-13 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1991

TO FURTHER DEVELOP THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG AND TO HELP FISHERMEN ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY, THE FMO AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) CONTINUED ΤΟ PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE INDUSTRY DURING THE PAST YEAR.

"THIS INCLUDES LOANS AMOUNTING TO $13 MILLION FROM THE FMO LOAN FUND TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL NEED OF THE FISHERMEN.

"AS REGARDS TRAINING, THE AFD CONTINUED ΤΟ ORGANISE RADIO-TELEPHONE COURSES, TRAINING CLASSES FOR COXSWAINS AND ENGINEERS, AND DEEP SEA-FISHING ENDORSEMENT COURSES FOR THE FISHERMEN ΤΟ EQUIP THEM WITH THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.

"UP TO NOW, A TOTAL OF 6,376 TRAINING COURSES, DR LEE SAID.

rt

FISHERMEN

HAVE ATTENDED THESE

MEANWHILE, IN 1990, SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND LOANS AMOUNTING TO $340,000 FROM THE MARINE FISH SCHOLARSHIP FUND WERE AWARDED TO FISHERMAN CHILDREN AND STUDENTS.

THE FMO ALSO ORGANISED A STUDY TOUR TO AUSTRALIA AND SINGAPORE FOR LOCAL FISHERMEN LAST MONTH.

"ALL THE FISHERMEN PARTICIPANTS CONSIDERED THE VISIT HELPFUL IN BROADENING THEIR INSIGHT WHICH SHOULD PROVE BENEFICIAL TO THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY IN ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, DR LEE CONTINUED.

"

AT TODAY'S CEREMONY, PRIZES WERE AWARDED TO 23 CHAMPION FISHERMEN OF THE YEAR. TEN FISHERMEN WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE OTHERS AT SEA WERE COMMENDED FOR THEIR GALLANTRY WHILE 17 GRADUATES OF THE LOCAL MASTERS AND ENGINEERS TRAINING CLASS WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES.

SERVICE

TWO FMO STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED 25 YEARS OF

WERE PRESENTED LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES.

BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME HOTLINE MANNED DURING HOLIDAYS

*

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THEIR SPECIAL HOTLINE FOR THE BRITISH NATIONALITY SELECTION SCHEME 802 3300

WILL REMAIN MANNED DURING OFFICE HOURS THROUGHOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY PERIOD (FEB 14

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17).

THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLING UP THE HOTLINE.

PAST

TWO

"THE NUMBER OF CALLS RECEIVED BY THE HOTLINE IN THE DAYS AVERAGED MORE THAN 1,000 A DAY, COMPARED WITH ABOUT 400- A DAY PREVIOUSLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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THE HOTLINE IS MANNED BY SENIOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WHO SPECIALLY TRAINED TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES ON THE SCHEME.

ARE

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