XN000022-1991-03-13 — Page 25

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1991

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CNTA'S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE TO BE REORGANISED

THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE WILL BE REORGANISED ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR TO REDUCE SPENDING AND TO STREAMLINE THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE SECRETARY HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON PETER TSAO, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ELSIE TU, MR TSAO SAID THE REORGANISATION WAS BASED ON A REVIEW CONDUCTED BY THE FINANCE BRANCH IN MAY LAST YEAR.

"AS MANY OF THE 69 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES IN THE 19 DISTRICTS ARE UNDER-UTILISED, THEIR NUMBER WILL BE REDUCED ΤΟ 20 ON APRIL 1, 1991. THAT IS, ONE CENTRE FOR EACH DISTRICT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ISLANDS DISTRICT WHICH WILL HAVE A CENTRE ON LANTAU AND ON CHEUNG CHAU, HE SAID.

"

"SO FAR, 16 CENTRES IN 10 DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED WITHOUT UNFAVOURABLE PUBLIC COMMENT.

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NOTING THAT OVER 40 PER CENT OF ALL PUBLIC ENQUIRIES WERE MADE BY TELEPHONE AND TO PROVIDE BACKUP TO THE REMAINING 20 CENTRES, MR TSAO SAID A CENTRAL ENQUIRY SYSTEM WOULD BE INSTALLED IN THE CNTA HEADQUARTERS ON APRIL 1 TO DEAL SPECIFICALLY WITH TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, CONSIDERATION PROVIDING A COMPUTERISED DATA BANK AND COMPUTER CENTRAL ENQUIRY SYSTEM AND THE 20 CENTRES.

WAS BEING GIVEN TO NETWORK BETWEEN THE

ON THE LOCATION OF THESE CENTRES, MR TSAO SAID APART FROM

HAD THOSE ON CHEUNG CHAU AND LANTAU IN ISLANDS DISTRICT WHICH

ΤΟ BE RETAINED TO SERVE THE TWO ISLAND COMMUNITIES, THE 18 REMAINING CENTRES HAD BEEN SELECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE THE BUSIEST CENTRES IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

"HENCE, IT IS NOT TRUE THAT THEY ARE SITUATED IN UNPOPULAR LOCATIONS," HE SAID.

OF THIS NUMBER, 17 ARE ATTACHED TO THE DISTRICT MAIN OFFICES, INCLUDING THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, WHICH WAS REPROVISIONED FROM LEASED ACCOMMODATION IN QUARRY BAY TO THE EASTERN LAW COURTS BUILDING IN SAI WAN HO IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

"IN MY VIEW, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT HESITATE TO DISTRICTя IF VISIT THE SINGLE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE IN THEIR THEY REQUIRE ITS SERVICES, MR TSAO SAID.

T

"ALTERNATIVELY, THEY CAN FROM APRIL 1, 1991 RING THE CENTRAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO MAKE ENQUIRIES.

ΓΙ

THE REORGANISATION OF THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE WAS ONLY ONE

BY THE OF SEVERAL COST-CUTTING MEASURES ANNOUNCED

CNTA IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, MR TSAO SAID.

/HE STRESSED