XN000022-1991-08-18 — Page 2

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 1991

PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRES HANDLE 6.2 M CASES

* * * * *

THE 20 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES (PESC'S) AND THE NEWLY SET-UP CENTRAL TELEPHONE ENQUIRY CENTRE (CTEC) OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HANDLED A TOTAL OF 6.2 MILLION CASES IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE PESC'S, LOCATED CONVENIENTLY IN THE 19 DISTRICTS, HAD PROVIDED A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.

"THESE SERVICES

ENQUIRIES ON

INCLUDE ANSWERING GENERAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES, DISTRIBUTING GOVERNMENT FORMS, LEAFLETS AND PUBLICITY MATERIAL, ADMINISTERING DECLARATIONS AND OATHS, AND MAKING REFERRALS UNDER BOTH THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME AND THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME, HE ADDED.

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DURING THE PERIOD, 313,018 DECLARATIONS AND OATHS WERE ADMINISTERED. THE MORE POPULAR TOPICS WERE DECLARATIONS OF TRUE COPY OF DOCUMENT, AND THOSE FOR EDUCATION, EXAMINATION AND EMIGRATION

PURPOSES.

THE PESC'S HAVE ALSO REFERRED 1,340 CASES то HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY UNDER THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN THE SOCIETY AND THE CNTA.

ON RENT AND TENANCY THE RATING AND VALUATION

DURING THE SAME PERIOD, 8,071 ENQUIRIES PROBLEMS WERE HANDLED BY OFFICERS OF DEPARTMENT UNDER THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME.

"UNDER THE SCHEME, RENT OFFICERS ATTEND THE 15 DISTRICT OFFICES ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

"

WITH A VIEW TO STRENGTHENING THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE AND ENABLING THE PUBLIC TO MAKE ENQUIRIES WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO A PESC, A CENTRAL TELEPHONE ENQUIRY CENTRE HAS BEEN SET UP AT THE CNTA HEADQUARTERS SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR.

UNTIL JUNE, THE SERVICE HAS HANDLED 42,197 TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES.

"MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE DISTRICT PESC'S OR ASK ABOUT GOVERNMENT SERVICES MAY NOW TELEPHONE THE NEW ENQUIRY CENTRE ON TEL. 835 1501.

"THE LINE OPERATES FROM 8.45 AM TO 5.15 PM ON

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS,

WEEKDAYS

AND

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